Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a sensational return to Manchester United as his debut double inspired a 4-1 win against Newcastle, while Arsenal eased the pressure on Mikel Arteta with a 1-0 victory over Norwich yesterday.
Ronaldo’s second debut for United was the headline act as the Premier League resumed after the international break.
The 36-year-old scored a clinical brace either side of Javier Manquillo’s equaliser for Newcastle.
Ronaldo’s compatriot Bruno Fernandes netted with a long-range rocket 10 minutes from full-time before Jesse Lingard bagged the fourth.
“This is what Cristiano is about. This was a day for everyone to enjoy,” United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said.
Ronaldo told BBC Sport: “I didn’t expect to score two goals. I expect one but not two. I have to appreciate the fans and what they did to me today. I feel so proud for that.”
Thousands of fans gathered outside hours before kick-off to catch a glimpse of Ronaldo when he stepped off the United team bus.
Ronaldo broke Newcastle’s resistance two minutes into first half stoppage-time. Mason Greenwood’s shot was spilled by Newcastle keeper Freddie Woodman and Ronaldo reacted quickest to finish from virtually on the goal-line.
Running to the corner to perform his trademark ‘Sii’ celebration, Ronaldo soaked up the acclaim from 76,000 ecstatic fans.

Ronaldo raises the roof
Newcastle threatened to spoil Ronaldo’s day when Manquillo equalised in the 56th minute with a fine finish from Allan Saint-Maximin’s pass.
Ronaldo restored United’s lead in the 62nd minute when Luke Shaw’s through-ball sent Ronaldo racing clear on goal and he drilled a low shot under Woodman.
United sit top of the table after a third win from their first four matches.
At the Emirates Stadium, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave under-fire Arsenal manager Arteta some much-needed breathing space.
Gabon forward Aubameyang tapped home in the 66th minute, with a VAR check going in the Gunners’ favour as Norwich appealed in vain for offside.
After three successive defeats in the top-flight, Arsenal’s first league goal this season was enough to lift them off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.
“I must say it has been the best 10 or 14 days in my professional career. Not the easiest, but the best. You learn a lot in difficult moments,” Arteta said.
Bernardo Silva fired the champions Manchester City to a 1-0 win at Leicester. Portugal playmaker Silva struck in the 62nd minute with a close-range finish after Caglar Soyuncu blocked Joao Cancelo’s drive.
Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku scored at Stamford Bridge for the first time as his double and a goal from Mateo Kovacic sealed a 3-0 win against Aston Villa.
Crystal Palace ended 10-man Tottenham’s perfect start to the Premier League season as Wilfried Zaha’s penalty and a late double from Odsonne Edouard sealed a 3-0 win.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had Japhet Tanganga sent off for two bookings in quick succession in the second half at Selhurst Park.

RESULTS
• Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 66) Norwich 0
• Brentford 0 Brighton 1 (Trossard 90)
• Chelsea 3 (Lukaku 15, 90+3, Kovacic 49) Aston Villa 0
• Crystal Palace 3 (Zaha 76-pen, Edouard 84, 90) Tottenham 0
• Leicester 0 Manchester City 1 (Silva 62)
• Manchester United 4 (Ronaldo 45+2, 62, Fernandes 80, Lingard 90+2) Newcastle 1 (Manquillo 56)
• Southampton 0 West Ham 0
• Watford 0 Wolves 2 (Sierralta 74-og, Hwang 83)