Premier League: 7 Players who previously scored a hat-trick on opening weekend

#6 Gabriel Agbonlahor - vs. Manchester City (2008)

Perhaps Agbonhalor's finest performance for Villa

It was only a good 17 years later that Premier League witnessed another opening weekend hat-trick, and it wasn't Wayne Rooney or Robin Van Persie or Dimitar Berbatov or even Didier Drogba - but instead, Gabriel Agbonlahor!

The Aston Villa legend was never a prolific striker, posting double-digit figures in only three out of 13 seasons with the club. However, he too belongs in the bracket of those eight players to score a hat-trick in the opening game of the season.

Agbonlahor pulled it off against Manchester City - that same side which went on to lose 8-1 to Middlesbrough later that season. After all, this was much before the influx of Arab money, when the Skyblues were not a top-six side.

Nevertheless, the English striker, who had just signed a new four-year contract with Villa, appeared to be more than just eager to repay the faith and bagged a hat-trick in a space of just seven minutes.

Yes, you read that right: a right-footer in the 69th minute, a header in the 74th minute and a left-footer in the 76th minute to round off a 'perfect hat-trick' and ensure a perfect start to the season as Villa won 4-2.

Good times...