Blackburn defeated Arsenal 4-3 at Ewood Park in an absolute exhilarating encounter in the early kick-off in the Premier League.
The visitors took the lead in the 10th minute as Gervinho finished from a tight angle after Alex Song produced a good through ball.
Rovers were back on level terms in the 25th minute as debutant Yakubu beat the offside trap and fired past Wojciech Szczesny first time. The Gunners were back in front on 35 minutes as midfielder Mikel Arteta stroked home Aaron Ramsey’s pinpoint cross.
The home side got a huge slice of luck in the 50th minute as Ruben Rochina’s free-kick hit Song on the knee and bounced past the Gunners keeper into the net. Yakubu got his brace in the 59th minute as the Nigerian striker scored from close range from a Steven N’Zonzi cross.
Replays showed that the striker was standing in an offside position when he scored the goal. It got even better for Rovers in the 68th minute as Laurent Koscielny poked past his own keeper from a Martin Olsson cross.
Arsenal got back in the game with an 85th minute header from substitute Marouane Chamakh. Arsenal pushed for an equaliser but couldn’t find a fourth goal.
Elsewhere newly promoted side Swansea City claimed a 3-0 victory over West Brom at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea took the lead in the 14th minute, midfielder Joe Allen was hacked down by Paul Scharner in the penalty area and Scott Sinclair scored from the spot-kick.
The Welsh side doubled their lead in the 24th minute, striker Leroy Lita scoring with a close range header at the back post. Winger Nathan Dyer made it three for the Swans with a low drilled effort in the 49th minute. West Brom were poor and Swansea claimed a first Premier League victory of the season.
Everton defeated Wigan 3-1 at Goodison Park. Wigan took the lead completely against the run of play through another deflected effort from striker Franco Di Santo in the 31st minute. The visitors wasn’t in the lead for long though, as Everton equalised just 90 seconds later.
Phil Jagielka scored a close range diving header after Tim Cahill’s header had hit the crossbar. Wigan tried their best to waste time at every opportunity but couldn’t hold Everton off. Everton scored their second goal in the 84th minute.
Tony Hibbert’s superb cross was met by young Greek substitute Apostolos Vellios, who bulleted a header past Ali Al-Habsi in the Wigan goal. Wigan hit the crossbar through midfielder David Jones straight from the kick-off.
The final word went to Everton and another substitute Royston Drenthe, who ran onto Denis Stracqulursi’s nod on and kept his cool to fire past Al-Habsi deep into stoppage time.
Aston Villa and Newcastle drew 1-1 at Villa Park. The home side took the lead on 13 minutes, striker Gabriel Agbonlahor scoring after holding off the attention of Fabricio Coloccini. The visitors equalised in the 58th minute striker Leon Best scoring at the second attempt after Shay Given had saved his initial effort.
Norwich claimed their first Premier League victory of the season with a 2-1 defeat of Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. The Canaries took the lead in the 36th minute, midfielder Anthony Pilkington scuffing home from close range.
Norwich doubled their lead in the 41st minute as midfielder Bradley Johnson headed home when completely unmarked. Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic was dismissed just before half-time after appearing to direct his head towards Steve Morison. There was little to no contact on the big striker.
The home side were back in the game in the 63rd minute. Norwich defender Leon Barnett brought down striker David N’Gog in the penalty area. Bulgarian midfielder Martin Petrov made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Another Premier League new boy QPR enjoyed a superb 3-0 victory at Wolves. The Hoops took the lead in the 8th minute, midfielder Joey Barton scuffing a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Two minutes later Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Faurlin scored a superb volley from just outside the penalty area.
The victory was complete in the 87th minute as striker DJ Campbell scored from close range after a good run from full-back Armand Traore. This was the clubs first Premier League victory of the season.
Can all the new boys stay in the Premier League this season?
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