Manchester United displayed a remarkable resurgence after conceding twice within the initial four minutes, clinching a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Meanwhile, Arsenal experienced their first stumble of the season, sharing points in a 2-2 draw against a 10-man Fulham side.
Arsenal’s unexpected setback provided a lifeline for north London rivals Tottenham, who maintained their table-topping position through goal difference after securing a 2-0 triumph against Bournemouth.
United, determined to reinvigorate their campaign following a 2-0 loss to Tottenham the previous weekend, endured a nightmarish opening at Old Trafford. Just 90 seconds into the game, Taiwo Awoniyi capitalized on a corner, scoring for the seventh consecutive Premier League match. A mere three minutes and 45 seconds later, Willy Boly found the net from Morgan Gibbs-White’s free-kick.
While their opening victory over Wolves was overshadowed by their performance, United showcased resilience this Saturday, earning a crucial three points in an enthralling manner. Cristian Eriksen spearheaded the comeback, converting Marcus Rashford’s cross. Casemiro, who missed a significant chance before the break, redeemed himself by slotting home Bruno Fernandes’ assist.
Forest’s captain, Joe Worrall, was subsequently sent off for fouling Fernandes, as he approached the goal 23 minutes from time. Fernandes, the new United captain, faced prior criticism for his demeanor after the Spurs defeat. However, he secured victory from the penalty spot after Rashford was brought down in the area.
Reflecting on the tumultuous start, Fernandes stated, “It wasn’t the perfect start for us, but we maintained control, possession, and started executing the right strategies. The team demonstrated remarkable spirit, passion, and determination. We must remain vigilant to avoid conceding so early.”
In a parallel development, Arsenal’s match began disastrously, with Andreas Pereira capitalizing on Bukayo Saka’s errant pass to take advantage of Aaron Ramsdale’s positioning just one minute into the game. Despite Fulham’s staunch defense lasting over 70 minutes, Saka’s penalty equalized the score. A rapid two-goal surge, including Eddie Nketiah’s conversion of Fabio Vieira’s cross, seemingly tilted the match in Arsenal’s favor. Fulham’s Calvin Bassey was subsequently dismissed, but the 10-man side managed to salvage a point when Joao Palhinha struck home a corner in the dying minutes.
Earlier, Tottenham continued their impressive start under Ange Postecoglou, securing victory against Bournemouth with goals from James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski. Postecoglou’s squad adapted well to the absence of star player Harry Kane, with new signing Maddison delivering standout performances. Bournemouth seemed more likely to score in the second half, but Kulusevski’s goal ensured Tottenham’s triumph.
Meanwhile, Everton’s woes persisted as Sasa Kalajdzic’s late winner secured Wolves’ first points of the campaign in a 1-0 victory at Goodison Park. Although Brentford remained undefeated, their encounter with Crystal Palace concluded in a 1-1 draw, with Joachim Andersen’s equalizer denying Brentford a victory.