Manchester United began their Premiership title defence with a 4-0 trouncing of Bolton.
Goalkeepers Jussi Jaaskelainen and Tim Howard traded excellent saves before Ryan Giggs took on the mantle of the departed David Beckham to curl in a 35th-minute free-kick.
Ruud van Nistelrooy had a spot-kick saved by Jaaskelainen in the second half but moments later substitute Cristiano Ronaldo centred from the left and Giggs added his and United's second in the 74th minute.
Paul Scholes added a third three minutes later, though there was more than a suspicion of offside against van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman added a fourth for the Red Devils as he blasted home from close range.
Arsenal forgot about their shaky form in the run-in last season to start with a 2-1 win in their opening game against Everton.
The Gunners' win came in spite of the sending-off of defender Sol Campbell in the first half. It has been a week of misery for the England star, who impeded Thomas Gravesen as he burst through on goal and was dismissed for a professional foul - the 51st red card for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.
Campbell will receive a one-match ban for this indiscretion and could face further punishment from the Football Association after kicking out at Manchester United midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba in the Community Shield last Sunday, an incident missed by match referee Steve Bennett.
The numerical disadvantage did not prevent the Gunners taking the lead as Thierry Henry opened his Premiership account for the new campaign with a 35th-minute penalty after Alan Stubbs handled the ball.
Robert Pires celebrated his new Arsenal contract with his side's second in the 58th minute after former Gunners goalkeeper Richard Wright denied Henry and Patrick Vieira.
Tomasz Radzinski reduced the deficit six minutes from time but Wenger's men held on to claim three points as Li Tie's late dismissal evened up the numbers.
Leicester let a 2-0 lead slip at home to Southampton on their Premiership return and had to settle for a point as Saints substitute and debutant Kevin Phillips made the difference.
Paul Dickov drew first blood with a penalty in the fifth minute after Michael Svensson was adjudged to have fouled Les Ferdinand.
Ferdinand bravely headed in the second off the underside of the crossbar five minutes later, with the veteran striker and Saints defender Claus Lundekvam both requiring treatment after they clashed heads.
Phillips could not have wished for a better first goal for his new club as his dipping, swerving shot beat Ian Walker all ends up. The former Sunderland favourite was heavily involved in the equaliser too as his shot hit the post and Beattie thrashed in the rebound.
Wolves found their first top-flight match in 19 years tough going as they lost 5-1 to Blackburn at Ewood Park who were inspired by new signing Brett Emerton.
Rovers' debutants carved out the first goal as Australian midfielder Emerton crossed for Italian centre-back Lorenzo Amoruso to head past Matt Murray in the 17th minute.
David Thompson fired in a second from 25 yards and Emerton added a third from distance in the 52nd minute from a Dwight Yorke pass.
Wolves new boy Steffen Iversen will go down as the club's first-ever Premiership scorer but it was scant consolation for Dave Jones' side who conceded two further late goals, both scored by Andy Cole.
Fulham gave Chris Coleman a winning start to life in full-time management with a 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough at Loftus Road.
Boro grabbed a 10th-minute lead when a passage of home possession was halted as Martin Djetou lost the ball to Carlos Marinelli, who advanced to the edge of the box before curling in a shot past Edwin van der Sar.
Fulham drew level eight minutes later when Jerome Bonnissel's cross from the left was flicked on by Louis Saha and Steve Marlet completed the French connection by firing the ball in at the far post.
The Cottagers forged ahead when Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto drilled home in the 56th minute.
Inamoto then conceded a penalty but was let off the hook by van der Sar, who saved Malcolm Christie's penalty.
Saha, who had a hand in the first two goals, added a third from the impressive Steed Malbranque's cross with 20 minutes to go. Szilard Nemeth pulled one back for the visitors but the Londoners hung on.
Portsmouth marked their first-ever Premiership appearance with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in a lunchtime kick-off at Fratton Park.
The goals came from two free transfer signings as Teddy Sheringham put last season's First Division champions ahead three minutes before the break when he tapped in from close range and Czech star Patrik Berger slid home a second in the 63rd minute.
Villa pulled one back through a Gareth Barry penalty six minutes from time.
However, their hopes of scoring a leveller were dashed by Barry's sending-off for dissent towards one of the assistant referees three minutes later to make it a miserable start for new Villa boss David O'Leary.
Their city rivals Birmingham recorded the first victory of the season in the top flight as they beat Tottenham 1-0 in a midday kick-off at St Andrews.
David Dunn scored from the penalty spot on his City debut in the 35th minute.