Keifer MacDonald
BBC Sport reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The build-up to Everton's match on Sunday was dominated by conversations about who they failed to sign in the transfer window.

Since their last league match - a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth eight days ago - they had sold attackers Illiman N'Diaye and Beto, while Nathan Patterson joined Torino.

Their departures, plus Everton's failure to bring in reinforcements - a deal for Folarin Balogun fell apart in the final minutes of the window - have left David Moyes with only 18 senior outfield players until January.

When on-loan Grealish - once the most expensive British player of all time - took to the touchline on his return to the club, he appeared to be Everton's most likely route back into the game.

That it turned out to be a stunner from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, their other deadline-day recruit, made Everton's late rescue act all the sweeter.

The fact that they needed a wonder strike from a player who has spent most of his career filling in at midfield and full-back - and only has 15 career goals - is a sign of the lack of options Moyes has.

Everton are one of only seven Premier League teams to remain unbeaten after three games, but a lack of reinforcements could be the undoing of the foundations Moyes has laid since his return in January 2025.

That pic of Attilio Lombardo playing for Crystal Palace against Everton at Goodison in August 1997 was the only one in our library, so it will have to do.

They don't make Premier League footballers like Attilio any more, do they? How old was he, about 47?

If he wasn't known as the 'Bald Eagle' then I am putting in an official complaint to the Crystal Palace supporters' club.

We asked you earlier about your favourite goal from a player on his or her debut.

We have a few coming up but feel free to join the debate by using the 'Get Involved' button.

We posted the highlights first thing, but here's another look at Everton's 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United, complete with grandstand finish...

PS: If you are in a rush, Ainsley Maitland-Niles' debut goal is at 8mins 45secs.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles told BBC's Match of the Day that was the best debut he has ever had:

"Words can't describe how I feel right now, but yeah, I am happy to be a Toffee and what a day."

On whether his stunning equaliser is the best goal he has ever scored: "It's up there for sure, depending on how you look at things, but is definitely up there.

"Time was running out, we needed a goal and I just tried to put as much technique behind it as possible and it managed to go in, so I am happy."

On his first impressions of Everton: "From the first day I got into the building you could feel the energy and the fight and the spirit. It's contagious and it always will be, playing for Everton."

• Click here to listen to his three-minute interview with BBC Radio Merseyside.

Image source, Getty Images

Ainsley Maitland-Nilesleft Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens rooted to the spot in the sixth minute of added time at the Hull Dicknson Stadium on Sunday when he curled an unstoppable effort into the net to deny the visitors a first away win of the season.

Michael Carrick's side looked set to seal all three points at Everton for the second consecutive season after Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko scored either side of Tyrique George firing the Toffees level.

But Maitland-Niles' first Premier League strike since December 2019 maintained Everton's unbeaten start to the season at the end of a turbulent week on Merseyside.

From dogged defence and gritty determination, let's move on to stunning debut goals, shall we?

Paul Birch
BBC Sport

Arsenal’s first Premier League title for 22 years was built on their brilliant defence that conceded just 27 goals and topped almost every statistic and metric going.

Despite being without a key part of that machine in William Saliba, Mikel Arteta’s back four have seamlessly continued where they left off so far. They’ve won their opening three games of a top-flight campaign while also conceding fewer than two goals for only the third time in their history after 1924-25 and their Invincibles season of 2003-04.

Although they were finally breeched by Morgan Rogers’ second-minute volley in their win over Chelsea yesterday, the Blues could not find another way through and ended the game with an xG of just 0.35.

It took the Gunners’ average xG conceded per game this season to a remarkably low 0.31.

Arteta's side have also not received a red card or faced a penalty in any of their last 43 top-flight games.

With new signing Ezri Konsa slotting in nicely on his full debut the signs are looking ominous for their title rivals.

Image source, BBC Sport

At the risk of being branded a party pooper, I think we can probably say that Hull City will have to go some to match Arsenal's defensive stats come the end of the season...

You know, I had to click on this link to double check Mark's stat, but it's true.

Amazing stuff. Hull City, we salute you!

Next up...Chelsea away, this season's irresistible force meets the immovable object.

I guess the takeaway from this could be that Arsenal have conceded their first goal in the Premier League this season.

Cue Mark in Stafford...

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta puffed his cheeks before his interview with BBC's Match of the Day, in recognition of the stern test his side had come through against a Chelsea side he acknowledges were set up well by his good friend Xabi Alonso.

Here is what he said about Arsenal winning their first three league matches while conceding only one goal: "We are very happy and we need to continue to raise the bar and look to improve every single time because there are still a lot of margins to do so. We need to enjoy the victory because it was a big one today."

Something tells me we are not going to reach a consensus on this one.

Keep your views coming and we will publish a cross section throughout the morning.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta did not speak on this, but he did look a relieved man in his post-match interview with BBC's Match of the Day...

Former England international Ashley Young was in agreement with Wayne Rooney and said Arsenal defender Gabriel "got away with one" when he was not punished after kicking Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the head.

Speaking on Match of the Day 2, Young said: "The ball is on the floor there and you see Martinez has got it in his hands, but Gabriel kicks so high and kicks him in the head.

"I'm not sure why it's not gone to VAR and they've looked at it properly and studied it because he is nowhere near the ball so I think he has got away with one there."