Arsenal 0-2 West Ham, Newcastle 2-2 Southampton: Premier League as it happened

A disastrous start to the new Premier League season from Arsenal. They would have been supremely confident of getting off to a flyer here following their Community Shield triumph at Wembley last weekend, but two instances of terribly sub-standard defending has cost them dearly along with a lack of superior cutting edge.

A difficult afternoon for Cech, who many have tipped to make the difference between the Gunners just finishing in the top four and consistently challenging for the title.

Bilic was strongly criticised for making sweeping changes to his side for their Europa League qualifying defeat in Romania on Thursday, but this result has gone some way to justifying that controversial selection.

West Ham were combative and boasted the two best players on the pitch in the form of impressive 16-year-old defender Oxford and new signing Payet. What a win to kick off their domestic campaign.

As for Newcastle, McClaren will inevitably be pleased with a point from a difficult fixture but may feel understandably aggrieved that his side could not hold on for all three after they worked hard to reverse that early 1-0 deficit. Signs of an early Europa League hangover for Southampton, you wonder.

That is it for this particular blog, but please click here to follow live coverage of Liverpool's trip to Stoke.

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Full-time

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

Newcastle 2-2 Southampton

A couple of late efforts from Saido Mane for Southampton but the Senegalese international cannot find a winner.

Adrian with two confident saves from Sanchez at Arsenal.

An early sighter for Maiga is held by Cech. Five minutes of stoppage time for West Ham to negotiate and claim a morale-boosting victory.

Kevin Nolan has replaced Oxford, while Modibo Maiga is on for Sakho.

Both Giroud and Tomkins were ok to continue after that clash. Arsenal's closest chances in the last few minutes came when Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the side netting after Walcott's shot was blocked by Reid. Adrian has also saved from Cazorla.

Cech also had to be alert to keep out Sakho. A little under five minutes remaining for the hosts to salvage something from this.

A timely intervention from substitute Long as he heads home Dusan Tadic's cross to restore parity for Southampton.

Goal: Newcastle 2-2 Southampton (Shane Long)

Concern for Giroud and Tomkins here after a nasty clash of heads. Play rightly stopped immediately.

Cazorla floats in a free-kick for Giroud but his header is tame and comfortably claimed by Adrian.

With his team starting down the barrel of a wretched defeat, Wenger throws on Sanchez for Debuchy. He would not have wanted to use the Chilean today given his lack of a proper break this summer.

Monreal picks up Arsenal's first caution for a foul on Noble.

He does not look too happy about it, but having scored West Ham's second goal Zarate now walks off to be replaced by Matt Jarvis.

This is rapidly turning into an afternoon to forget for Cech and Arsenal as Zarate surprisingly doubles West Ham's advantage.

There appeared to be very little danger as Oxlade-Chamberlain looked to dribble the ball forward, but he loses possession just outside the penalty area and that allows Zarate, in acres of space, to shoot first time from 25 yards. The attempt catches Cech cold at his near post.

Wenger responds by introducing Walcott in place of Coquelin.

Goal: Arsenal 0-2 West Ham (Mauro Zarate)

Coquelin sweeps the ball forward for Monreal, who does well to find Ozil with a pass down the line. The German's cross is swift and Giroud hits the side netting on the turn.

Arsenal's number 12 goes close again shortly afterward as a shot is deflected into the arms of Adrian.

Back in North London, Zarate looks wasteful for the Hammers before Adrian almost pushes a Giroud cross into the path of Ozil.

A frantic start to the second half at St James' Park, where Krul reacts well to keep out an effort from Maya Yoshida before Newcastle debutant Wijnaldum heads home Obertan's cross.

McClaren's side were 1-0 down but now lead.

Goal: Newcastle 2-1 Southampton (Georginio Wijnaldum)

Back underway at both Arsenal and Newcastle.

One change at half-time for Southampton as Curacao international Martina replaces Soares for his Premier League debut.

While Cech will inevitably get saddled with much of the blame for that goal, it is certainly worth mentioning that Kouyate was allowed to drift in totally unmarked to produce his header.

