Reading enjoyed a memorable first taste of the top flight on Saturday when they came from 2-0 down at home to beat Middlesbrough 3-2 while Arsenal drew 1-1 against Aston Villa on the opening day of the Premier League season.
The matches were two of eight that produced 24 goals and three red cards, with champions Chelsea and Manchester United both still to play on Sunday.
Arsenal's new era at the Emirates Stadium started with a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, where 17-year-old England international Theo Walcott finally made his debut and created the Londoners' late equaliser.
Sheffield United, promoted behind Reading last season, drew 1-1 at home with Liverpool but Watford, the third new side, lost 2-1 at Everton.
Tottenham Hotspur, who looked good in their pre-season games, went down 2-0 to two early goals at Bolton Wanderers whose Spanish midfielder Ivan Campo scored their second with a 35-metre thunderbolt.
Portsmouth thrashed Blackburn Rovers 3-0 with the visitors ending with nine men while Newcastle United beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 and West Ham United beat Charlton Athletic 3-1.
Reading fans had spent the summer itching to see their club, formed in 1871, playing at the top level for the first time but it appeared to be all going wrong after Stewart Downing and Aiyegbeni Yakubu had Middlesbrough 2-0 up after 21 minutes.
GOING WRONG
However, two goals in two minutes by Dave Kitson and Steve Sidwell made it 2-2 at halftime and Leroy Lita, a halftime replacement for Kitson, won it for the new boys in the 55th minute.
"Today will be typical of what the Premiership will mean to the promoted clubs... we are fighting as hard as we can to be competitive in this division," Reading manager Steve Coppell told Sky Sports.
It also seemed to be going wrong for most of the 60,000 fans watching Arsenal's first game in their new Emirates Stadium when Olof Mellberg's thumping header after 53 minutes had Martin O'Neill's Villa ahead.
However, the introduction of Walcott in the 73rd minute added real zest to Arsenal and it was his cross that was converted by Gilberto for the equaliser six minutes from the end.
The new season had begun at lunchtime when Sheffield United marked their first top-flight appearance for 12 years by holding Liverpool at Bramall Lane.
United stunned the 2005 European champions a minute into the second half with a Rob Hulse header.
Liverpool levelled with a 70th minute Robbie Fowler penalty after Steven Gerrard had been tripped -- a decision that left United manager Neil Warnock, as usual, fuming at the referee.
"I think he made a mistake, there is no way that's a penalty but we'll have to get used to that this season," he told Sky Sports after watching the game from the stands, courtesy of a touchline ban for his outspoken comments last season.
Portsmouth debutant Nwankwo Kanu scored twice after coming on as a substitute for the last half-hour but missed the chance of a hat-trick when he missed an injury-time penalty.
However, two goals in two minutes by Dave Kitson and Steve Sidwell made it 2-2 at halftime and Leroy Lita, a halftime replacement for Kitson, won it for the new boys in the 55th minute.
"Today will be typical of what the Premiership will mean to the promoted clubs... we are fighting as hard as we can to be competitive in this division," Reading manager Steve Coppell told Sky Sports.
It also seemed to be going wrong for most of the 60,000 fans watching Arsenal's first game in their new Emirates Stadium when Olof Mellberg's thumping header after 53 minutes had Martin O'Neill's Villa ahead.
However, the introduction of Walcott in the 73rd minute added real zest to Arsenal and it was his cross that was converted by Gilberto for the equaliser six minutes from the end.
The new season had begun at lunchtime when Sheffield United marked their first top-flight appearance for 12 years by holding Liverpool at Bramall Lane.
United stunned the 2005 European champions a minute into the second half with a Rob Hulse header.
Liverpool levelled with a 70th minute Robbie Fowler penalty after Steven Gerrard had been tripped -- a decision that left United manager Neil Warnock, as usual, fuming at the referee.
"I think he made a mistake, there is no way that's a penalty but we'll have to get used to that this season," he told Sky Sports after watching the game from the stands, courtesy of a touchline ban for his outspoken comments last season.
Portsmouth debutant Nwankwo Kanu scored twice after coming on as a substitute for the last half-hour but missed the chance of a hat-trick when he missed an injury-time penalty.
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