LONDON: Manchester City reclaimed the Premier League lead – at least temporarily with a 6-1 thrashing of Bournemouth while Arsenal’s unbeaten start came to a bitter end though as they went down to a controversial 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.

Belgian winger Jeremy Doku was outstanding for champions City, opening the scoring and creating two more goals as struggling Bournemouth were hammered at The Etihad.

Pep Guardiola’s team have 27 points after 11 matches, one more than Tottenham Hotspur who host Chelsea on Monday. Arsenal have 24 points with Liverpool on 23. Newcastle are sixth with 20 points.

Doku’s goal in the 30th minute opened the floodgates for Guardiola’s treble winners who scored three goals in seven minutes to all but put the game away.

He then assisted on two more goals while Bernardo Silva fired a brace for the rampant hosts.

“What surprised me the most is how clever he is when he has to take a decision, it’s really good,” Guardiola said of Doku.

“I don’t want to change how he is, every game he has played he has played well especially here at home.”

Arsenal had the chance to join City at the top but a bruising battle at St James’ Park was settled by an Anthony Gordon goal that stood despite a lengthy VAR review.

VAR checked whether the ball had gone out of play in the build-up, whether there was a foul and for offside, but Newcastle could eventually celebrate.

“It’s embarrassing what happened, how this goal stands. In the Premier League — this league that we say is the best in the world. I’ve been 20 years in this country and now I feel ashamed. It’s a disgrace,” a fuming Arteta said.

Manchester United responded to worst start to a season since 1962 – with eight defeats from 15 matches in all competitions – by winning at Fulham to ease the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.

His side were lacklustre at times against Fulham in the day’s early kickoff and needed some fine goalkeeping by Andre Onana to keep on level terms in the second half.

But with 90 minutes on the clock captain Bruno Fernandes fired a winner that sparked huge celebrations among the visiting players and fans at Craven Cottage.

“It’s a good feeling of course. If you win it always is. But the performance was good. It’s a massive win and a solid performance,” Dutchman Ten Hag said.

Eighth-placed United have 18 points from 11 games.

##########