ARSENAL
Aaron Ramsey struck in injury time as Arsenal came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 and start the new Premier League season in style.Until the Welshman gleefully prodded home from close range it seemed like Arsène Wenger’s men would be frustrated by the highly-organised visitors from south London.Arsenal were blunted before Brede Hangeland guided home from a corner on 35 minutes.
But Laurent Koscielnymet an Alexis Sanchez free-kick with a deft flick to equalise in first-half injury time.The summer signing from Barcelona would lead the pursuit of a winner in the second half. But, in truth, Arsenal lacked edge this afternoon and Palace were expert at smothering their work.In the end, it was all down to endeavour. Though not at their best, Arsenal 'kept on keeping on'.It was just about enough. Seconds after Jason Puncheon had been sent off in the 89th minute, Arsenal won a corner. Palace lost a little concentration and Ramsey profited. Not a great game, not a great performance but great spirit and desire. Happy new season everyone.
The 2014/15 season began in disappointing fashion for Louis van Gaal and Manchester United as Swansea City secured a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford. The visitors took the lead on 28 minutes through Ki Sung-yeung, before his effort was cancelled out by Wayne Rooney's second-half leveller. Rooney hit a post soon after but it was the Swans who found a second rather than United and it proved to be the winner as Gylfi Sigurdsson fired past David De Gea on 72 minutes.
Van Gaal had a raft of injuries to deal with in his first competitive match in charge with up to nine first-team squad members in the treatment room. Defence was the most depleted area with youngster Tyler Blackett, making his United debut, slotting in to the back three alongside Phil Jones and Chris Smalling. Jesse Lingard, also making his Reds bow, came in as the right wing-back with Ashley Young on the other side. Another debutant was Ander Herrera, in the centre with Darren Fletcher. Juan Mata, Rooney and Chicharito set up ahead of them. There was a fast-paced opening to the game, but a real lack of clear-cut openings; a 20-yard curling, dipping effort from Sigurdsson on 12 minutes, which was well claimed by De Gea, was the only attempt of any note early on.
The Reds lost Lingard to injury on 24 minutes and he was replaced by Adnan Januzaj, while Jones brought the first save from Lukasz Fabianski in the Swansea goal with a cross-cum-shot which almost sneaked in at the near post. Rather than get a corner, the Reds were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Jones as he struck the ball and, from the set-piece, Mata drew another decent save from the keeper. Rooney headed straight at Fabianski soon after.
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