After the excitement of transfer deadline day, the Premier League weekend brought many stories but three jumped out: the tale of a phenomenal striking talent, a comeback which defied belief and a dominant win for a side at the home of their arch rivals.
It was a weekend which began with a side who I think could well be the new title favourites.
After snapping up Raheem Sterling, I suggested the scales may be tipped towards the Gunners.
Perhaps I gave them the ‘kiss of death’ or, more realistically, perhaps a second yellow card for Declan Rice against Brighton cost them a third straight win.
In fact, by the end, the Seagulls looked more likely to continue their 100 per cent start to the new campaign.
Joao Pedro, last-gasp match winner against Manchester United a week earlier, was again on target, 13 minutes after the restart, to cancel out an opener by Kai Havertz seven minutes before the break.
Yet it was Rice’s second yellow card just after half-time which changed the complexion of the contest and Brighton smelt blood.
The champions took full advantage of a slip up by last season’s runners-up to make it three wins out of three.
In fact, what do you say that hasn’t already been written about Manchester City’s Erling Haaland?
Against a good West Ham side, the Norwegian netted his second successive hat-trick and now has more Premier League goals (70) than appearances (69), much to delight of his manager.
Haaland scored an incredible 36 league goals in his first season in English football two seasons ago and the early indications are that he could record a similar tally this term.
Having had the summer off as a result of Norway not qualifying for Euro 2024, he has come into this campaign looking fresh and hungry.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka had a solid game in defence and the new depth to the Hammers’ squad was shown when they brought on two more talented summer signings – Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville – as they pushed for a second goal.
However, it is now nine years since the Hammers beat City in the league – an 18-game winless run that equals their longest in the top flight against a single opponent.
There are occasions when football can still surprise you and that certainly happened at Goodison Park.
After a woeful start to the new campaign, the Toffees hit a new low mark – a new low, not because they lost a third straight game, but because it was not expected.
Four minutes remained and home fans were in good voice as they led 2-0 against Bournemouth in a fixture which has brought them such joy (and relief) over the past two seasons.
In May last year, a spectacular strike from Abdoulaye Doucoure ensured Everton preserved their top-flight status on the final day.
Then, last October, Sean Dyche’s men turned on the style and recorded a resounding 3-0 victory.
This should have been similar and, with four minutes left on the clock, Dyche’s only complaint would be that his side’s two-goal advantage scarcely did justice to their dominance.
I’d like to have known what the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds were offering in the closing stages before the Cherries scored three times in nine chaotic minutes to spark joyous scenes among visiting players and supporters.
Outplayed throughout, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola could scarcely believe what he had just witnessed at the final whistle.
Antoine Semenyo’s tap-in from Dango Ouattara’s left-wing cross to make it 2-1 looked little more than a consolation for the visitors, who trailed to second-half goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Instead, it signalled a complete capitulation from the hosts, who were suddenly left holding on for a point when Luis Sinisterra crossed for Cherries captain Lewis Cook to level two minutes into added time.
But the Toffees crumbled to their third consecutive defeat when another delivery, this time from Justin Kluivert on the left, was nodded in by Sinisterra four minutes later to give Bournemouth the sweetest of victories.
The incredible turnaround ensured Everton stayed bottom of the table and became the first club in Premier League history to lose a game after having a two-goal advantage in the 87th minute.
While Bournemouth were in disbelief, Brentford were in defiant mood as they began life without Ivan Toney with the England marksman supporting the Bees from the stands before he heads to a new life in Saudi Arabia.
And if the match against Southampton was a sign of things to come, the £40 million the Bees have received will be well invested as they have a record of spending wisely.
Two of the marksmen expected to help with the goalscoring burden fired them to victory against the newly promoted Saints as Bryan Mbeumo scored twice at the Gtech Community Stadium to put the hosts in command, while Yoane Wissa added a third.
Both players who have proven good support acts for Toney, as he has netted 72 goals in 141 games for the club, and will now be the main men, especially with Toney’s replacement Igor Thiago – signed from Club Brugge for a club record £30m – injured not long after arriving.
There were still time for Premier League highlights on Sunday, most notably at Old Trafford where Liverpool cruised to a 3-0 win.
They capitalised on individual mistakes and were as impressive as the hosts were poor. A perfect start to the season for the Merseysiders and victory at the home of their arch rivals – a side that significantly damaged their title hopes last term – would have been particularly enjoyable for their faithful.
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