It were contrasting victories for Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea on the matchday of the Premier League. While a superb 15-minute spell laid the platform for the Gunners’ victory, it was Eden Hazard’s brace that guided Chelsea to a comfortable victory. United survived late threats from Burnley to earn three points.
Chelsea
Eden Hazard’s brace inspires Antonio Conte’s side to a first win in five games as Willian and Victor Moses also find the net
Eden Hazard scored his 100th and 101st league goals to help defending champion Chelsea collect its first Premier League win of the year with a 4-0 victory at Brighton on Saturday.
The Belgium winger put Chelsea in front after three minutes when Brighton failed to clear a cross from Victor Moses and Hazard slammed the ball home from eight meters (yards).
ALSO READ: Australian Open day 6: Halep survives in historic tie, easy for Federer
Hazard was also involved in the second goal only three minutes later as some intricate link play ended with Brazil midfielder Willian producing a venomous right-footed shot that gave Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan no chance.
Arsenal
Arsenal didn’t let departure of Alexis Sanchez affect them much as a 15-minute goal-fest spell helped the Gunners beat Crystal Palace 4-1.
Nacho Monreal was the unlikely star on his comeback game from an ankle problem. He scored the opening goal and laid on the second and third before departing on 33 minutes following a knock to his leg. Monreal was not the only Arsenal player that retuned from injury to good effect.
ALSO READ: India retain Blind World Cup, beat arch-rivals Pak in final
Laurent Koscielny scored the third goal while Mesut Özil decorated the afternoon with some lovely touches – not least his flick for Alexandre Lacazette’s first goal in 10 games.
Alexi Iwobi scored the second goal while Luka Milivojevic got one back for the Eagles in the 78th minute.
Manchester United
Sanchez arrived but he was forced to wait another game to debut for the Red Devils. In the absence of Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who departed to Arsenal, Manchester United toiled for better part of the game but Anthony Martial’s 54th minute goal earned them 3 points.
Anthony Martial scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season to secure Manchester United a 1-0 win at Burnley on Saturday.
ALSO READ: India beat New Zealand to set up final clash with Belgium
As United wait for the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, Martial provided Jose Mourinho with a timely reminder of his attacking talents as the French forward with the winner nine minutes into the second half at Turf Moor.
The result will come as a relief to Mourinho, who saw his side rescue a late 2-2 draw against Sean Dyche’s Clarets at Old Trafford back in December.
Romelu Lukaku held the ball up well in the centre before breaking down the right flank and switching the play to Martial with a cross-field ball, and the 22-year-old made no mistake with a high 16-yard finish in off the bar.