LONDON – West Ham United capitalised on mistakes by new Arsenal new goalkeeper Petr Cech to secure a surprise 2-0 English Premier League football victory at the Emirates and leave the Gunners deflated on Sunday.
Philippe Coutinho’s stunning late strike gave Liverpool a 1-0 victory at Stoke City to avenge their 6-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium on the final day of last season.
Steve McClaren’s reign as Newcastle United manager began with a 2-2 home draw against Southampton.
Arsenal, full of opening-weekend optimism, knew the importance of a good start to the season after five draws and a defeat in the first eight games of the last campaign left them too far behind eventual champions Chelsea.
Victory over Chelsea in the Community Shield fuelled hopes that Arsene Wenger’s side could improve on last season’s third place but goals from Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate earned West Ham victory in Slaven Bilic’s first league game in charge.
Arsenal were booed off at the final whistle with Cech culpable in both West Ham goals.
The former Chelsea keeper was signed during the close season to shore Arsenal up defensively but the experienced Czech had a day to forget in the north London sunshine.
Just before half-time he came flying out to punch Dimitri Payet’s free kick but was beaten to the ball by the head of Kouyate. Twelve minutes after the restart Zarate’s low strike sneaked past him at the near post.
West Ham, who gave a Premier League debut to 16-year-old midfielder Reece Oxford, were deserved winners. (Reuters)
