Associated Press

Chelsea knew they were getting a talented player when they signed Cole Palmer from Manchester City last year.

But maybe not so good.

Palmer made history on Saturday when he became the first player to score four goals in the first half of an English Premier League match. His numerous goals came in Chelsea’s 4-2 win over Brighton, further strengthening the belief that the London team will be a force this season after spending more than $1 billion on players over the last two years had.

Palmer was one of the club’s most expensive signings – costing at least £40 million ($50.7 million) – but that now looks like a bargain. His 22 league goals last season surpassed Man City’s Erling Haaland for second and he also scored four goals against Everton. He has already scored six goals in just six games this season.

Palmer is also a regular in the England squad and scored the team’s goal in their 2-1 defeat to Spain in the European Championship final in July.

How City managed to have Palmer a few hours earlier on Saturday as the champions played out a 1-1 draw at Newcastle, dropping points for the second weekend in a row. Haaland went goalless in a league game for the first time this season, holding on to 10 goals. Instead, defender Josko Gvardiol netted for City.

Arsenal took advantage of their great rival’s slip-up and beat Leicester 4-2 thanks to two stoppage-time goals – an own goal and a close-range finish from Kai Havertz.

Arsenal sit alongside first-placed City on 14 points, but both could be overtaken if Liverpool win away to Wolverhampton in the late game.

Brentford became the first Premier League team to score within the first minute in three consecutive games but failed to hold on after Bryan Mbeumo’s goal and drew 1-1 with West Ham.

Everton got their first win of the season with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace and Fulham won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, with Mexican striker Raul Jimenez scoring for the third game in a row.

Rodri is missing

It was City’s first league game since influential midfielder Rodri was ruled out with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal, and the champions were far from their best without the Ballon d’Or contender removed.

Haaland had little chance at St James’ Park and therefore failed to equal City star Sergio Aguero’s record of scoring in each of his first six games of a Premier League season.

A frequent goalscorer in his forays forward late last season, Gvardiol gave City the lead in the 35th minute, collecting Jack Grealish’s inside pass before cutting inside onto his weaker right foot and firing low into the corner .

Anthony Gordon scored a penalty for Newcastle’s equalizer in the 58th minute after the England winger – playing as a central striker in the absence of the injured Alexander Isak – was brought down by City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes after running towards goal.

Late show

Arsenal’s players were left devastated last weekend when they conceded an injury-time equalizer at City.

Six days later they celebrated late goals after Leicester, a previously winless newly promoted team, threatened to draw from two goals down with an unlikely draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard scored goals for Arsenal in the first half, only for the Gunners’ usually stubborn defense to surprisingly allow two goals from Leicester right-back James Justin. Justin’s second shot was an impressive volley with the outside of his right foot that hit past the far post.

Arsenal took the lead again in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Leandro Trossard volleyed Bukayo Saka’s long corner towards goal, although Wilfred Ndidi had to deflect it to find its way into the net. Havertz bundled in the fourth goal in the ninth minute of added time.

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Steve Douglas is there https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer