Manchester clubs send warning to rivals

The third round of the Premier League was highlighted by Manchester United’s devastating 8-2 defeat of Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men humiliated the Gunners, with a Wayne Rooney hat-trick and a brace from new signing Ashley Young setting up Arsenal’s heaviest ever defeat under manager Arsene Wenger.

With the north London club yet to win a game in the English top-flight this season, pressure is mounting on Wenger, though the Frenchman is not panicking yet.

“What is important is that we have played three games in the season and two Champions League games and it’s not the end of the season where you make a balance of the whole season,” Wenger said after the match.

“I feel it was a special game – of course that hurts, it’s humiliating, but you could see that we had not recovered physically in the second half today from our games and especially from Wednesday night.”

United have been playing some scintillating football in the early part of the season.

Rooney looks rejuvenated after battling injury last term while new signings Young and defender Phil Jones have settled in seamlessly.

Manchester City were also celebrating a convincing win over north London opposition, with Roberto Mancini’s side crushing Tottenham 5-1 at White Hart Lane.

Edin Dzeko was the star for the visitors with four goals.

Despite just three games being played there is already a familiar feel to the top of the table with Liverpool also showcasing their title credentials.

Kenny Dalglish’s side sit third in the standings after an impressive 3-1 win over Bolton, with new signings Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam scoring their first goals for the Anfield club.

Dalglish said afterwards: “Like I said before, we’ve got a really strong squad. And the squad will be more successful than the team. Without a strong squad you don’t get anything so, simple and straightforward really.”

Chelsea sit fourth after beating league new boys Norwich 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

New signing Juan Mata played a cameo role from the substitutes’ bench, but featured long enough to bag himself a goal on debut to seal the win.

“I think all of the players are creative, they just express themselves in different ways,” Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas said following his side’s second-successive victory.

“Mata is different than other players but other players are as talented as him. They just express themselves in different ways. Mata found some good spaces today.”

With an international break scheduled for this weekend, Premier League action returns on September 10.