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PL debut watch
- Updated: September 10, 2016
From Claudio Bravo to Simone Zaza, a host of new signings made their debuts in the first round of Premier League fixtures since transfer deadline day.
Bravo’s bow will be remembered for the glaring error that gifted Zlatan Ibrahimovic a goal, although City spared their goalkeeper’s blushes by holding on to claim a 2-1 win in the Manchester derby.
Arsenal’s new boys Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez tasted victory thanks to Santi Cazorla’s last-gasp penalty at the Emirates Stadium, while Jack Wilshere appeared for Bournemouth against West Brom.
After a busy finale to the summer transfer window, we take a look at the debutants in each of Saturday’s Premier League games.
Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City
For Claudio Bravo, it was an eventful debut to say the least, and after all the fuss of Joe Hart’s departure from the Etihad, Bravo’s “quality on the ball” was anything but evident at Old Trafford.
While David de Gea undertook glove work before the game, Bravo was concentrating on distribution with the City staff. With City flying at 2-0, his soft punch under pressure from his own man John Stones allowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score, but that wasn’t the end of his crime sheet.
Moments later, his uncertainty in coming out to claim the ball from Bacary Sagna almost resulted in an equaliser, while in the second half his heavy touch forced him into a studs-up challenge with Wayne Rooney, which could have easily resulted in a red card and penalty.
More antics on the ball ensued moments later, which he again got away with, and all-in-all, Hart must be looking on wondering what he ever did wrong. Pep Guardiola, however, stood by his new man.
“Claudio had one of the best performances I’ve ever seen,” Pep Guardiola said. “When you make a situation for the goal – after that, he continued to play in our build-up and [went] for other long balls to pick them up.”
Leroy Sane came on for Raheem Sterling with half an hour remaining, and despite getting acres of space down the right on City’s sporadic counter-attacks in the second half, he didn’t make the desired impact.
Arsenal 2-1 Southampton
Shkodran Mustafi’s debut marked him out as an identikit Arsene Wenger centre-half (no jokes please, at the back…). The £35m signing showed composure in possession – a little too much for comfort, at times – and a willingness to pass out from the back.
He looked to win the ball early and …