Manchester: Mesut Ozil made a slick start to life in English football by claiming a debut victory with Arsenal, while Manchester United and Tottenham also picked up routine wins as the Premier League swung back into action on Saturday after the international break.
Arsenal reaped some early reward from its decision to splurge a club-record 50 million euros ($66 million) on Ozil on transfer deadline day, with the Germany playmaker setting up Olivier Giroud for the opener before in-form Aaron Ramsey scored twice in a 3-1 win at Sunderland. A third straight win maintained Arsenal's resurgence after a demoralizing opening-day defeat to Aston Villa.
"You've seen what he is all about, slipping those balls in," Ramsey said of Ozil, who was substituted after 80 minutes. "He has one of highest assist rates in Europe and he is going to create a lot of opportunities for us."
Manchester City's mixed start to the season continued by scraping a 0-0 draw at Stoke. United were also far from fluent in a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace that turned on a contentious decision to send off Kagisho Dikgacoi in the 43rd minute for a foul on Ashley Young.
Despite the challenge coming outside the area, a penalty was awarded - and converted by Robin van Persie - before Wayne Rooney curled in an 81st-minute free kick to hand David Moyes a first home success with United. Rooney was playing with a thick headband to cover a deep cut to the forehead sustained in a training-ground incident two weeks ago.
Spurs began life after Gareth Bale by outclassing Norwich 2-0 with a brace by Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was set up for his first goal by new signing Christian Eriksen. Arsenal and Tottenham are level on nine points while the two Manchester clubs both are on 7.
Elsewhere Saturday, France playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa scored one and set up another as Newcastle beat Aston Villa 2-1 away for their second victory in a row. West Bromwich Albion claimed its first point of the season by scoring in injury time for a 1-1 draw at Fulham and Hull drew 1-1 with Cardiff in a match between two promoted clubs.
While United was thankful for a refereeing decision to turn their game against Palace, Arsenal also benefited from a debatable call at the Stadium of Light when the score was 2-1.
United States striker Jozy Altidore beat Bacary Sagna to the ball and prodded home a finish, only for the referee to bring play back for an earlier foul against Arsenal.
It was too much for combustible Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio, who was sent from the dugout in injury time.
"He came to me and said if you keep going with your manner, I send you up to the stand," Di Canio said. "I said to him, 'If you want to complete a perfect job, you send me off' and that is what he did."
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