Arsenal secured their first win in the new Champions League format as they overcame Paris St-Germain at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side followed an opening draw with Atalanta by taking control with two first-half goals from Kai Havertz’s header and a free-kick from Bukayo Saka that drifted in past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. PSG had their moments, especially when Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves hit the woodwork either side of the break, but the platform for victory was established by a dominant first-half display from Arsenal. Havertz put them ahead after 20 minutes when he beat Donnarumma to Leandro Trossard’s inviting cross to head home, before the keeper was deceived by Saka’s set-piece from near the touchline as he was unsighted in a packed penalty area.

PSG, stripped of the old superstars such as Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, mounted periods of pressure after the break as Arsenal struggled to retain possession, but Arteta felt confident enough to give a debut to Mikel Merino, a £31m signing from Real Sociedad, on another satisfactory night for Arsenal. Arsenal’s victory was built on a fine opening 45 minutes which brought them a deserved two-goal advantage and gave them the cushion to come through moments of pressure in the second half for a deserved win. This is a PSG team in major transition after the decision to move on from the era of the acquisition of superstars, but the manner in which Arsenal controlled the first 45 minutes was another sign of the growth of the Gunners under Arteta.

As they took a stranglehold on affairs through Havertz, who showed bravery and commitment to reach Trossard’s delivery ahead of the onrushing Donnarumma, and Saka’s somewhat freakish strike from a free-kick, Arsenal played in a fashion which would have delighted their manager. It was a more difficult second half as PSG responded, although Gabriel Martinelli should have added a third when he volleyed straight at Donnarumma, but Arsenal kept Luis Enrique’s side at arm’s length and the win was concluded in comfort. Arteta will also have been delighted to give Merino some minutes, the Spain midfielder being unfortunate to suffer a shoulder injury in his first training session after an accidental tangle with Gabriel.

Arsenal scored twice in stoppage time to earn a dramatic victory over Leicester at Emirates Stadium. A Wilfred Ndidi own goal in the 94th minute and a close-range Kai Havertz strike in the ninth minute of stoppage time denied a Foxes side who were within reach of an unlikely point after clawing back a two-goal deficit in the second half. Gabriel Martinelli had given the dominant Gunners a deserved first-half lead when he steered home Jurrien Timber’s cross, before providing the pass for the second, converted by Leandro Trossard, on the stroke of half-time.

Leicester had managed only one touch in the Arsenal area before the break, but they reduced the arrears a little over a minute into the second half when James Justin’s header from Facundo Buonanotte’s free-kick struck Havertz on its way in. Justin doubled his personal tally in spectacular fashion shortly after the hour mark, meeting Ndidi’s left-wing delivery with a swerving volley that beat David Raya via the inside of the post. If Arsenal were momentarily stunned by Leicester’s recovery, they soon recovered their poise and Mads Hermansen produced two superb saves to keep the Foxes level, denying Havertz with a point-blank stop before keeping out Trossard’s shot – moments after giving the ball away inside his own area.

But Trossard’s late effort was deflected past the Danish goalkeeper by Ndidi before Havertz struck from point-blank range to complete the scoring. Arsenal stay one point behind leaders Liverpool but move level on points with Manchester City, who were held by Newcastle earlier on Saturday. Arsenal fans must have been scratching their heads as the game entered second-half stoppage time, as Leicester closed in on a draw that had barely seemed possible at the interval. Arsenal fans must have been scratching their heads as the game entered second-half stoppage time, as Leicester closed in on a draw that had barely seemed possible at the interval.

