Everton 1-4 Arsenal: 1 more game to equal record

Champions Arsenal began the defence of their Premier League title by outclassing Rooneyless Everton side 4-1 in their opening match of the new season at Goodison Park - without keymen Campbell and Vieira.

Goals from Dennis Bergkamp after just 23 minutes, José Antonio Reyes with a header (39th), Fredrik Ljungberg (54th) and substitute Robért Píres (83rd) stretched Arsenal's unbeaten league run to 41 matches since May 2003.

This leaves one match for Arsenal to equal Nottingham Forest's record of 42 top-flight matches without defeat as long as Middlesbrough do not beat them at Highbury next Sunday.

Lee Carsley scored a consolation goal for Everton after 64 minutes in a mix-up in the Arsenal defence, but the champions, even without the injured Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell, were too much for Everton, who, without the injured Wayne Rooney, rarely threatened to score.

Bergkamp, 35, playing in the 500th league match of his career, opened the scoring when he shot home a drive from a classic fast paced Arsenal counter attack in the 24th minute.

Reyes doubled their lead with a 39th minute header from a good cross by Ljungberg, who later ensured victory when he scored from a Thierry Henry cross from close range.

Píres made it 4-1, converting a rebound after the ball bounced back off a post from an Ashley Cole effort.

This would put Arsenal on top of the table unless either Man Utd and Chelsea can conjure up a four-goal margin victory. Cesc looked very promising today and played like a seasoned player in this match.

He became Arsenal's youngest ever Premiership player. The Spanish midfielder was exactly 17-years and 103 days old and therefore broke the previous best set by Gavin McGowan against Sheffield Wednesday on May 6, 1993 by a week.

A great victory and let's go and break another record!

User Comments

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea