Arsenal’s squad from 2021/22 has been shorn of a number of players in the summer, both on loan and permanent deals.
Their loss didn’t prevent the Gunners kicking off the current campaign with a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Crystal Palace, however.
Nevertheless, football.london has looked back on how the departures fared for their respective new clubs at the weekend.
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Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)
Lacazette grabbed himself a goal and an assist on his return to Ligue 1 as Lyon kicked off their campaign by beating newly promoted Ajaccio 2-1 on Friday.
Lacazette, who has returned to his former club on a three-year deal, set up Brazilian winger Tete to open the scoring in the 12th minute.
The Frenchman doubled the lead in the 22nd minute from the spot after Cedric Avinel fouled Tete.
Five minutes later, home keeper Anthony Lopes was sent off for crashing into forward Mounaim El Idrissy and Thomas Mangani converted the resultant penalty to bring Ajaccio back into the game.
In a tetchy affair, Lacazette and Ajaccio forward Romain Hamouma were booked just past the half-hour mark for their involvement in a melee after Thiago Mendes fouled El Idrissy.
Lyon’s performance levels dropped off in the second half and Lacazette admitted the side had still to solve an issue which cost them vital points in 2021/22.
“We are not very confident yet in the game to win and play comfortably until the end,” he said, adding: “It was nice to score.”
Nuno Tavares and Matteo Guendouzi (both Marseille)
Two Arsenal loanees were on the scoresheet as Marseille thrashed Reims 4-1 in their Ligue 1 opener.
Tavares’ goal was by far the most memorable, however.
With his side already 1-0 up, the 22-year-old cut inside, skipped beyond a couple of defenders and rifled a pinpoint effort into the far bottom corner with his unfavoured right foot.
His jubilant celebrations came alongside former Arsenal midfielder Guendouzi, who was sold to Marseille for around £9million last month following a successful loan spell in the 2021/22 season.
Guendouzi’s involvement had been in doubt after L’Equipe reported the 23-year-old as having been in a “lively altercation” with the coach Igor Tudor at half-time of the previous week’s friendly defeat to AC Milan.
Folarin Balogun (Reims)
Balogun was the second of the Arsenal goalscorers in the Marseille-Reims clash after coming off the bench for Reims in the 76th minute.
The young striker quickly adjusted himself to head past a stranded Ruben Blanco in the Marseille goal after Leonardo Balerdi’s sliced clearance.
The goal gave Reims brief hope before Luis Suarez’ second goal of the game wrapped up a 4-1 win for Marseille.
Auston Trusty (Birmingham)
American defender Trusty lined up on the left of a back three as Birmingham City produced an impressive 2-1 Championship win over Huddersfield Town on Friday evening.
Trusty had initially struggled against the Luton striking combination of Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo the previous week before growing into the game and that composure continued on into the Huddersfield clash.
Trusty dealt well with the threat of Terriers playmaker Sorba Thomas and even had time to fizz a long-range shot past a post.
Konstantinos Mavropanos (Stuttgart)
Mavropanos’ loan deal with the Bundesliga outfit was made permanent in the summer and he proved an imposing figure at the back as Stuttgart gained an unexpected point from their opening-day clash with Red Bull Leipzig.
Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring early on for Leipzig before Naouirou Ahamada levelled matters.
Mavropanos came close to putting Stuttgart in front, rattling the woodwork on the stroke of half-time with a powerful effort from outside the box.
However, it needed a string of fine saves from Florian Muller in the second half to preserve Stuttgart’s point.
Bernd Leno (Fulham)
Having only joined Fulham in the week running up to their Premier League opener, Leno was an unused substitute in the Cottager’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool.
Harry Clarke (Stoke)
Clarke, who is on a season long loan from the Emirates, scored the opening goal for Stoke in a 2-0 Championship victory over Blackpool on Saturday.
Clarke was employed as wing-back in the home win and admitted his goal had come at a cost.
"(My emotions were) all over the place,” he said. “The celebration was a bit dodgy, I think I'm getting fined for that. It felt good.
“I really wanted to really give the fans something to shout about this week and show them what I can do. But again, I’ve got more in the bank, I can do more.”
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