Teenager Ethan Nwaneri scored his first Arsenal goals as they cruised to victory over League One Bolton to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round. The 17-year-old, making his first senior start for the club, slotted into an empty net from Raheem Sterling’s cross, before taking advantage of some sloppy Bolton play to pick up the ball from Declan Rice and roll under visiting goalkeeper Luke Southwood. Nwaneri’s two goals came after he had already played a part in Arsenal’s 16th-minute opener with a fizzed cross which Scott Arfield failed to clear and Rice dispatched a calm finish into the bottom corner

Sterling tapped home the fourth from a couple of yards in the 64th minute after Southwood spilled Bukayo Saka’s effort. It was the forward’s first goal in Arsenal colours, on his first start, since joining from London rivals Chelsea on transfer deadline day. Kai Havertz wrapped up a convincing win at Emirates Stadium after guiding home a rebound when Sterling’s shot was saved. Aaron Collins had pulled one back for Bolton in the 53rd minute after a brilliant counter-attack. It was ultimately a consolation, but one that denied teenage Arsenal goalkeeper Jack Porter a clean sheet on his record-setting senior debut. At 16 years and 72 days old, he became the youngest player to start a first-team game for the Gunners, breaking a mark set by Cesc Fabregas in October 2003 in the League Cup against Rotherham.

Porter is the club’s fourth choice, but got the call after number one stopper David Raya was ruled out with a thigh injury, summer signing Neto was cup-tied, having already featured in the competition for parent club Bournemouth, and Tommy Setford was also out injured. After a gruelling Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday, boss Arteta opted to rest several first-team starters and chose a youthful line-up with Porter, full-back Josh Nichols, 18, Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, and Nwaneri making their full senior debuts. Two other teenagers Maldini Kacurri and Ismeal Kabia also made their first foray into first-team football off the bench. But bolstered by the experience of Rice and Jorginho in midfield and the quality of Saka and Sterling on the wings, Arsenal’s youngsters had the freedom to showcase their talent in this comfortable victory.

John Stones scrambled home an equaliser seconds from time amid chaos and controversy to deny Arsenal a famous victory against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. Arsenal had mounted a magnificent rearguard action following the first half-dismissal of Leandro Trossard – and stood moments away from arguably the finest moment in manager Mikel Arteta’s reign – until substitute Stones forced in following a well-worked short corner at the end of seven minutes of added time. There will be pride as well as pain for the Gunners, who went behind early on to Erling Haaland’s 100th goal for Manchester City but turned a thrilling encounter on its head to lead before the interval.

In moments of huge significance, City lost talisman Rodri with a knee injury after 21 minutes, manager Pep Guardiola’s mood worsening even further when Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori swept home an angled finish high past Ederson seconds later. Arsenal’s set-piece expertise was in evidence again as Gabriel, in a replica of his winner at Tottenham last week, headed home a corner at the far post seconds into first-half stoppage time. The most contentious incident came seconds before the break when Arsenal’s Trossard was given a second yellow card for kicking the ball away, leaving the visitors nursing a sense of injustice after City’s Jeremy Doku had escaped punishment for a similar offence.

It set the scene for a City siege after the break, but Arsenal defended with courage, resilience and organisation, aided by the heroics of goalkeeper David Raya, only to be denied right at the end – as they were on the brink of inflicting the first home Premier League defeat on the champions since Brentford won at Etihad Stadium in November 2022. Stones’ dramatic intervention means City stay top of the Premier League. Arteta may have won the FA Cup against Chelsea in 2020 – but if they had survived just a matter of seconds longer in a frantic finale at Manchester City, this may just have been the best win of his managerial career. The Gunners were simply magnificent in defence of a 2-1 lead, their task made harder by Trossard’s foolish decision to effectively invite a second yellow card from referee Michael Oliver seconds before half-time when he kicked the ball away following a needless barge into Bernardo Silva.

David Raya made an unbelievable double save from a penalty as Arsenal drew at Italian side Atalanta in their Champions League opener. The Spaniard got down low to his right to keep out Mateo Retegui’s spot-kick and somehow got across his goal to scoop the striker’s follow-up header off the line. That was the one real moment of drama and quality in an otherwise forgettable match in Bergamo. Chances were at a premium, with Raya not needing to pull off any other saves outside of that two-second spell. Arsenal, meanwhile, did not have a single shot between the 18th and 75th minute.

Like Europa League winners Atalanta, the Gunners’ only two shots on target came as part of a double save. Marco Carnesecchi tipped away Bukayo Saka’s free-kick and blocked Thomas Partey’s follow-up. It looked as if the game was going to go away from Arsenal when Thomas Partey clipped defensive midfielder Ederson on the left edge of the box. A penalty was awarded and, after a long video assistant referee check, the decision stood. During that wait Raya went over to talk to Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach, his fellow Spaniard Inaki Cana, who he also worked with at Brentford. Whatever they discussed worked.

