10 Things We Learned in the Premier League

By: Daryl | August 18th, 2008

1. Debut goals are easy
When Arsenal debutant Samir Nasri scored just four minutes into his Premier League career, he set the tone for goalscoring debutants over the weekend. Egyptian striker Amir Zaki got the idea with a left footed strike for Wigan, Deco got himself a great goal to seal an impressive performance for Chelsea, while Johan Elmander and Geovanni notched for Bolton and Hull respectively. Good starts all around.

2. The Keane and Torres double act needs work
The new Liverpool partnership looks great on paper, but it didn’t looks so good when Robbie Keane got in the way of what looked like a certain Fernando Torres goal against Sunderland.

3. The future of the English Premier League might actually be English
Man City and Aston Villa might have wealthy foreign owners and plenty of foreign owners. But the players who caught the eye were young and English. For Villa, Ashley Young was outstanding down the left while Gabby Agbonlahor scored a seven minute hat-trick. For City, 18 year old Daniel Sturridge came off the bench and looked like a superstar waiting to happen.

4. Turns out Hull really are the new Derby County
Number of games won by Derby County in Premier League 2007/8 = 1
Number of games won by Hull City in Premier League 2008/9 = 1

Although Hull have 37 more games to go of course…

Congrats to the Tigers on a great first win.

5. Tottenham need to either play Dimitar Berbatov or sell him to Man Utd
Because he’s not doing anything for Spurs sitting on the bench.

6. Dean Ashton is cursed, pure and simple
Last season Dean Ashton was called up to the England squad by Steve McClaren and responded by breaking his ankle. This Saturday he scored two goals for West Ham in front of England boss Fabio Capello… and then injured himself taking the worst freekick I’ve ever seen.

7. The future of Newcastle United is albiceleste
Looks like Newcastle have solved two problems with Argentinean solutions. The Toon Army have been waiting for a new left wing wizard to idolize ever since Ginola left, and based on his debut performance, Jonás Gutiérrez is that man. he’s got everything Ginola had (left foot, long hair) plus he’s prepared to break into a sprint and get back and put a tackle in. And despite my prediction that Fabricio Coloccini could be just another central defender buried in the St. James’ park graveyard, the permed one more than held his own against Man Utd.

8. So far so good for the whole Respect initiative
One week of action done, and no major incidents.There was even an incident where Jonas Gutierrez complained about not getting a penalty from Mike Riley, but it all ended in handshakes. That advert must be working.

9. If players come back from injury too soon, they just get injured again
Man City have rushed Valeri Bojinov back, and he clearly wasn’t ready. How do we know? Because he got re-injured in the warm-up yesterday and could be out for six months.

10. Arsenal fans can forgive and forget… but not just yet
Emmanuel Adebayor might be staying at The Emirates instead of jetting off to Barcelona or Milan, but that doesn’t mean Arsenal fans can’t remind him of his attempted infidelity with a quick boo on the opening day of the season.

For more, visit Premier League Offside