The Premier League season is only a week old and the problems are already piling up for misfiring champions Chelsea after a 3-0 thrashing at Manchester City yesterday.

Goals by Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho were the least City deserved for a dominant display against a side who took 70 minutes to register a shot on target.

While a buoyant Manchester City top the table with six points, six goals scored and none conceded, Chelsea have one point after failing to win either of their opening two fixtures for the first time since 1998.

The sense of unease in the Chelsea camp was increased when talismanic skipper John Terry was substituted at half-time – the first time he had ever been hauled off by manager Jose Mourinho.

Defender Terry did not appear to be injured.

“It was a comfortable game. To start the way we did today is definitely the right signal but there’s still a lot to come,” City captain Kompany, who made it 2-0 with a 79th minute header before Fernandinho cashed in on some dozy defending to complete the rout, told Sky Sports.

Aguero opened the scoring after 31 minutes of City domination, wriggling into space to deliver a low drive past Asmir Begovic, who could have expected more protection on his first start in place of Thibaut Courtouis who was red-carded in the 2-2 home draw with Swansea City the week before.

Chelsea’s troubles will not have gone unnoticed by Arsenal who belatedly got their season into gear with a 2-1 derby win at London rivals Crystal Palace.

Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Swansea came a week after a listless defeat by FA Cup winners Arsenal in the Community Shield curtain-raiser and was followed by Mourinho’s criticism of his club’s medical department.

They needed a strong statement yesterday but they could have been beaten by more than three goals.

“They were the best team in the first half but the best team in the second half was Chelsea for sure,” Mourinho said.

“But the second and third goals we were punished by our players’ mistakes.”

“One point from six is better than no points from six,” added Mourinho who explained that Terry’s replacement by Kurt Zouma had been for tactical reasons only.

Terry and fellow central defender Gary Cahill had struggled to contain City’s attacking threat and were both embarrassed by Aguero several times in the opening half hour.

The Argentine finally punished them when he played a one-two with Yaya Toure in a crowded area, wriggled into space and fired the ball just inside Begovic’s post.

Chelsea improved after the break but offered little threat until Eden Hazard finally broke free of the shackles but fired straight at Joe Hart before City’s defenders cleared the loose ball with Diego Costa lurking.

Vincent Kompany (right, partly hidden) scores the second goal for Manchester City against Chelsea, yesterday.Vincent Kompany (right, partly hidden) scores the second goal for Manchester City against Chelsea, yesterday.

Kompany’s header gave City breathing space and then, when Branislav Ivanovic carelessly gave the ball away, Fernandinho completed Chelsea’s misery.

Earlier, Damien Delaney’s own goal allowed Arsenal to chalk up their first points in the table.

Palace had recovered from an early mauling by a fired-up Arsenal and had started the second half brightly only for Irishman Delaney to turn Alexis Sanchez’s downward header into his own net after 55 minutes.

Olivier Giroud – Arsenal.Olivier Giroud – Arsenal.

Arsenal, in need of a quick response after being beaten 2-0 at home by West Ham United on the opening weekend of the season, dominated the early exchanges and deservedly took the lead with a superb Olivier Giroud 16th-minute volley.

The hosts equalised against the run of play 12 minutes later when Joel Ward drilled home a low shot from outside the area.

Crystal Palace struck the woodwork through new signing Conor Wickham shortly after the half-time break but once Arsenal went back in front they assumed control and limited their opponents to a late flurry.

“I’m very pleased with the three points. If we had gone two games and zero points it would be absolutely difficult and we knew this would be a tricky one,” Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said.

Baba joins Blues

Chelsea have signed Ghana left-back Abdul Rahman Baba from Bundesliga club Augsburg, the German side said yesterday.

British and German media reported that the English league champions paid £20 million for Baba’s signature.

“Abdul Rahman Baba made a big leap in the past year for us,” Augsburg CEO Stefan Reuter said on Twitter.

“It is not only a recognition for his work but also ours when a top international club like Chelsea want to sign him.”

The 21-year-old Ghana international joined Augsburg last year after two seasons at other German side Greuther Fuerth.

Results and standings

Premier League

Crystal Palace 1
Ward 28;
Arsenal 2
Giroud 16; Delaney 55og;

HT: 1-1. Att: 24,732.

Man. City 3
Aguero 31; Kompany 79; Fernandinho 85;
Chelsea 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 54,331.

  P W D L F A Pts
Man. City 2 2 0 0 6 0 6
Leicester 2 2 0 0 6 3 6
Man. United 2 2 0 0 2 0 6
Everton 2 1 1 0 5 2 4
Swansea 2 1 1 0 4 2 4
C. Palace 2 1 0 1 4 3 3
West Ham 2 1 0 1 3 2 3
Liverpool 1 1 0 0 1 0 3
Norwich City 2 1 0 1 4 4 3
Aston Villa 2 1 0 1 1 1 3
Arsenal 2 1 0 1 2 3 3
Watford 2 0 2 0 2 2 2
Stoke City 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
Tottenham 2 0 1 1 2 3 1
Newcastle 2 0 1 1 2 4 1
Chelsea 2 0 1 1 2 5 1
Southampton 2 0 1 1 2 5 1
West Brom 2 0 1 1 0 3 1
Bournemouth 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
Sunderland 2 0 0 2 3 7 0

Playing today
Liverpool vs Bournemouth - 21.00

The Championship
Wolves vs Hull City - 1-1
Reading vs Leeds United - 0-0

League One
Wigan vs Doncaster - 0-0

Top scorers
3 goals: Mahrez (Leicester City).
2 goals: Barkley (Everton), Lukaku (Everton), Kompany (Man. City), Redmond (Norwich City), Ayew (Swansea City), Gomis (Swansea City).

Next fixtures

Saturday: 13.45 Manchester United vs Newcastle United. 16.00 Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa; Leicester vs Tottenham; Norwich vs Stoke; Sunderland vs Swansea; West Ham vs Bournemouth.

Sunday: 14.30 West Brom vs Chelsea. 17.00 Everton vs Man. City; Watford vs Southampton.

Monday, August 24: 21.00 Arsenal vs Liverpool.

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