2025/26 Premier League Opening Day Recap: Sunday's Matches in Review

2025/26 Premier League Opening Day Recap: Sunday's Matches in Review

There were three games on Sunday as the opening weekend of the season came to a close.

Whilst there may not have been as many goals per game as Saturday's action, there was still plenty to enjoy.

Two old foes clashed in a close encounter at Old Trafford, Nottingham Forest looked to build on last year's European qualification and the Community Shield champions visited Chelsea.

Here's how the action unfolded.

Arsenal Clinch Win

The Gunners beat Manchester United 1-0 on their old rivals' turf.

The pre-match build-up was dominated by the two new arrivals up front in Victor Gyokores and Benjamin Sesko, with the Swede starting and the Slovenian coming off the bench.

Yet, it was a defender who made the difference as Riccardo Calafiori headed in on the line after Altay Bayindir flapped at a corner kick in the 13th minute.

Aside from that, the Red Devils were largely the better team and it beggars belief as to how Arsenal came away with a clean sheet.

David Raya made an unbelievable save to get down low and brush his fingertips to push Matheus Cunha's low shot away from the far corner, whilst Bryan Mbeumo was also heavily involved as both made their league debuts for them.

DAVID RAYAAAAAAA WOW

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) August 17, 2025

The Frenchman had a second half header as he lost his marker and it was directed with power, but it wasn't in the corner enough to stop Raya from pushing the ball away from danger.

Shoots of improvement for Man Utd 🌱

But as ever, there's only one stat that really matters ⚽ pic.twitter.com/zeOc7q44N4

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) August 17, 2025

The Gunners almost wrapped up the points in stoppage time as Bukayo Saka broke free in the box, but Matthijs De Ligt stuck out a desperate leg to deny the winger.

Match Highlights

Forest Batter Bees

Nottingham Forest's hopes of matching last season's top seven campaign kicked off in sensational style as they put Brentford to the sword.

The 3-1 score line was well deserved as summer signing Dan Ndioye got a debut goal, whilst new Bees manager Keith Andrews has a lot to sort out following the departures of Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard.

Chris Wood bagged 20 league goals last season and he already has two to his name this time round, scoring from a knock down off a corner in the fifth minute and then a one-on-one as a result of Elliot Anderson's exquisite through ball.

Someone let me know if I’m being reactionary but I do think we’re winning the Premier League and Elliot Anderson is winning the Balon d’Or

— Louis Wheeldon (@LouisWheeldonNS) August 17, 2025

Ndoye scored a header from 15 yards out in the 42nd minute that doubled Forest's lead after Morgan Gibbs-White, fresh from his new bumper contract, turned Rico Henry inside-out to deliver the cross.

The Englishman came agonisingly close to scoring a sensational goal in the second half as he tried to flick the ball in the air whilst facing away from goal, only missing by a matter of inches.

Brentford got nothing less than a consolation in the 78th minute with a penalty courtesy of Ibrahim Sangare's handball, which was dispatched by Igor Thiago.

Brentford are in huge trouble this season

— 🥤 (@TheImmortalKop) August 17, 2025

Match Highlights

Palace Hold Chelsea

Crystal Palace went to Stamford Bridge and held the Club World Cup champions to a goalless draw.

The FA Cup and Community Shield winners were certainly the more organised side, with the Blues looking like a side that only returned from holiday two weeks ago.

Crystal Palace's last 10 games have included Arsenal away, Liverpool away, Chelsea away, Spurs away, FA Cup semi-final vs Villa, FA Cup final vs Man City, Community Shield vs Liverpool. They are unbeaten in all those 10 games and won 2 trophies. Oliver Glasner 📈👑

— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) August 17, 2025

The Eagles did have the ball in the net through an Eberechi Eze free-kick from 20 yards, however it was ruled out by VAR somewhat controversially as Marc Guehi was stood within one metre of Chelsea's three-man wall.

The Blues didn't have a single shot on target from the third minute until Liam Delap's volley one minute from 90, in an afternoon where the likes of Cole Palmer couldn't make an impact.

Estevao Willian's second half cameo was the only real positive of the afternoon for the hosts, as he instantly got the better of Tyrick Mitchell and put a dangerous cross in to the box.

If you can’t win. Don’t lose. Fair result unfortunately.

— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) August 17, 2025

As for Palace, their fans will have to hope the club can hold on to both Eze and Guehi, two standout players once more today that have been linked with moves to Tottenham and Liverpool respectively.

Match Highlights