Here are Arsenal’s top five best-ever Premier League opening-day clashes, ranked from worst to best.
Arsenal have endured some tricky opening-day fixtures throughout the Premier League era, which have provided some thrilling entertainment.
Nothing is more important than getting off to a winning start and setting the tone for the rest of the season, especially in an age where three points can be the difference between winning the title and finishing as runners-up.
The Gunners have had their fair share of great opening day results in their history, but which make it into their top five best-ever Premier League opening day clashes?
5 – Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal (22/23)
Arsenal’s 2-0 triumph over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park marked the start of an incredible campaign for the Gunners, which saw them lead the Premier League title race for 248 days.
Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring for Mikel Arteta’s side before Marc Guehi’s second-half own goal sealed them all three points.
Whilst the scoreline cannot be classed as a thrashing, this match makes the list because of what it meant – the start of a new era at Arsenal.
William Saliba, Gabriel Jesus, and Oleksandr Zinchenko all made their competitive debuts in a new-look Arsenal side with the confidence and swagger that hadn’t been seen since the Invincibles.
4 – Fulham 0-3 Arsenal (20/21)
The Gunners eased to a 3-0 win at Fulham to kick off their 2020/21 season, despite it being in front of no spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a day for the debutants, as Willian set up all three goals, one of which was headed home by Arsenal’s set-piece powerhouse Gabriel Magalhães.
Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the other two goals as Arsenal brushed aside a Fulham team that would get relegated at the end of the season.
On the other hand, Arsenal enjoyed a campaign better than most predicted, narrowly missing out on Champions League football in their penultimate game – a 2-0 loss away to Newcastle United.
3 – Middlesborough 0-4 Arsenal (01/02)
Dennis Bergkamp was at the double as Arsenal, then led by Arsene Wenger, embarked on a title-winning season in 2001.
The Dutchman scored two goals in the second half from inside the box, after Thierry Henry’s volley and Robert Pires’ penalty had put the Gunners into the lead.
Arsenal went on to win their second Premier League title in impressive fashion, finishing seven points ahead of Manchester United.
2 – Arsenal 4-3 Leicester City (17/18)
Arsenal began their 2017/18 season chaotically, coming out on top of a seven-goal thriller thanks to a last-minute header from substitute Olivier Giroud – it was also that last campaign that legendary manager Wenger would remain in charge for.
Lacazette opened the scoring after 94 seconds on his first competitive appearance for the Gunners, following his £46.5m move from Lyon.
Goals from Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey were ultimately enough to overcome a Leicester City side at the peak of their powers, with Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki getting on the scoresheet for the Foxes.
1 – Everton 1-6 Arsenal (09/10)
Arsenal’s most prolific and ruthless opening day performance had to take the top spot on this list, as the Gunners hit six past Everton at Goodison Park.
The North Londoners were up by three goals at halftime, including Brazilian midfielder Denilson’s rocket into the top left corner.
In the second-half captain, Cesc Fabregas, bagged a brilliant brace to secure all three points, while Louis Saha scored a consolation goal for the Toffees.
Despite their clinical start to the season, the Gunners went on to have a fairly lacklustre campaign, finishing in third, 11 points behind champions Chelsea.
The other Arsenal goal scorers on the day were Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, and Eduardo da Silva.
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