Premier League: Five things we learned from Gameweek 1 | OneFootball

World football’s top division, as many fans and league rankings agree, has returned for yet another year of excitement, triumphs, and inevitable heartbreak. It was a busy opening weekend which saw 23 goals and plenty of drama on the pitch (particularly in the penalty area) and off it too. Here are five things we learned from Gameweek 1, some of which you might have missed.

Promoted clubs mean business

Sunderland and Leeds equalled a Premier League record last weekend. Their wins at home to West Ham and Everton respectively marked only the third time since 1992 that two of the three promoted teams won on the opening day. It was also the first time ever that two promoted clubs kept a clean sheet in doing so. While these facts stand out on their own, it was the manner of victory that sent a message to the rest of the division. Although a controversial penalty was the difference, Leeds dominated Everton with Daniel Farke’s signature possession-based play, and were unlucky not to be ahead in the first half. As for Sunderland, their attack carved open Graham Potter’s Hammers. While Régis Le Bris handed out eight first team debuts, his Championship core of Mayenda, Ballard, and Isidor stepped up to the challenge.

Burnley’s 3-0 defeat at Spurs left them disappointed to have missed the victory bus. However, this team conceded just 16 goals in 46 Championship games last season. Yes, even tougher challenges are on the way for the new boys, but as PL & International Football Editor Harvey Hodgson remarked, a promoted side might be here to stay next season.

Manchester United are on to something

Another dominant display came from Ruben Amorim’s Man United, despite a narrow to Arsenal by one goal to nil. While it was a debut to forget for Benjamin Šeško, their £200 million new-look front line brought much-needed promise back to Old Trafford. Bryan Mbeumo hit the ground running with 5 shots on goal generating 0.42 expected goals, and linked up well on the diagonal switch with Mason Mount. Matheus Cunha was very efficient carrying the ball forward, registering the most dribbles of any player, as was Patrick Dorgu at left wing back, who hit the post with a well-struck low effort. Arsenal are to thank the exceptional David Raya for the three points, who produced several match-winning saves to keep out Cunha and a powerful header from Mbeumo.

Having to move on from their lowest ever Premier League points tally and a defeat in the Europa League final, United need to improve fast if they are to make a serious challenge for a top half finish and, better yet, European football. The score may not flatter Amorim’s first game this season, extending an unwanted record of five defeats in six against The Gunners, but wins are likely to come their way with similar performances as the season goes on.

Goalkeepers are accountable for sluggish play

While everyone debates whether Everton’s James Tarkowski handled the ball inside the box or not, handing Leeds a winning penalty, the match between Spurs and Burnley produced a never-seen-before moment that has the chance of becoming more common. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), introduced a new law whereby goalkeepers must not hold onto the ball for longer than a period of eight seconds, in which they are able to release it. Martin Dúbravka, who signed from Newcastle for an undisclosed fee earlier this month, did just that. This is a sign that the laws have once again changed and some players are still catching up. What’s more, it indicates that referees are remaining sharp and enforcing the new law immediately and effectively.

Keepers, beware: you never know what could happen from the corner resulting from a lapse in concentration. Dúbravka could breathe a sigh of relief, though.

Tottenham’s rebuild may take longer than anticipated

In the last 24 hours, a whirlwind saga emerged where Crystal Palace winger Ebere Eze seemed set for a move to Thomas Frank’s Spurs. Moments later, the likes of Fabrizio Romano were reporting that his medical had been organised for Friday at their North London nemeses. The signing of Eze would likely have strengthened Tottenham fans’ hopes of an immediate rise up the table from a perplexing 17th place finish last season, ensuring they remain in a European competition that would have evaded them without their Europa League win. Now, a devastating psychological blow – as per BBC Sport’s perspective – could leave a dent in the project that started with Frank’s appointment.

This prospective deal highlights Arsenal’s ambition in the market for reinforcements up front, after the injury suffered by Kai Havertz, as well as the fact that Eze simply perceives them as the better option, matching his own ambitions of more silverware after tasting success with Palace.

Just how long will it take Spurs to return to challenging for silverware and perhaps even the Premier League, as they did in 2015/16? It may take longer than some may have predicted, while Arsenal are seemingly already there.

Money, money, money

Speaking of transfers, this year’s summer window is the most lucrative in Premier League history. Leeds confirmed the £18 million addition of Swiss international Noah Okafor from AC Milan and reportedly set a record league net transfer spend of £2.37 billion, as per BBC Sport. This continues an upward trajectory set all the way back in 1992, with the first inaugural TV rights package sold to Sky Sports for £304 million, aimed at solving the issue of only 18 games being available for broadcast. One thing is for certain: clubs in the top division of English football have more money to spend year upon year.

The rights market has only grown more competitive, with TNT Sports securing the early kick off as well as this season’s Community Shield and some FA Cup matches. And with relatively new competitions like FIFA’s Club World Cup dividing up a prize money pot worth $1 billion between the 32 clubs participating, there’s even more to be earned outside of TV rights. Whether this record-breaking net spend will impact clubs attempting to rise up from the lower reaches of the game is yet to be seen.

You can keep up to date with all the Premier League news with a new five things we learned every week.