Arsenal hit six on opening day of the Premier League

The Premier League season kicked off with Arsenal providing the performance of the day as they thrashed Everton 6-1 at Goodison Park.

The display sent out a warning to the rest of the league that the Gunners are intending to challenge for honours this season.

Elsewhere, Chelsea came from behind to beat Hull at Stamford Bridge, with Didier Drogba scoring twice. Manchester City also recorded an opening day win - Emmanuel Adebayor scored three minutes into his debut as City beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0.

Aston Villa 0-2 WiganBlackburn 0-2 Man City Bolton 0-1 SunderlandChelsea 2-1 HullEverton 1-6 Arsenal 

Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham 

Stoke 2-0 Burnley 

Wolverhampton 0-2 West Ham 

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

Jonathan Northcroft, Sunday Times: "In football there are two different routes to success, build towards it or buy it. Both were evident on the opening day of the new Premier League season, with a victory against Blackburn by mega-spending Manchester City quite overshadowed by Arsenal’s startling 6-1 win at Goodison Park."

Rory Smith, Sunday Telegraph: "It is easy to get carried away at this stage of the season, when knees jerk most furiously, but it is no exaggeration to say that none of Manchesters United and City, Chelsea or Liverpool will come to Goodison Park and demolish Everton in such imperious fashion."

Amy Lawrence, Observer: "Carlo Ancelotti gave a genteel royal wave when he was introduced at Stamford Bridge before kick-off and a wheeze of relief 91-and-a-half minutes later. Didier Drogba's lofted chip came anxiously late, preventing the ignominy of points dropped on the opening day of the season at home to the team who escaped relegation by their heavily bitten fingernails last term."

Joe Bernstein, Mail on Sunday:  "The smile on the face of Mark Hughes was priceless as Emmanuel Adebayor got Manchester City's £200million Premier League dream off to the perfect start with a goal after just 145 seconds at Blackburn." ·