BY Victor Akhidenor
First half goals from France internationals Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny were enough to secure Arsenal the three points needed to send them top of the Barclays Premier League table.
It is the first time since the opening day of the 2014/15 campaign that the Gunners have found themselves in first place, and Saturday’s result caps a wonderful week for Arsene Wenger’s team after the midweek win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
Everton halved the deficit before the interval through Ross Barkley’s strike, and while Romelu Lukaku struck the bar with a header in the second half, Arsenal were relatively untroubled at a rain-soaked Emirates, with Everton finishing the match with ten men after Gareth Barry’s red card for second bookable offence.
Chelsea’s miserable start to the season continued as they lost their fifth game in ten matches when they were reduced to ten men and beaten 2-1 at West Ham.
The Hammers took a 17th-minute lead through Mauro Zarate, when Diego Costa’s failed clearance set up nicely for the Argentine to strike a low, half-volley past Asmir Begovic.
Chelsea’s tough task became a whole lot tougher before the break, as Nemanja Matic was shown a second yellow card, for a rugby-like challenge on Diafra Sakho. Chelsea protested and Diego Costa and Fabregas were booked for dissent, while a member of the Blues’ coaching staff was sent to the stands, soon followed by Jose Mourinho after he was dismissed in the interval.
Gary Cahil fired the Blues level, reacting quickest to a knock-down after the corner, powering a shot past Adrian at the resumption of the second half.
With 11 minutes remaining, substitute Andy Carroll scored a trademark goal, rising highest to head the Hammers a second.
At Villa Park, the pressure piled on Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood when they slumped to another defeat, losing 2-1 against Swansea.
It was a much needed win for Swansea boss Garry Monk, while it was a tale of two brothers as Jordan and Andre Ayew both got on the score sheet.
Jordan Ayew opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark as he headed home at the far post, before Gylfi Sigurdsson put the visitors level with a delightful free-kick just six minutes later.
Swansea won it late on, Andre [Ayew] stabbing the ball home after Kyle Naughton’s dangerous low cross.
Jamie Vardy’s goal-scoring form continued as Leicester ran out 1-0 winners at home to Crystal Palace.
After a goalless first half at the King Power Stadium, Vardy netted his tenth goal in as many games for the Foxes this season.
It was a tight affair at Carrow Road, with West Brom leaving Norfolk three points better off thanks to record signing Salomon Rondon, who scored his second goal for the Baggies by netting after 46 minutes in the 1-0 win.
Elsewhere, Watford won their third match of the season, shocking Stoke City with a 2-0 win at the Britannia.
After twice hitting the bar, the Hornets eventually found the breakthrough minutes before the interval when Odion Ighalo’s sublime flick on the edge of the box found Troy Deeney, who turned his marker before firing home his first Premier League goal.
Almen Abdi then doubled the visitors’ lead after 69 minutes, finishing brilliantly beating England’s Jack Butland.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Aston Villa 1 – 2 Swansea City
Leicester City 1 – 0 Crystal Palace
Norwich City 0 – 1 West Bromwich Albion
Stoke City 0 – 2 Watford
West Ham United 2 – 1 Chelsea
Arsenal 2 – 1 Everton
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