Retegui’s penalty was not the best but Raya still did very well to dive to his right and keep it out. The Italy striker, again, should really not have given Raya a chance with the rebound as he looked to head into an empty net on the other side of the goal. Nobody in the ground expected Raya to have any chance of getting across in time to keep it out but he did, just before the ball fully crossed the line.

Brazil international Neto has joined us from Bournemouth on a season-long loan. The 35-year-old has made 63 appearances for the Cherries since joining them in August 2022 and was named club captain just six months later. After signing for us, he said: “I’m realising a dream in my life, a dream come true, and I’m really, really happy.

“I had two dreams as a kid to play for a football team. It was my team in Brazil, where I grew up and became a professional footballer, and also Arsenal. And now I’m realising it! I’m a really lucky person. “To all the supporters of Arsenal, I’d just like to say I’m one more fan here. My dream has come true, I’m really happy. Depend on me, I’ll give more than 100% to give everything for Arsenal.”

Neto started his youth career with Cruzeiro before moving to fellow Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense, where he made his professional debut at the age of 19 in August 2009. The following campaign saw him become a regular in the Athletico side, making 34 league appearances. In January 2011, he moved to Italy, signing for Fiorentina. Following his debut in November 2011, Neto went on to make 101 appearances in a successful four-year spell with I Viola before moving to Juventus in 2015. During his two seasons there, Neto won five trophies, which included back-to-back domestic league and cup doubles.

In July 2017, Neto moved to Spain, signing for Valencia. In two seasons with the La Liga side, he made 80 appearances helping his side win the 2019 Copa del Rey, before moving to Barcelona ahead of the 2019/20 season. During his time with Barca, Neto won the Copa Del Rey for the second time in his career when Barca lifted the trophy in 2021. After two seasons with Barcelona, Neto moved to the Premier League, signing for Bournemouth in August 2022. The experienced goalkeeper was included in the Brazil squad for 2012 Olympic Games in London, as well as his country’s squad for 2015 Copa America held in Chile.

Neto is not eligible for Saturday’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion, and will join up at Sobha Realty Training Centre next week. He will wear the number 32 shirt. Everyone at Arsenal welcomes Neto to the club.

A second-half goal from Joao Pedro saw Brighton come from behind to draw after Arsenal had Declan Rice sent off in an entertaining game in north London. It looked as though the Gunners were going to continue their perfect start to the season when Bukayo Saka played through Kai Havertz, who lobbed Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal for the 38th-minute opener. However, the game completely changed after Declan Rice was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 49th minute for delaying a free-kick being taken by Joel Veltman. The Seagulls defender could also feel lucky to have got away without picking up a card himself.

Brighton piled on the pressure after that point and drew level in the 58th minute when Yankuba Minteh’s shot was parried into the path of Pedro by David Raya and the Brazilian striker slotted the ball under the keeper. Havertz then had a good chance to win the game when through on goal, but his effort was saved by Verbruggen, before Seagulls substitute Yasin Ayari had an effort saved by Raya late in the game. Brighton continued to push for a winner and brought on new £39.5m signing Georginio Rutter as they looked for a magic moment, but he mistimed a header as they could not find the decisive strike. Prior to kick-off, the feeling around the club was already positive following the deadline-day deal to bring Raheem Sterling to the club on loan from Chelsea on favourable terms.

That continued when Havertz lobbed Verbruggen for a delightful strike after a touch by Saka to set him up. But it all started to go downhill for the Gunners from there. Boss Mikel Arteta had his head in his hands when, having already been booked for a late foul on Veltman, midfielder Rice nudged the ball away from the Dutchman and knew a second yellow card was coming. On his 245th Premier League appearance, this was Rice’s first ever red card.On his 245th Premier League appearance, this was Rice’s first ever red card. Arsenal lost any control they had in the match when they went down to 10 men, although Havertz did waste a good opportunity to claim his second goal.

