The 2022/23 Premier League season kicked off over the weekend and more of what was expected from the games came to be. All 20 teams took part in footballing action on Saturday and Sunday and we can’t help but hope for more fireworks as the season progresses.
The first game on Friday saw the Gunners beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in what was a fiercely contested game, thanks to Gabriel Martinelli with the first goal of the 2022/23 Premier League season via a well-executed training ground move.
Regardless, here are some of the talking points from Matchday 1 of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
READ: Does Messi Speak French?
Arsenal Showed Character Against Crystal Palace
Mikel Arteta’s men were exceptional in pre-season and we were looking forward to seeing how they would fare against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in a significant competitive encounter.
The Gunners came out tops after 90 minutes although Gabriel Jesus failed to score and ended up ruining the expectations of Football Manager enthusiasts.
Regardless, the Gunners weathered the storm of Patrick Viera’s men and kept a clean sheet against a very physical team that has been the bane of many of the big Premier League sides in recent times. We look forward to their next game with eyes on Gabriel Jesus to see if he can replicate his pre-season scoring form now that it matters most.
Mitrovic And Fulham Came Strong
Mitrovic was the name on many lips after the blast of the final whistle after the game between newly promoted side Fulham and Liverpool at Craven Cottage.
The Reds were forced to a draw as the defense struggled to keep up with the towering Aleksandr Mitrovic who scored the first brace of the 2022/23 season.
READ: All Muslim Players In The Premier League In 2022
Fulham have proven to be tough customers for Jurgen Klopp’s men based on recent meetings and proved yet again that their recent performances against Liverpool are no fluke. We’ll be looking to see if the Cottagers can avoid relegation and survive in the Premier League at the end of the season.
Erling Haaland Has Come With The Goals
Questions on if the Norwegian would fit in Premier League may have begun being laid to rest after he scored twice to out West Ham to the sword at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Understandably, eyes were on Haaland after he joined as some funny folks had already begun drawing conclusions from his quiet pre-season and Community Shield performances.
Pep Guardiola is arguably the best tactician in the world of football and will surely get the best out of Erling Haaland at the Etihad. The Norwegian is on point and one of the favorites for the EPL Golden Boot at the end of the season.
Darwin Nunes Eased Some Pressure Off Himself
Darwin Nunes, one of the players with long hair in the Premier League and Liverpool’s big-money signing helped the Reds to secure a point from Craven Cottage by scoring a much-needed equalizer and providing an assist.
His goal and 1 assist ensure that will be in the headlines for the right reasons, therefore, relieving himself from any pressure.
READ: Worst Soccer Injuries Till Date – 10 Of Them
Erik Ten Hag? Will He Survive Or Hang?
Optimism was high after the Red Devils trounced Liverpool 4 nil in pre-season. However, ardent football followers will have known by now, that pre-season results can’t be used as a yardstick to determine the chances of a side.
Graham Potter’s Brighton and Hove Albion snatched their first victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford for the first time ever in a 2:1 win, ensuring that Ten Hag starts his managerial career at Old Trafford with a horrible record.
The result and performance showed that the Dutchman has a lot to do at Old Trafford to get them back to their best, especially in the midfield positions. We will be looking to see if he will come good or end up as just another one of the managerial casualties at Old Trafford since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Spurs And Conte Could Be A Problem
Antonio Conte’s men were the biggest winners on Matchday 1 as they thrashed Southampton 4:1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after going down 1 nil in the game.
The Italian and his men started on a high against a side that troubled them last season and this is a pointer that they will be no pushovers or take any prisoners this term. Regardless, it is still early days.
READ: What Does Full Time (FT) Mean In Soccer?
Final Thoughts
There was no hat-trick on Matchday 1 of the 2022/23 Premier League season. Therefore, we are waiting on the first hat-trick of the season. Who do you think will score the first hat-trick of 2022/23 Premier League season?
Bournemouth Fc were the only winners amongst the newly promoted sides while Nottingham Forest with the most acquisitions amongst the 3 looked worse off among the lot in their 2 nil loss against Newcastle United.
Chelsea FC may need a finisher this season as they could only score from a penalty against a weakened Everton side at Goodison Park. The Blues need a reliable striker, having seen the departure of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner being very close to a Bundesliga return.
READ: What Does GF Mean In Soccer? – Complete Guide
We look forward to the Matchday 2 of the 2022/23 Premier League season as it continues to take shape till it reaches where we will know the real contenders, pretenders, spoilers, and whipping boys.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.