As Arsenal win first game
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his return to Manchester United as the hosts eventually cruised to 4-1 victory against Newcastle to send Old Trafford into raptures.
Twelve years after he last scored for Manchester United in this stadium, Ronaldo broke the deadlock in first-half added time when he tapped in after visiting keeper Freddie Woodman spilled Mason Greenwood’s shot.
Then, after former Liverpool defender Javier Manquillo had levelled with his first Newcastle goal, Ronaldo finished off a flowing move by racing onto Luke Shaw’s through ball and drilling a low shot through Woodman’s legs.
His international team-mate Bruno Fernandes then rifled in the goal of the game as he collected Paul Pogba’s square pass and curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area. Substitute Jesse Lingard added a fourth in added time.
Meanwhile, Arsenal lifted the pressure on manager Mikel Arteta as they secured their first points of the Premier League season with victory over Norwich City at Emirates Stadium.
Arteta was under mounting scrutiny after a miserable start to the campaign with three defeats that left the Gunners at the foot of the table, so a win that was workmanlike rather than spectacular will be gratefully received.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was back on target to set Arsenal on their way after 66 minutes, with a finish from almost on the goal-line after Canaries’ keeper Tim Krul turned Nicolas Pepe’s shot on to the post and the same player then struck the woodwork again.
Other results from yesterday game saw Crystal Palace securing a 3-0 victory over Tottenham while Brighton narrowly edged Brentford by a lone goal.
Defending champions, Manchester City secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leicester City while Southampton played a 0-0 draw with West Ham.
Watford fell 2-0 at home to Wolves while Chelsea defeated Aston Villa by 3-0.