Raheem Sterling has joined us on a season-long loan from Chelsea. The 29-year-old winger arrives at the club having won every domestic honour, including four Premier League titles and five Football League Cups. He has made 379 appearances in the top flight, scoring 123 goals and assisting 63 times.

Raheem began his youth career at QPR before moving to Liverpool’s academy. He went on to establish himself as a first-team player, making his senior debut in 2012 and earning his first England cap the same year. He then moved to Manchester City in 2015, winning all of his Premier League titles during his seven years with the club as well as the EFL Cup five times, the FA Cup and Community Shield, before joining Chelsea in 2022.

Raheem’s individual honours include being named FWA Footballer of the Year in 2018/19, and he was voted into the PFA’s Team of the Year at the end of the same season. Raheem has been capped 82 times by England – only 16 players have made more appearances for the men’s team – and was a key man for his country as they finished runners-up at Euro 2020. Everyone at Arsenal welcomes Raheem to the club. And that cements it ladies & gentlemen. Arsenal had cemented it’s place as the retirement home for Chelsea rejects, with one last big paycheck and helping their rival to take off some of the salary.

Crystal Palace are delighted to announce the signing of Eddie Nketiah on a five-year deal from Arsenal. Growing up in Deptford, Nketiah returns to South London as an England international and an established goalscorer at the highest level.The forward started out in Chelsea’s youth system, but moved to Arsenal aged 14. His prolific attacking returns – including 39 goals in 39 games for the Under-18s – propelled him towards first-team football, where he scored twice in just his second senior appearance.

The striker went on to lift the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2019/20 and, in October 2020, he broke the England Under-21s goalscoring record, finishing with 16 goals in just 17 games at that level. His senior England bow arrived last October, debuting for the Three Lions against Australia. Nketiah concludes his time at Arsenal having netted 38 goals in 168 games – averaging a goal just under every 180 minutes played – and having scored his first Premier League hat-trick, against Sheffield United, last season.

He becomes the club’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window, joining Chadi Riad, Daichi Kamada, Ismaïla Sarr and Maxence Lacroix in Palace’s squad, and will wear the Eagles’ No. 9 shirt.

The sought-after 26-year-old England international has moved to St Mary’s on a four-year contract, further strengthening the options in Russell Martin’s squad ahead of the summer transfer window closing. Ramsdale, who has been capped five times at senior level for his country, joins Saints after making 89 appearances for Arsenal over the past three seasons.

During that time, he was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the 2022/23 campaign, as the division’s outstanding goalkeeper, further enhancing the reputation he had built during spells with previous clubs Sheffield United and Bournemouth, with Ramsdale having played a total of 153 top-flight matches in his career to date.

The Saints will pay an initial £18m for the former Sheffield United goalkeeper, with an extra £7m in add-ons. He made 89 appearances for Arsenal after a £26m move to the Emirates from Sheffield United in 2021. “Aaron is a real statement signing for us,” said Saints boss Russell Martin. “I’m very grateful to ownership and the board for making it happen, especially as so many other clubs were keen to get him.” Ramsdale had been linked to a move to Wolves. The former Bournemouth goalkeeper attended Southampton’s play-off win against Leeds United in May in support of close friend David Brooks, who was on loan with the Saints from the Cherries.

Spain international Mikel Merino has joined us from La Liga side Real Sociedad on a long-term contract. The 28-year-old midfielder has been a vital member of Sociedad’s team since joining the Basque side in 2018. In the heart of their midfield, he made 242 appearances, scoring 27 goals and assisting 30 times. Born in Pamplona, Spain, Mikel started his career with Osasuna. He progressed through their youth ranks into the first team, where he made 67 appearances and scored eight goals. In July 2016, he joined Borussia Dortmund and helped them win the German Cup the following May.

That summer, Mikel joined Newcastle United on a season-long loan and, after making a strong early impression, he was signed on a permanent deal just a couple of months later, going on to make 24 Premier League appearances in his debut season. In 2018, Sociedad signed Mikel and he has played his football there ever since. He played an integral role as they won the 2020 Copa del Rey, and qualified for the Champions League last season, when he won more duels for possession than any other player in Europe’s top leagues, with 326 recoveries. Mikel is an experienced international with 28 appearances for Spain. At youth level, he won the European Under-19 Championship in 2015 and the European Under-21 Championship in 2019. He also has an Olympic silver medal, playing a key role in Spain’s second-place finish at the 2020 Games in Japan.

