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Top takeaways from the Premier League opening weekend

By on August 10, 2015

Our first taste of summer signings, new managers and promoted clubs has come as the 2015/2016 Premier League kicked off the season this weekend. Only West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City play today, and the latter will be particularly happy to have witnessed both Chelsea and Arsenal drop early points. Richard Lewis runs down five moments to remember from the first match days of the campaign:

Leicester on Fire!

It has been another week of mixed headlines for Leicester City. On the pitch, it was all positive for the club, opening their Premier League campaign with an impressive 4-2 win over Sunderland. In Claudio Ranieri’s first game in charge, The Foxes were inspired by rock band Kasabian’s hit tune “Fire” to set the King Power stadium pitch on fire and go top of the league for the moment.

Kasabian are famous followers of the club and “Fire” is played before matches to gear the players up as well as after a home goal. Ranieri complimented the “fantastic” atmosphere the music helped create, and while many expected the Midlands club to struggle this season, four goals and three points (granted, Sunderland’s defending was beyond poor) gave the fans something to cheer about in return.

The former Chelsea and Monaco manager took over from Nigel Pearson this summer and despite a reputation for tinkering with his squad — earning Ranieri the nickname “Tinkerman” — he seemingly isn’t nearly as high strung as his predecessor.

Japanese striker Shinji Okazaki impressed on his Leicester debut and Algerian international Riyad Mahrez celebrated signing a new contract with two goals and a man-of-the-match display. Marc Albrighton scored and displayed a focused performance, perhaps banishing some demons from the tragic loss of family in June’s massacre in Tunisia.

Off the pitch, however, multiple Leicester players have inflicted controversy upon the club. Adam Johnson is due to appear in courts over his case and while England international forward Jamie Vardy may have found the back of the net against Sunderland, has been entangled in controversy after being caught on film making a racist slur at a casino. Leicester have promised to carry out an internal investigation unto Vardy’s case and although three youth players were fired over racist remarks two months ago, Vardy is a core squad member that Ranieri will be loath to lose.

Newcastle’s new boys spark rejuvenated look

Newcastle United’s £13 million star signing Aleksandar Mitrovic lived up to his billing as a hothead and was booked seconds into his Premier League debut. The twenty-year-old jumped into a tackle after coming on as a second-half substitute in Newcastle’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland and indeed, the Magpies manager Steve McClaren admitted Mitrovic could have seen red.

McClaren knew what he was buying given Mitrovic’s history of controversy — admitting the Serbian has a “bit of a devil” in him — and will hope the forward can stamp some of that aspect out of his game.

Elsewhere, the other new arrivals at St James’ were more likes angels to the home support, as £14.5 million addition Georginio Wijnaldum delighted with a headed debut goal and £8.5m centre-back Chancel Mbemba dressed to impress, donning a tuxedo as he entered the Sports Direct Arena. The name’s Mbemba… Chancel Mbemba. He might not know his age but certainly knows how to wear a suit and bow tie.

Oxford makes the grade at West Ham!

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic may well not have heard of the annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge, but has shown his faith in another Oxford: Reece Oxford. The sixteen-year-old Oxford is not even old enough to go to university in the UK, but seems to have made the grade at West Ham with a first class debut performance against Arsenal.

The youngster excelled his debut in a Hammers shirt at the Emirates Stadium in a holding midfield role, stifling the likes of Mesut Ozil. He showed maturity beyond his years and he was only twelve days old when his boss was wrapping up his careers the same claret and blue colors.

Young Oxford could be a star of the future and the Hammers youth product finished the game with the best pass percentage in the match at 95%. Arsenal need to recover from this setback quickly and currently sit bottom of the league after the shock defeat to their London rivals.

West Ham shocked the Community Shield winners with a 2-0 victory in North London and Arsenal’s new goalkeeper Petr Cech made multiple errors that lead to goals. Dimitri Payet was leaving Arsenal defenders in his wake and provided the assist for the opener while striker Mauro Zarate wrapped up the match by beating Cech from long range at the near post. It was almost as if Cech didn’t have his helmet screwed on properly!

Premier League football comes Naturally for Gomez!

Joe Gomez made his Liverpool debut at left-back against Stoke City this weekend and for the eighteen-year-old, Premier League football seemed to come naturally, like the song by his last-name namesake Selena Gomez.

Gomez featured for a full ninety minutes in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Stoke, courtesy of Philippe Coutinho’s brilliant, late winner. Christian Benteke and Nathaniel Clyne also made their debut for the Reds at the Britanna on Sunday, but Gomez held his own. If the teenager continues to see more game time throughout the season and even establishes himself as a starter, his £3.5m price tag could be a snip for Liverpool.

Liverpool exorcised their demons from a 6-1 defeat at Stoke on the final day of their 2014/2015 campaign, although Stoke could still improve their ranks before the window closes, with Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri watching on from the crowd at the game ahead of his expected transfer from Internazionale.

Homepage photo credit: Egghead06, via Wikimedia Commons

About Richard Lewis

Richard Lewis can relate almost anything to football and quite often does! You may have seen Richard's previous ideas and work in the BBC Match of the Day Magazine, from 2011 to present. He is a Manchester United and England fan, but has gone to see Leyton Orient play with his O's season ticket in the 2013/14 campaign. Aside from football, Richard has written articles on Doctor Who and studies English Language and Linguistics at the University of Westminster. Aspiring sports journalist.