Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi was again Nigeria’s stand-out player across the highest level of league action in England, as he played all 90 minutes for The Foxes, who had Kelechi ‘Kelz’ Iheanacho on as a substitute, megasportsarena.com reports.
While Ndidi was the only Nigerian players to get a starting shirt in Saturday’s line-up matches, Alex Iwobi also played as a sub for Everton, while Arthur Okonkwo was dressed by Arsenal, but spent all 90 minutes watching from the bench.
Ndidi went the distance at Carrow Road, where Leicester returned to winning ways by beating Norwich City 2-1, with Iheanacho introduced into the fray midway through the second half but Andrew Omobamidele watched proceedings from The Canaries’ bench.
Jamie Vardy struck in the 8th minute to give the Foxes the lead, before Teemu Pukki equalised from the spot just before half-time, but the Foxes won it thanks to Marc Albrighton’s composed finish on 76 minutes.
Earlier on, with Okonkwo warming Arsenal’s bench for the entire duration of the game, The Gunners’ dismal start to the season continued in Saturday’s early kick-off, as the London-based side were thrashed 5-0 by Manchester City.
Bernd Leno started while Aaron Ramsdale and Okonkwo were on the substitutes bench, with the Nigerian-born teenager getting his first squad involvement for an EPL match since joining Arsenal.
On the other hand, for the first time this season, Folarin Balogun did not get action for Arsenal in the EPL, despite having earlier gained his starting debut on the opening day of the season away to Brentford and then off the bench in the previous weekend’s loss at home versus Chelsea.
Nonetheless, the game at Etihad Stadium marked a milestone of sort for Okonkwo, as he as first the first time included in Arsenal’s senior team matchday squad, but his fellow-Gunners’ youngster, Folarin Balogun was not dressed while Samuel Edozie was not listed by Man City.
On the other hand, Carney Chukwuemeka got his first EPL start with Aston Villa and put up a fair outing for 63 minutes before making way for Nakamba in his side’s 1-1 draw with Brentford, who were without Frank Onyeka, as he reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
While 17-year-old Chukwuemeka relished his first Premier League start, Ivan Toney, who was on fire in the English Championship last season, opened scoring for The Bees in the seventh minute only for Emiliano Buendia to restore parity five minutes later for the hosts.
At Amex Stadium, goals from Demarai Gray and Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned Iwobi’s Everton a 2-0 win against Brighton, but the Super Eagles’ star entered the game with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Iwobi, who replaced injured Calvert-Lewin, was lively after going on and the former Arsenal playmaker could have got his name on the goals scorers’ chart, but his shot was deflected for a corner in the 84th minute.
At St James’ Park, Nathan Tella was a non-playing substitute for Southampton, and he could only watch on as his side held Newcastle United to a dramatic 2-2 draw, with all goals scored in the second half.
Wilson broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, Elyounoussi drew The Saints level on 75 minutes, Saint-Maximin put the hosts 2-1 up in the first minute of stoppage time and James Ward-Prowse slotted home a penalty in the 96th minute for the leveler.
At London Stadium, Mipo Odubeko was not listed by West Ham United, as The Hammers battled to a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, who are still without the injured duo of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.
At Anfield, in the day’s last game, Faustino Anjorin was not dressed by Chelsea, amid reports linking him with a possible move to Lokomotiv Moscow of Russia.
In his absence, The Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool, as Kai Havertz opened scoring with a well-executed header, but The Reds restored parity through Mohamed Salah’s spot kick, after Reece James handled the ball on the line.