He was part of the squad that won the 2023 UEFA Nations League, beating Croatia 5-4 on penalties in the Rotterdam final. More recently, the midfielder helped his nation win the European Championships, with Spain beating England 2-1 in the final. Mikel notably made his mark on La Roja’s road to the final, scoring a 119th-minute winner in their quarter-final against Germany. Mikel will wear the number 23 shirt and will immediately join up with his new teammates at Sobha Realty Training Centre. Everyone at Arsenal welcomes Mikel Merino to the club.

Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira has completed a season-long loan move to Porto. The 24-year-old left the Portuguese giants for the Gunners two years ago for around £34.3 million but has since struggled for consistent game time under Mikel Arteta.

Vieira made 22 appearances in his debut season in north London but struggled with injuries last term and subsequently fell down the midfield pecking order. He will now act as Francisco Conceicao’s replacement at Porto, with the Portugal international having been allowed to join Juventus on loan. The imminent £32.6million arrival of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad has increased competition for places in Arsenal’s midfield even further, as well as the emergence of academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri.

In total, Vieira has made 49 appearances for Arsenal to date, scoring three goals and registering nine assists in the process. There will be no option or obligation for Porto to make the deal a permanent arrangement next summer, with Vieira – who has taken the No10 shirt at the Estadio do Dragao recently vacated by Conceicao – still under contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2027. Vieira is the second player to leave Arsenal in the last 24 hours, with academy graduate Charlie Patino having joined Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna on Monday.

Arsneal have completed the sale of academy graduate Charlie Patino as the 20-year-old moves to Deportivo de La Coruna. Patino had been linked with an exit from Arsenal as he is not in Mikel Arteta’s plans for the future. The 20-year-old has now moved to Spanish second-tier side Deportivo de La Coruna for a reported fee in the region of £1 million ($1.3m) along with the Gunners now holding a significant sell-on clause.

Patino joined Arsenal’s youth system in 2015 at the age of 12 and made his official debut with the senior team during a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Sunderland at Emirates Stadium in December 2021. The central midfielder spent the last two seasons on loan at Blackpool and Swansea City, however, this season he decided to leave on a permanent deal. Patino has become a fan favourite with Gunners fans over the last couple of years and Arsenal supporters have been asking for the Watford-born player to be incorporated into Arteta’s first team. Fans have also expressed their anger towards the club for their willingness to sell the highly-rated Spanish-British wonderkid.

His senior debut came in December 2021, when he came on as a substitute to score in the Gunners’ Carabao Cup quarter-final against Sunderland at Emirates Stadium. Patino spent time on loan last season with Swansea City in the Championship, making 35 appearances, scoring four goals and providing four assists. In a statement, Arsenal thanked the academy gradate for his contribution to the club during his time with them and wished him well for his move.

Arsenal survived their latest severe examination from bogey side Aston Villa to emerge with a statement victory after a thunderous encounter at Villa Park. In a tale of two goalkeepers, Arsenal’s David Raya produced a miraculous second-half save from Ollie Watkins with the scoreline goalless before opposite number Emi Martinez blundered to allow Thomas Partey’s shot to squirm through his hands to gift the Gunners a vital two-goal cushion. Arsenal were hanging on after Watkins missed a golden chance in the first half to put Villa ahead but the pivotal moment came after the break when Raya somehow recovered his ground to make a stunning one-handed stop from the England striker after Amadou Onana’s shot bounced back off the bar.

Mikel Arteta’s side took full advantage to go ahead after 67 minutes, substitute Leandro Trossard scoring with his first touch after replacing Gabriel Martinelli, with a smooth finish low past Martinez’s outstretched left hand. Partey increased Arsenal’s lead 10 minutes later to seal a triumph that will taste particularly sweet after Villa inflicted damage on their title charge last season by completing a league double. Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta will have seen this visit to Villa Park as an early chance to demonstrate that they mean business once more in the title race as they faced the side who proved such a thorn in their side last season. In a pursuit full of fine margins, Villa’s two league wins over Arsenal, particularly the 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium in mid-April, were hugely damaging as they lost the title to Manchester City by just two points.

