Sir Alex Ferguson was ecstatic after Manchester United's 8-2 disposal of Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, but is under no illusion about the Barclays Premier League season ahead. Fergie heaped praise on the likes of Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young, and admitted empathy with Arsene Wenger... 

United sent out a clear message to their Premier League title challengers over the weekend: 'Anything you can do, we can do better'. The Red Devils climbed to the top of the pile, after an 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal. Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick - including his 150th goal for the club - as Ashley Young netted a brace, and Danny Welbeck, Luis Nani and Ji-Sung Park also took part in the rout at The Theatre Of Dreams, while David De Gea saved a penalty. 

There is no doubt who are favourites for the domestic league - but as Gary Neville pointed out on Sky Sports - The Reds will have to play better than they did against The Gunners to win matches by a lesser margin this term. Sir Alex, speaking to BBC Sports for the first time since 2004, expressed his sympathy for Arsenal manager Wenger, but said that their understrength team should not take away from his young side's truly magical performance. 
 
The gaffer told MUTV: "It’s unusual, because you don’t expect it. We’ve scored six against them twice in the past, so maybe when we hit form like that somebody suffers. Today it was Arsenal who, unfortunately, suffered. We’ve had a couple of big results against them in the past, but when you see Arsenal’s team like that, you do expect to score goals. I felt all their quality was in the forward positions and they were a threat at times..."

"It was a funny game, a strange result, but we can only do our jobs and I think the players kept it professional that way and did their best," added Fergie. "We’re showing great energy at the moment and great enjoyment in our game, and that’s important. Rooney was fantastic. He’s thriving in his role of leader of the front players. Welbeck’s young, Hernandez is young. Young has just joined and Wayne’s thriving in the responsibility and that’s important."

The game had everything; headers, stunners, free-kicks scored, penalties saved and scored, injuries, bookings galore, a sending-off, and the list goes on. Speaking of Ash Young's two fabulous screamers, one in each half, the boss said: "Marvellous goals, fantastic goals. He’s settling in very well, good understanding of the game, great energy, beautiful balance… He has all the assets to be a really top player."

Sir Alex continued his defence of under-fire Gunners chief, Arsene Wenger, after lauding the Frenchman in his pre-match notes in the United programme. "Of course, he’s a great football man..." the Scottish manager said. "He’s done an incredible job for Arsenal for 15 years, he’s given them a quality of football that they’ve never experienced. He’s brought some exciting players to his club and he deserves respect for that, especially from myself."

Next weekend is full of International fixtures, before The Champions visit Bolton Wanderers.