Saka sparkles as Arsenal opens EPL season with win. Newcastle sends statement by dismantling Villa

LONDON: After Arsenal left fans standing in line for an extra 30 minutes to get into the stadium, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka proved they were worth the wait.

Arsenal’s two star wingers lit up the opening Saturday of the Premier League season with an audacious assist and a curling long-range strike that helped the team start the campaign with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

Newcastle then sent the biggest statement of the day, with Alexander Isak scoring twice in a 5-1 dismantling of Aston Villa in the late game that showed Eddie Howe’s team could be a top-four contender again this season.

Jarrod Bowen provided another highlight with a strike similar to Saka’s to open the scoring for Bournemouth in a 1-1 draw with West Ham, while Brighton’s record signing Joao Pedro scored on his debut in a 4-1 win over newcomers Luton.

Everton, on the other hand, couldn’t produce any kind of breakthrough despite a slew of chances and paid the price when they conceded a second-half goal to lose 1-0 against visiting Fulham.

Crystal Palace beat Sheffield United 1-0 after also scoring in the second half of a game they largely dominated.

A day after defending champion Manchester City opened the season with a 3-0 win at promoted Burnley, Arsenal also needed to make a bright start to show they can once again be the main challengers to Pep Guardiola’s team.

The day got off to an embarrassing start, though, as Arsenal’s new digital ticketing system caused a 30-minute delay to the game when it collapsed and tens of thousands of angry fans were unable to get into the stadium in time for the scheduled kickoff.

Martinelli made most of them forget all about that mishap with his assist for the opening goal.

Taking on two defenders