Arsenal 6-1 Southampton:
Arsene Wenger: “We had a first half of a very high level. We were a bit lucky as well with the two own goals but overall we were top quality. We moved the ball at a very high pace and gave Southampton lots of problems. It is disappointing to concede a goal, especially the way we did, but you have to let one in at some point. A goal for Olivier Giroud is missing but it will come. “We have a chance for the title but first we must show consistency. We have the quality to do it but we have to show how much we can do it. When you love football you love to watch players like Santi Cazorla. His attitude is first-rate and he is technically brilliant. You can see already that he is at the heart of all our moves.”
Nigel Adkins: “Arsenal were very good. At times they were exhilarating as they have been in many times here, it was a lesson for our players. If you give quality players time they will hurt you and that’s what happened. We turned it over far too cheaply. Gaston Ramirez only trained with us for the first time last night but what an exciting prospect he is. He showed a bit of what he is about. We knew these first four games would be tough, we haven’t got any points but we will get ready for next week and now we have to start getting points on the board. This is a ruthless division.”
Manchester United 4-0 Wigan:
Roberto Martinez: “Today I knew, when you come to these places, you need to have a strong referee. The decision for the penalty was a shocking. I am not bothered about the score line, I will take responsibility for that but it is difficult to come to Old Trafford and have a referee who gets affected by the occasion. We have better standards than how we played today. First half we were brave, but giving the goal away, all of a sudden they relax a little bit more. We are nowhere near the level of last season, we have a strong squad and want to keep working. I was pleased with many aspects of our performance but have to congratulate Manchester United.”
Sir Alex Ferguson: “We had to start all over again after the missed penalty. They slowed the game down a lot, but we weren’t playing at the speed we play at. The second half we did after becoming more aggressive and played some penetrating football. Wigan playa a system which is difficult to play against. It is a good result.
Goalscorer, Alex Buttner: “I am happy we won the game and to score in my first game. I want to score and give assists to my team-mates. We played well in the second half and played good football. It is unbelievable, when I came on the field it was beautiful. I was nervous when I came on. It is a dream and I am enjoying it.”
Aston Villa 2-0 Swansea:
Paul Lambert: “We were worthy of the win – we were excellent. I thought Christian Benteke was unplayable at times. He’s only 21, but plays for the Belgium national team. The big lad will do fine for us.”
Michael Laudrup: “When things are going well you want the run to continue – but we had an international break. You never know how the players will be when they get back.”
Stoke 1-1 Manchester City:
Tony Pulis: “I haven’t seen it but if Peter has [handled it] I’m absolutely delighted to have got one against one of the big clubs. Usually it is the big clubs who get one against us.”
Roberto Mancini: “It was basketball – not football. I didn’t see it at the time. But now I’ve seen a replay, it’s incredible.”
Goalscorer, Peter Crouch: “There might have been a slight suspicion of handball, to be honest, but you carry on playing. We thoroughly deserved a point. Sometimes you gets breaks that go for you and sometimes you don’t. I’m delighted to have scored.”
QPR 0-0 Chelsea:
Mark Hughes: “Today we acquitted ourselves really well – we were assured and calm and we dictated to the European champions for long periods. We were good in possession and created chances. Credit to the players, I thought the performance was excellent.
Roberto Di Matteo: “It was a feisty derby with tackles flying in. In the first half we were very much in control and had a number of opportunities to score and were only missing a goal. We also had two penalty incidents and it’s a shame the referee didn’t see them or think they were penalties. The one on JT was an incredible one and the other one, maybe he thought there was not much contact [on Eden Hazard]. But it’s a clean sheet and a draw away from home and we will take it.”
Fulham 3-0 WBA:
Martin Jol: “That was a great afternoon – almost similar to the afternoons when [Mladen] Petric scored twice on his debut and last year when (Pavel) Pogrebnyak came in and scored two goals on his debut. It was a similar feeling. I was ever so pleased. There is space for optimism because Berbatov is a top, top striker. But so is Hugo Rodellega and I’m very happy with my strikers. Berbatov wants to play games, of course he didn’t play a lot of games at Manchester United, though last year he was still their top scorer I think. He wants to play his football – he’s 31 now.
Goalscorer, Dimitar Berbatov: “It was a great home debut. I had a feeling before the game that it would be a good day for the team and me. And it’s a great feeling. I feel satisfied with the result and my play, and all the supporters are happy as well. It was my first performance at home and I felt good because I was on the pitch playing. When I’m happy great things happen, like today. I scored and played with a smile on my face. Most important for me is playing every game and when I can do that I give my best performances.”
Steve Clarke: “We obviously came into the game in a good moment because we’ve had a good start to the season. But we expect difficult days and we expected a difficult game here. The sending off of Peter [Odemwingie] compounded our problems and we made it much worse by conceding a penalty in first-half injury time. Second half we were much better and played more like we can play. If we got it back to 2-1 it could have been a different story.”
Peter Odemwingie on his sending off: “I am looking at the incident in a different way now. That moment went very fast for me, I felt a kick on my ankle and felt an injustice that the linesman was so close but nothing was given. But now I think it was my fault. I lost my temper. I’m a professional and should have kept my cool, but it happens. It’s not my habit. I wanted to foul the player because I thought he was angry towards me. But I should cool my emotions. It’s a lesson to learn.”
Alex William Batt