And they will see this win, full of grit and with the occasional sprinkling of good fortune, as one of huge significance as they finally try to bridge the gap and turn themselves into champions. As expected, Villa provided a stern test and Arsenal were grateful for the misfiring finishing of Watkins but most of all to the brilliance of goalkeeper Raya, who sprung to his left as the home supporters got ready to celebrate to pull off a magnificent save with the score 0-0 and this tight encounter on a knife-edge. It proved to be the turning point. Arsenal cashed in on that moment, Trossard once again proving how valuable he is with a clinical finish to break the deadlock. The Gunners were on their way.

Partey’s second eased any potential late nerves as Villa ran out of ideas, the celebrations between Arsenal’s players and fans after the final whistle demonstrating the importance of these three points, even coming so early in this campaign.

Arsenal got their Premier League campaign under way with a comfortable victory over Wolves at Emirates Stadium. Kai Havertz headed in a first-half opener for the Gunners from Bukayo Saka’s cross from the right, with the England forward adding their second after the break with a powerful left-foot shot into the right corner after the visitors were caught out by a quickly taken free-kick. While Arsenal were far from at their best, they always looked in control of the contest and more than merited their win against determined opponents.

Wolves debutant Jorgen Strand Larsen saw his first-half header well saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. And substitute Matheus Cunha should have done better with a tame effort straight at Raya in a period when Wolves were chasing an equaliser. However, Wolves boss Gary O’Neil can have little complaint at the outcome, with his side fashioning few clear-cut opportunities over the course of the afternoon. Prior to kick-off the stadium paid an emotional tribute to former Arsenal forward Kevin Campbell, who died at the age of 54 earlier this summer. Campbell won four major trophies at the club and was part their 1990-91 title-winning team.

And Arsenal’s first goal was arguably reminiscent of Campbell in his pomp, with Havertz darting between two defenders and powering a header past Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa. The Germany international’s industry proved a problem for Wolves all afternoon, although for much of the first period Arsenal’s best opportunities came courtesy of their incessant pressing and some wayward passing out of defence from the away side. With the visitors struggling to play their way through the red and white shirts, Saka twice had chances to make it an even more profitable day in front of goal. Martin Odegaard’s blistering long-range effort, tipped away by Sa, was their best effort in the second period until Saka rounded off a satisfactory start to the season for Arteta’s side.

The first day of the league season is one that gets every Gooner’s blood pumping, as the anticipation and excitement ahead of a new campaign build to a crescendo and it’s no different in 2024/25. But how have we traditionally fared in our first fixture? Here are some facts and stats:

• This will be Arsenal’s 121st league season, and in the previous 120 opening games, we have a record of 56 wins, 23 draws and 41 losses. We have never won the league after losing the opening game of the season.
• We have won our opening Premier League match in each of the last two seasons, beating Crystal Palace in 2022/23 and Nottingham Forest last season. We last started our season with a win in three seasons in a row between 2007/08 and 2009/10.
• After we netted twice against Nottingham Forest 12 months ago, we are four goals shy of netting 200 in total in game number one, having conceded 169 across the same period.
• We have started a season at home much more often than not, with 68 home fixtures as opposed to 52 away.
• This will be the 33rd Premier League season, and as we are ever-presents in the division we have played 32 times on the competition’s opening weekend, winning 18 and drawing six of those games. We average 1.88 points (using three points for a win) since the division’s creation in 1992, higher than our all-time average of 1.58.
• Our game against Wolves on the opening day will be the 12th time in the last 13 seasons that we have begun our Premier League campaign with a game in London, with the exception being a 1-0 win at Newcastle United in 2019/20.
• We haven’t drawn on the opening day in 12 years since we played out a goalless draw with Sunderland at Emirates Stadium.

