LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Olivier Giroud of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s 5 most memorable opening day Premier League games – ranked!
by Kenneth Daly
3. Everton 1-4 Arsenal (2004)
This wasn’t the first time Arsenal battered Everton at Goodison Park to start the season. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Number three takes us back to happier times in the early noughties when Arsenal began the defence of their golden Premier League crown with a resounding triumph on Merseyside.
Despite reaching the summit of English football just months before this meeting, the champions demonstrated their professionalism and insatiable desire for success with another typically impressive display to put Everton to the sword.
The Goodison goal glut began midway through the first half when a fine Jose Antonio Reyes-inspired team move found its way to Bergkamp who subsequently rifled the ball past Nigel Martyn, while the Spaniard doubled the lead soon after by steering a powerful header into the net.
The one-way traffic continued in the second period and this time Everton were the architects of their demise, with a poor Joseph Yobo pass easily intercepted by Bergkamp before ‘Iceman’ managed to pick out Henry who, in turn, set up Freddie Ljungberg for a simple tap-in.
A Lee Carsley consolation meant there would be no clean sheet to kick off the new campaign, but a late Robert Pires effort added to the tally and helped Arsenal back to the familiarity of pole position.
Continued on the next slide…
Thierry Henry’s</a> sumptuous strike on the stroke of half-time, Ray Parlour’s dismissal shortly after the interval reduced Arsenal to ten men and gave the underdogs hope of causing a major upset.</p>
<p>However, Middlesbrough failed to make the numerical advantage count and barely threatened <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/07/07/ranking-the-5-best-arsenal-goalkeepers-of-all-time/">David Seaman</a> in goal before a controversial penalty and red card of their own sealed the points five minutes from time.</p>
<p>The floodgates were promptly opened as Dennis Bergkamp scored twice in quick succession to make it 4-0, and the flattering score-line propelled Arsene Wenger’s men to the top of the table.</p>
<p>Continued on the next slide…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #4 most memorable opening day game </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2><strong>4. Fulham 0-3 Arsenal (2020)</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_105786" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-105786" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1228468292.jpeg" alt="Arsenal comfortably won 3-0" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1228468292.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1228468292-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Remember when signing Willian looked like an ingenious bit of business? (Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<p>A more recent inclusion now from the behind-closed-doors era, and Arsenal’s participation in the 2020 curtain-raiser saw them inflict a crushing defeat on newly promoted Fulham.</p>
<p>While the pandemic and Project Restart delayed the start of the season, the Gunners wasted no time in getting off the mark and they took the lead inside ten minutes through Alexandre Lacazette.</p>
<p>That sun-drenched afternoon at Craven Cottage also featured the false dawn of Willian’s north London career as the summer arrival proved a constant menace and played a key role in both the second and third goals; finding the head of fellow newbie Gabriel from a set-piece and teeing up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a delightful finish just before the hour mark.</p>
<p>It was a dominant performance full of energy and commitment that Fulham simply could not contain, but also a deceptive glimmer of hope in an ultimately wretched campaign.</p>
<p>Continued on the next slide…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 most memorable opening day game </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2><strong>3. Everton 1-4 Arsenal (2004)</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_128285" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128285" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1239,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F51173433.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1239" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/51173433.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/51173433-768x595.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">This wasn’t the first time Arsenal battered Everton at Goodison Park to start the season. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Number three takes us back to happier times in the early noughties when Arsenal began the defence of their golden Premier League crown with a resounding triumph on Merseyside.</p>
<p>Despite reaching the summit of English football just months before this meeting, the champions demonstrated their professionalism and insatiable desire for success with another typically impressive display to put Everton to the sword.</p>
<p>The Goodison goal glut began midway through the first half when a fine Jose Antonio Reyes-inspired team move found its way to Bergkamp who subsequently rifled the ball past Nigel Martyn, while the Spaniard doubled the lead soon after by steering a powerful header into the net.</p>
<p>The one-way traffic continued in the second period and this time Everton were the architects of their demise, with a poor Joseph Yobo pass easily intercepted by Bergkamp before ‘Iceman’ managed to pick out Henry who, in turn, set up <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/23/arsenal-greatest-premier-league-xi/5/">Freddie Ljungberg</a> for a simple tap-in.</p>
<p>A Lee Carsley consolation meant there would be no clean sheet to kick off the new campaign, but a late Robert Pires effort added to the tally and helped Arsenal back to the familiarity of pole position.</p>
<p>Continued on the next slide…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 most memorable opening day game </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2><strong>2. Arsenal 4-3 Leicester City (2017)</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_123957" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-123957" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F830453586.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/830453586.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/830453586-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">A thriller to open 2017/18. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<p>The summer of 2017 was quiet on the sporting front and supporters were left with the mild entertainment of the Confederations Cup for their football fix. However, there was no shortage of drama when the Premier League finally returned as Arsenal and Leicester contested a thrilling Friday night opener at the Emirates stadium.</p>
<p>The domestic season got off to a blockbuster start thanks to the immediate impact of then-record signing Alexandre Lacazette, who expertly guided a Mohamed Elneny cross beyond Kasper Schmeichel less than two minutes into his Gunners debut. But the lead lasted just three minutes as questionable defending allowed Shinji Okazaki to head home from point-blank range, and the Foxes were soon in front courtesy of a thumping finish by Jamie Vardy.</p>
<p>More drama arrived in first-half stoppage time when Danny Welbeck opened his account for the campaign and, after Vardy restored the Leicester advantage, Wenger turned to his bench for solutions. The introductions of Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud turned the tide in Arsenal’s favour and it was the Welshman who grabbed the equaliser to set up a grandstand finish. Then, our former number nine directed a late header over the goal-line to secure the win.</p>
<p>There were glaring defensive shortcomings on display that underlined why neither side was able to build on their top-two standing from two seasons prior, but it made for brilliant viewing.</p>
<p>Continued on the next slide…</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The most memorable opening day game </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h2><strong>1. Everton 1-6 Arsenal (2009)</strong></h2>
<div id="attachment_128284" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-128284" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/08/04/arsenal-5-memorable-opening-day-games-ranked/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1165,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F89813186.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1165" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/89813186.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/89813186-768x559.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal put six past Everton to open their 2009/10 campaign. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p>
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<p>Although Goodison Park has not been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal in recent years, the venue has played host to several enthralling encounters and we return to the northwest to remember an astonishing opening day win in 2009.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>Similar to the aforementioned 2004 clash, the Gunners’ cause was aided by some terrible Everton defending and they quickly raced to an unassailable lead. The haul started with a sensational 25-yard strike by Denilson after 26 minutes, while two headers from William Gallas and debutant Thomas Vermaelen extended the advantage to 3-0 at half-time.</p>
<p>Any words of encouragement or advice in the home dressing room failed to stem the red and white tide as Cesc Fabregas added a fourth only three minutes after the break, and the captain later completed his brace by rounding off a swift counter-attack. The scoring concluded with a simple Eduardo tap-in in the closing stages while Louis Saha grabbed a Toffees’ consolation in stoppage time.</p>
<p>In the end, the campaign ended in disappointment as the Gunners endured another trophyless year. However, it was a dream start and perhaps the most memorable opening day in the club’s Premier League history.</p>
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<p>More of the same on Friday, please.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
