Arsenal’s miserable start to the season continued today as they were outplayed at home by Swansea and lost 2-0 thanks to a late Michu brace.
The Gunners had been lucky to hold on with Wojciech Szczesny pulling off a superb double save to deny Angel Rangel, then a crucial interception from Thomas Vermaelen denied a certain goal for Nathan Dyer. Szczesny also saved well to deny Swansea debutant Dwight Tiendalli late on before Michu slid home the opener two minutes from time, and struck again in injury time as Arsenal left the field to a chorus of boos.
Arsene Wenger is not the only London manager under pressure as Rafael Benitez’s difficult start as interim Chelsea manager took a significant turn for the worse when his side were beaten 3-1 by West Ham United in the early game.
An impressive second half performance saw the Hammers overturn Juan Mata’s first-half opener with goals from Carlton Cole, Mohamed Diame and Modibo Maiga.
The defeat left Chelsea without a win in seven Premier League games, their worst league run since February 1995. Benitez record in three games is W0, D2, L1 scored 1.
Manchester City leapfrogged Manchester United back to the top of the table but only on goal difference after they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against impressive Everton at the Etihad Stadium.
Marouane Fellaini’s eighth goal of the season had put David Moyes’ men in front in the first half before Carlos Tevez equalised from the penalty spot two minutes before the break after Fellaini was adjudged to have felled Edin Dzeko in the box.
Harry Redknapp’s home debut in charge of Queens Park Rangers ended in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Loftus Road, in a game from which both sides will be frustrated not to have claimed all three points.
Brett Holman rammed the visitors in front with just eight minutes on the clock before Jamie Mackie equalised with an 18th minute header. Shaun Wright-Phillips hit the post for Rangers before Stephane Mbia was stretchered off in first-half injury time after an off-the-ball collision with Gabriel Agbonlahor.
The home side largely controlled the second period but were almost made to pay for their missed chances when Villa substitute Karim El Ahmadi fired just wide with two minutes to go.
Jermain Defoe scored twice as a superb second half show from Tottenham saw the visitors canter to a 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Sandro put Spurs ahead when he caught out Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer from long range in the 55th minute, before Defoe took over, sliding home from a set-up by Gylfi Sigurdsson on 72, and completing his side’s win five minutes later.
Daniel Agger’s 43rd minute header proved enough as Liverpool chiselled out a 1-0 win over struggling Southampton at Anfield. The home side largely dominated with Jonjo Shelvey hitting the post in the 36th minute, then a Luis Suarez free-kick rebounded off the bar and fell to Glen Johnson, whose cross back into the box set up the winner for Agger.
Substitute Dean Whitehead snatched a 75th minute winner for Stoke at The Hawthorns as West Brom fell to their second successive defeat. A dismal game sprang to life in the final quarter hour after Whitehead – a 54th minute replacement for Charlie Adam, poked home from a ball into the box by Michael Kightly to give the Potters a 1-0 win.