• Statistically, a draw on the opening day has seen us go on to enjoy good campaigns. In the six seasons we began with a stalemate, we have recorded an average finishing position of 3.5 in the table, ahead of the 3.9 when we won, and 4.6 when we lost.
• Our top scorer in Premier League openers is Dennis Bergkamp, who has five strikes to his name. Theirry Henry is second, with all four of his efforts being our first goal of the campaign in four out of five seasons between 2001/02 and 2005/06.
• No player has scored a hat-trick for us on the opening day in the Premier League, with Bergkamp and Cesc Fabregas the only ones to have netted twice. The Dutchman’s came in a 4-0 win over Middlesbrough in 2001, while Fabregas recorded his brace in that 2009 win at Everton.
• Alexandre Lacazette’s two strikes were both the opening goals of the entire Premier League season – he is the only player in history to have achieved that feat.

Fulham have signed Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal in a deal reported to be worth £34 million ($43.7m), a fee which makes him the most expensive signing in the club’s history. Smith-Rowe, 24, becomes Fulham’s second permanent transfer of the summer as they look to reinvest the money made from João Palhinha’s move to Bayern Munich, after Ryan Sessegnon rejoined the club on a free transfer in July.

“I’m finally here, so I’m really happy for me and my family — it’s a good moment,” Smith Rowe said of the transfer. “I’m really excited, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible so I could get going with my teammates. “Listening to the project, speaking to the manager, and seeing what players we have here already, I think it’s an exciting project for me, and definitely the perfect step for my career going forward.”

The attacking midfielder made his Arsenal debut in the Europa League against Vorskla Poltava in September 2018 after coming through the club’s academy, establishing himself in the first team in 2020 after loans to Huddersfield and RB Leipzig. In all he made 115 appearances for the north London team, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists. Smith Rowe penned a farewell to Arsenal on Instagram on Friday. “To the Arsenal family, I wasn’t sure where to start with this as it is the hardest message to write to you all.” he said.

“I was ten years old when I first signed for this club, just a kid with no idea that I would go on to make over 100 appearances and wear the iconic No. 10 for Arsenal. “I’m ready to take on a new challenge now, I feel hungrier than ever and I have to give myself the opportunity to take the next step. So thank you again to the Arsenal family, I’ll always appreciate you all.” Tony Khan, Fulham’s sporting director, said of his club’s transfer: “I’m thrilled to announce the arrival of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham Football Club! “We’re very excited to sign such a talented young player, and we look forward to Emile joining the squad in Portugal as we continue to prepare for the new season ahead!”

Italy international Riccardo Calafiori has joined us from Serie A side Bologna on a long-term contract. The 22-year-old defender was a member of the Azzurri squad at Euro 2024, after a season full of impressive performances at the heart of Bologna’s defence. Riccardo started his career in the youth academy at Roma, where he spent 12 years developing from the youth set-up into the first-team. During his time there, he gained valuable experience on loan at fellow Italian side Genoa during the 2021/22 season.

In August 2022, the young defender, who has represented his national team at every age group, moved to Swiss side Basel, where he was a regular and made 26 league appearances that season. His high-quality performances resulted in a return to his homeland, with the imposing defender transferring to Bologna in August 2023.  Last season, Riccardo was a leading figure in their backline, emerging as one of the strongest and most consistent performers in Serie A. He played an integral role in helping ‘I Rossoblu’ to an impressive fifth position and Champions League qualification for the first time in 60 years. Riccardo’s dominant and physical performances were not only recognised with his Euros call-up, but by him also winning the Serie A Player of the Month for May 2024.

Sporting Director Edu said: “It has been a great team effort in completing this transfer and we welcome Riccardo to the family. “We identified Riccardo as part of our strategy to sign players who fit our profile and will reinforce our squad to compete at the highest level. He is 22 but brings quality and experience. He will quickly grow into being an Arsenal player. “Riccardo has consistently shown his quality for his club and country. He was one of the best players in Serie A last season, and gave strong performances for Italy in the Euros this summer. Mikel and our coaches are excited to start working with Riccardo, and we all look forward to seeing him in our shirt.”

Riccardo will wear the number 33 shirt and has travelled to the US to join up with his new teammates in Philadelphia, as we continue our preparations ahead of the 2024/25 season.