Rotten defending all round from the Gunners.

In amongst the commotion at the Emirates comes news of an equaliser for Newcastle. Cisse is the man who has got it, turning home from a yard out after a cross was deflected into his path.

All square at the half-time whistle there.

Half-time

Newcastle 1-1 Southampton

Goal: Newcastle 1-1 Southampton (Papiss Cisse)

A perfect end to the half for Bilic's combative West Ham. They have been on the backfoot for long spells, but a good delivery from Payet coupled with Cech's error sees them head in at the break with a slender lead.

The scoreline could be level if it was not for Tomkins' excellent block on Ozil.

Half-time

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

West Ham lead against the run of play and it's a horrible moment for Cech on his first league start. After young Oxford is fouled by Ramsey, Payet steps up to drift in an excellent free-kick that is headed home emphatically by Kouyate.

Cech made the decision to come and punch but he got nowhere near the ball. Very unconvincing from the former Chelsea stalwart.

Goal: Arsenal 0-1 West Ham (Cheikhou Kouyate)

Adrian is alert to thwart Giroud from close range, but the offside flag is up so it would not have counted anyway.

Arsenal back on the attack as Adrian decides to punch a Cazorla free-kick clear before Ramsey finds space and drags a low shot wide.

A rare foray forward for West Ham sees Payet beat two defenders before having a shot deflected over. His clever corner picks out Zarate, but the Argentine's effort trickles harmlessly past Oxford and wide.

Having been fortunate to avoid a yellow card for his earlier foul on Giroud, the uncompromising Tomkins is now in the book for a cynical foul on Nacho Monreal.

Wenger's side really ramping up the pressure now, with Oxlade-Chamberlain following his man of the match performance against Chelsea with another lively display.

Meanwhile, Newcastle appeal for a penalty against Southampton but Rodriguez's handball is not adjudged to be deliberate.

A heart in mouth moment for Cresswell as an ambitious shot from Ramsey hits him before looping up and over Adrian onto the crossbar.

Energetic stuff from Coquelin as he nips in to take possession down the left flank, beats Tomkins for pace before finding Giroud with an accurate cross.

The Frenchman takes a touch on his chest but Ogbonna makes a crucial block just as he looked to pull the trigger on a powerful volley.

Arsenal then surge forward again as a wonderful, mazy run from Oxlade-Chamberlain ends with a ball to the back post. Cazorla tries to score with a lobbed volley that lands on the roof of the net.

First blood to the visitors after 25 minutes at St James' Park as Pelle rises to head home a deep cross from Soares.

Not the start McClaren would have had in mind.

Goal: Newcastle 0-1 Southampton (Graziano Pelle)

Referee Martin Atkinson slightly lenient there as he fails to produce a caution for Tomkins after the makeshift right-back unceremoniously upends Giroud.

West Ham enjoying a good spell of possession just now and they almost fashion a chance on goal as Payet, their £10.7m signing from Marseille, somehow prevents Cresswell's long pass from going out of play on the left touchline.

His cross finds Sakho, whose volley is easily saved by the towering Cech.

Tim Krul called into action after 15 minutes at Newcastle to deny a debut goal for Southampton right-back Soares.

A heavy tackle by Cheikhou Kouyate on Aaron Ramsey goes unpunished before Zarate gives away a free-kick in a dangerous area.

The ball is whipped into the box, where Koscielny heads wide before being flagged for offside.

West Ham's chances of topping the Fair Play table look minimal this season, you have to say.

A lack of discipline has been a concern during the early stages of cult hero Bilic's managerial reign. Diafra Sakho, James Tomkins and James Collins were all sent off during West Ham's doomed Europa League qualifying campaign and their approach has been similarly heavy-handed during the initial stages here.

Oxlade-Chamberlain goes close with a fierce volley after Giroud's cross was deflected into his path by Winston Reid.

A difficult start to life in the Premier League for former Juventus defender Ogbonna as he joins Noble in the book for a mistimed tackle on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Mesut Ozil's subsequent free-kick is deflected wide and a header from Laurent Koscielny drifts beyond Adrian's left-hand post.

