Arsenal launched their bid for their first Premier League title for five seasons with a 1-0 win over promoted West Bromwich Albion on the opening day of the Premier League season yesterday.
Liverpool, who have their eyes on their first title since 1990, also got away to a winning start - beating Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light with a late goal from Fernando Torres.
Champions Manchester United and last season's runners-up Chelsea, the other two members of the Big Four, play today with Chelsea meeting FA Cup holders Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge and Manchester United facing Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Hull City celebrated their first-ever match in the top flight with a 2-1 win over Fulham at the KC Stadium, but Stoke City, back in the elite division for the first time since 1985, lost 3-1 at Bolton Wanderers.
French debutant Samir Nasri, who joined Arsenal for 15.0 million pounds ($28.0 million) from Olympique Marseille in the close season, scored the first goal of the new season after four minutes in the lunchtime kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told BBC TV afterwards: "We always looked in control and I thought the second goal would come. But West Brom defended very well and and we lacked a bit of sharpness around the box."
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray told Sky Sports News: "We didn't get off to a great start. We had one or two opportunities compared to their 15 or 20 but we go away believing we can compete in this league. If we work as hard as we did today we have got a chance."
A lot is expected of Liverpool this season with Robbie Keane's arrival from Tottenham Hotspur for 20.0 million expected to add even more potency to the Liverpool attack.
However, Liverpool only scored after Keane went off.
Torres took his chance superbly, scoring with a low struck shot from 20 metres.
"We were on top in the second half and controlled the game. We had chances and Torres took his. He is a key player who can change games," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez told Setanta Sports.
Bolton Wanderers ended the first day of the new season top of the table after scoring the biggest win of the day over Stoke at the Reebok Stadium with all three goals coming before half-time.
Gretar Steinsson scored with a long-range effort, Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander, Bolton's club record signing who scored on his debut, added the others.
Ricardo Fuller scored in the last minute for Stoke.
Promoted Hull marked their first match in the top division in their 104-year history with a 2-1 win over Fulham with goals from Geovanni and substitute Caleb Folan giving them the points after Seol Ki-Hyeon headed Fulham ahead after eight minutes.
"We took the game to Fulham, we did not sit back," Hull manager Phil Brown told Sky Sports News aftrerwards.
"There is a lot of excitement in the city that we are here for the first time and we've got something to build on."
David Wheater and former Spurs striker Mido, who came on as a late substitute, scored as Middlesbrough beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium after Wheater had what looked like a valid goal wrongly disallowed in the first half. Spurs scored when Robert Huth conceded an own goal very late on.
Dean Ashton scored twice in the opening 10 minutes for West Ham United to open a 2-0 lead against Wigan Athletic at Upton Park. Although Amr Zaki scored for Wigan early in the second half, West Ham held on for a 2-1 win.
Blackburn Rovers won an astonishing match 3-2 at Everton with the teams trading the lead before Andre Ooijer scored a last-minute winner for Rovers.