Manchester giants claim big victories, while Newcastle claim another win

Newcastle United continued their decent start to the season with a 2-1 home victory over Fulham in the early kick-off.

After a goalless first half Newcastle took the lead in the 48th minute. Striker Leon Best tapped in from close range after Mark Schwarzer parried a Yohan Cabaye shot onto the crossbar.

Best doubled his goal tally in the 66th minute as he turned and fired home from inside the penalty area. Fulham were perhaps unfortunate after Dutchman Tim Krul denied the visitors on numerous occasions.

However he was helpless to prevent Clint Dempsey heading home two minutes from time. Fulham will feel hard done but for Newcastle though it’s seven points out of nine in the Premier League.

Manchester City sent a signal of intent out to their title rivals with a 5-1 hammering of Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Spurs started brightly but they fell behind in the 34th minute. Debutant Samir Nasri crossed for striker Edin Dzeko to poke home past Brad Friedel.

And the Bosnian doubled his goal tally for the day in the 41st minute as he cleverly headed past Friedel from a pinpoint cross from the impressive Nasri. The striker completed his perfect hat trick in the 55th minute, tapping home from close range after good work from Yaya Toure.

Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero made it four on the hour mark racing away from Michael Dawson before firing beyond the helpless Friedel in the Spurs goal. Spurs got a goal back in the 68th minute as defender Younes Kaboul headed home from Rafael Van Der Vaart’s corner.

Tottenham’s afternoon got worse as they went down to ten men, Van Der Vaart limping off with what looked like a hamstring injury and Spurs already having used all three substitutes they had to finish the game with ten. Dzeko rounded off his fantastic afternoon in injury-time with a long range curling effort to make it five.

This performance will certainly have sent a message out to City’s rivals that they are the real deal this season. Spurs meanwhile are now bottom of the Premier League table.

Stoke City claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory over West Brom at the Hawthorns. The home side enjoyed the better of the first half. However the Baggies didn’t take advantage of their superiority and let the Potters back into the game in the second half.

Stoke defender Ryan Shotton scored the winner in the 89th minute from close range after a mix up in the West Brom defence. This was a good victory for the visitors. West Brom though have yet to take a point in the Premier League this season.

Manchester United hammered Arsenal 8-2 at Old Trafford in an extraordinary encounter. United took the lead in the 22nd minute through striker Danny Welbeck, who looped a header over Wojciech Szczesny after the Gunners defence dwelled on an Anderson through ball.

Arsenal had the chanc to level the game as Theo Walcott was brought down in the area by Jonny Evans. Dutch striker Robin Van Persie put the penalty low, only to see David De Gea make a superb save.

United then doubled their lead in the 28th minute Ashley Young superbly curling past Szczesny from 20 yards. First goal scorer Danny Welbeck then pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Mexican striker Javier Hernandez.

Wayne Rooney made it three on 41 minutes through a superb curling effort from a free-kick. Arsenal winger Theo Walcott got a goal back for the visitors in stoppage-time of the first half, firing through David De Gea’s legs.

Wayne Rooney made it four in the 64th minute, from an almost carbon copy of his first goal. The goal made the England international the clubs all time top Premier League scorer. Nani made it five in the 67th minute, the Portuguese winger latching onto a through ball from Rooney before chipping past Szczesny.

Substitute Park-Ji Sung got in on the act in the 70th minute. The South Korean was fed the ball in the penalty area and he fired the ball past the helpless Gunners keeper. Dutch striker Robin Van Persie volleyed Arsenal a consolation goal from Carl Jenkinson’s cross.

Jenkinson was then dismissed in the 77th minute for a second bookable offence, bringing down Javier Hernandez just outside the Arsenal penalty area. Rooney completed his hat trick in the 82nd minute.

Patrick Evra was brought down by Theo Walcott in the penalty area and the England striker slotted home calmly from the penalty spot. The misery wasn’t completed yet for the Gunners though as Ashley Young curled home a superb eighth goal in injury-time.

This was simply a humiliating afternoon for Arsenal. For Manchester United though this was a perfect answer to Manchester City’s big win earlier in the day.