Arsenal, Middlesbrough and West Ham United moved alongside
Chelsea and Liverpool at the top of the English Premier League thanks to
victories on Saturday.
Arsenal thumped Newcastle United 3-0, Middlesbrough earned a 2-1 win over
promoted Stoke City, while West Ham beat Blackburn Rovers 4- 1.
The wins lift them all to six points, the same as Chelsea and Liverpool, who
are in action on Sunday.
Robin van Persie scored twice as Arsenal ran out easy winners over Newcastle, who
could have gone top on their own with a win at the Emirates.
The Dutchman scored the first from the penalty spot and hammered the second in
from eight yards before Denilson finished off a lovely move to put the result
beyond doubt.
Wigan Athletic and Portsmouth earned their first points of the season with
heavy away victories, while West Bromwich Albion earned their first points of
the season with a 0-0 draw at Bolton.
Stoke's Amdy Faye was sent off for a nasty challenge on 38 minutes and Afonso Alves
made them pay when he curled in a superb free kick to put Middlesbrough ahead.
Stewart Downing missed a penalty chance to double their lead and Justin Hoyte
equalised for Stoke against the run of play, only for Tuncay to net the winner
five minutes from time.
"We have been good value for at least seven points from three games, but
that's a good start for us," Southgate said, the only points dropped
coming at Liverpool last week.
"It's our best start for a number of years and we know the team can grow
together and improve together, and they will have to take on different
challenges, like they did today."
West Ham joined them on six points after a 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, with
Craig Bellamy and Carlton Cole completing the scoring in injury time.
Calum Davenport and Christopher Samba had put them 2-0 up but Jason Roberts
pulled one back, before Robert Green saved a penalty early in the second half.
"It was a fantastic save and we needed a couple more from him afterwards.
It was 4-1 but really it could have been any score," West Ham manager Alan
Curbishley said.
"I'm just delighted we got the win. It's been a tough week after the
performance at Manchester City and the way we played for much of the cup tie
against Macclesfield.
Amr Zaki scored twice as Wigan went to Hull and routed them
5-0, while Jermain Defoe opened the scoring for Portsmouth as they won 3-0 at
struggling Everton, dpa reported.
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