Premier League - Gunners bang six past Everton

Eurosport - Sun, 16 Aug 08:36:00 2009

Arsenal got their Premier League campaign off to a flying start as they hammered Everton 6-1 at Goodison Park.

FOOTBALL 2009-10 Premier League Arsenal's Francesc Fabregas celebrates scoring his second goal with a t-shirt tribute to his friend Daniel Jarque after scoring at Everton - 0

Last season's FA Cup runners-up were comprehensively undone by a Cesc Fabregas brace and further strikes from Denilson, William Gallas, debutant Thomas Vermaelen and the returning Eduardo. Louis Saha scored late on for the home side.

Brazilian midfielder Denilson bagged his fourth league goal for the club to open the scoring on 25 minutes.

Nicklas Bendtner, deployed in a wide role by manager Arsene Wenger, held the ball up inside the Everton area before finding Fabregas. The Arsenal skipper tapped the ball across to Denilson, who curled in a first-time shot that gave Tim Howard no chance.

As unstoppable as the opener was, Arsenal's other first-half goals were eminently preventable.

Belgian defender Vermaelen marked his impressive full debut with a goal on 36 minutes when he rose unchallenged at the far post to head in Robin van Persie's free-kick from deep.

The Gunners added a third before half-time, a mirror image of Vermaelen's goal, this time Fabregas delivering and William Gallas glancing past Howard amongst a group of static Everton defenders.

Any fleeting hopes of a heroic comeback for the Toffees were snuffed out once and for all three minutes after the break when Arsenal mounted a swift counter-attack which culminated in Fabregas sweeping van Persie's pass through the legs of Howard.

There was a poignant touch as Fabregas scored his second on 70 minutes. The Spaniard took the ball from his own half unchallenged and finished the run with a low strike. Fabregas, from Catalonia, used his celebration to run over to his bench to hold up a shirt bearing the name of Espanyol captain Dani Jarque, who died unexpectedly last week.

The icing on the cake of the victory for Gunners fans was when second-half substitute Eduardo, making his first Premier League appearance since breaking his leg against Birmingham 18 months ago, was the only player to react to Andrei Arshavin's shot rebounding off the post and tapped in from close range.

Another substitute, Everton striker Saha, scored a late goal of scant consolation for Everton when Manuel Almunia saved Steven Pienaar's shot and the Frenchman netted the rebound.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

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  1. haha everton are so rubbish it could of been 10-1!!!!!!

    From asher.randall, on Wed 2 Sep 9:41AM

  2. Everton will come good,get rid of half hearted players­ and keep the trust in Moysie.Wish the ground could be a­ bit closer to Australia.Phil Mcg

    From n/a, on Wed 19 Aug 5:15AM

  3. I hope this season we dont suffer from injuries ... in­ order to stay on the race for the title .... we still­ lack of world class players as we had in the past­ (Henry, Pires & Vieira) ... super players (Toure,­ Lehmann, G Silva & Campbell) ... now we have super­ players .... but we lack a world class players who can­ lead the team to the title

    From Tarek E, on Mon 17 Aug 9:01PM

  4. I THANK GOD FOR THAT REMARKABLE START AND I WILL FOR­ EVER BE LOYAL TO ARSENAL. LOSE OR WIN GO GUNNERS.

    From walexy, on Mon 17 Aug 10:41AM

  5. Nob off Lescott,and do it fast

    From phil, on Mon 17 Aug 12:38AM

  6. It was a bad beat,but in Moyes we tust. We´ll bounce­ back,just wait and see

    From phil, on Mon 17 Aug 12:36AM

  7. I can take this 6-1 drubbing better than last years­ opener against Blackburn. Hurry up Jag,Mikel and­ Yak!!!
    Heads up :)

    From Jez, on Sun 16 Aug 7:16PM

  8. up Gunners! i beliv in u guyz so much win or loss­ u're still d best. i dey hail o!

    From Afe, on Sun 16 Aug 7:03PM

  9. up Gunners! i beliv in u guyz so much win or loss­ u're still d best

    From Afe, on Sun 16 Aug 7:01PM

  10. blame man city and mark hughes lescotts head was in the­ clouds counting his wages from the bitter blue scummers

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 16 Aug 7:00PM

  11. up Gunners! i beliv in u guyz so much win or loss­ u're still d best

    From Afe, on Sun 16 Aug 6:59PM

  12. up Gunners! i beliv in u guyz so much win or loss­ u're still d best

    From Afe, on Sun 16 Aug 6:58PM

  13. THATS GREAT FOR THE GUNNERS BUT THEY STILL NEED DAVID­ VILLA

    From china4real90, on Sun 16 Aug 4:50PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The Gunners, The Blues & The Reds always get a­ flying start but its the Consistency bar which makes­ ManU "The Champions".

    From bon_aks, on Sun 16 Aug 2:33PM

  15. go you Arsenal you rock a 6-1 thrashing!!!!!

    From ruth.campfield, on Sun 16 Aug 2:04PM

  16. lol hahaha

    From Sebastian, on Sun 16 Aug 1:58PM

  17. It was a good result no one expected,but it`s obvious­ Lescott was not in that game and I believe Moyes should­ let him go and bring in another defender.As for Arsenal­ it`s a good start,but they shouldn`t rest the season­ just statrted bringing in a defender and a midfielder­ so that Cesc can go front and score goals as he did­ yesterday will be a good thing for Wenger and if they­ do this the season will not end trophyless.

    From ekejoe2002, on Sun 16 Aug 1:24PM

  18. YOU CANNOT BLAME A BAD RESULT ON ONE PLAYER NAMELY­ LESCOTT. NEVER THE LESS MOYERS SHOUOLD GET RID OF HIM­ FAST.
    HAVING WATCHED FOOTBALL FOR MORE YEARS THAN I­ WISH TO REMEMBER THE OVERRIDING FAULT AT EVERTON IS THE­ PLAYERS LACK OF AWARENES OF WHAT IS GOING ON ROUND­ ABOUT THEM AND COMPLETE LACK OF SKILL IN PINPOINTING­ THEIR PASSES GET THAT RIGHT AND EVERTON WILL DO­ ALRIGHT.

    From Jim, on Sun 16 Aug 12:59PM

  19. to comment 283 england already have a very strong team,­ 4th in fifa ranking after spain, brasil and argentina.­ success in tournament comes with a bit of luck or magic­ or good referees. in 1998 sol campbell goal vs­ argentina was perfectly good, the same for euro 2004 vs­ portugal, and what can you say about ronaldhino's­ goal in 2002. at least you don't have a team that­ is chosen by the star sign of the players. domenech you­ freak!!!
    England success will come sooner than later.

    From lazygooner, on Sun 16 Aug 12:28PM

  20. Arsene Wenger is the best manager of all time
    With some­ young teenagers he beat a prime club at home­ mercylessly

    From murpani, on Sun 16 Aug 12:20PM
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