An early caution for Mark Noble as he slips over before launching into an ill-advised lunging challenge on Francis Coquelin. The West Ham captain will have to be very careful now with 85 minutes still to play.

Santi Cazorla bursts forward for Arsenal but he eventually runs out of steam as his shot is blocked by Aaron Cresswell.

We are underway at the Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger made his objection to the season starting a week earlier this year very clear indeed during his pre-match press conference, so it will be interesting to see how his players fare today against a West Ham side whose campaign began against FC Lusitans on 2 July.

Newcastle v Southampton has also begun.

Just under 10 minutes until both matches kick-off. We will be focusing chiefly on Arsenal v West Ham for the most part, but also intend to keep you fully up to date with events in the North East.

If you fancy a perusal at IBTimes UK writers' predictions for the new campaign, meanwhile, please click here.

Season previews for all four teams can be found by visiting the following links:

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/arsenal-premier-league-2015-16-preview-marquee-striker-missing-piece-arsene-wenger-title-hopes-1514590

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/west-ham-premier-league-2015-16-preview-fans-look-slaven-bilic-excitement-after-big-sam-era-1514577

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/newcastle-united-premier-league-2015-16-preview-promising-signings-long-road-steve-mcclaren-1514087

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/southampton-premier-league-2015-16-preview-ronald-koeman-set-replicate-success-after-latest-1514250

As for Newcastle, McClaren marks his first competitive game in charge by handing a debut to Georginio Wijnaldum in central midfield and starting with new centre-back Chancel Mbemba alongside Fabricio Coloccini.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has to make do with a place on the bench, as does influential midfielder Cheick Tiote and the fit again Siem de Jong. Remy Cabella is yet to return from injury and Gabriel Obertan is preferred to Ayoze Perez behind Papiss Cisse.

Headline team news from St James' Park is that Jay Rodriguez looks set to make his first start in 16 months for Southampton.

The one-cap England striker has been sidelined since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligaments against Manchester City in April 2014.

Cedric Soares will make his Premier League debut following a move from Sporting Lisbon, meanwhile, with 19-year-old Matt Targett starting at left-back.

Three new signings on the bench for Ronald Koeman's Saints in Cuco Martina, Steven Caulker and Juanmi.

Newcastle v Southampton

Newcastle: Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Obertan, Cisse

Subs: Darlow, Taylor, Tiote, De Jong, Aarons, Perez, Mitrovic

Southampton: Stekelenburg, Cedric, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett, Wanyama, S. Davis, Tadic, Mane, Rodriguez, Pelle

Subs: Gazzaniga, Long, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Juanmi, Caulker

The visitors have two more new recruits on the bench in former Birmingham goalkeeper Darren Randolph and Al Jazira loanee Manuel Lanzini.

BREAKING: West Ham hand a Premier League debut to centre-back Reece Oxford. The 16-year-old becomes the seventh-youngest player ever to feature in an English top-flight match.

Bilic also hands first domestic starts to new signings Dimitri Payet and Angelo Ogbonna. With Enner Valencia out injured, Mauro Zarate starts in attack alongside Diafra Sakho.

BREAKING: As expected, Petr Cech makes his league debut in goal for Arsenal. Mathieu Debuchy starts at right-back with no place for Hector Bellerin in the matchday squad, while Olivier Giroud returns to the side and Theo Walcott is named among the substitutes after starting last week's Community Shield victory over Chelsea.

Alexis Sanchez is also on the bench despite having only recently returned to training after his Copa America exploits in Chile.

After an entertaining start to proceedings yesterday, the 2015/16 Premier League season continues this afternoon as Arsenal welcome West Ham to North London, Newcastle host Southampton and Liverpool look to avenge their 6-1 defeat to Stoke on the final day of last season during their latest trip to the Britannia Stadium.

If you are looking for breaking team news, confirmed line-ups and live updates, then this is certainly the right place. Stay tuned....