ARSENAL
Arsenal's new-look defence will continue to improve while Arsenal challenge for the Barclays Premier League title this season, according to Arsène Wenger. Summer signing Laurent Koscielny partnered debutant Sebastien Squillaci to form a new-look defensive pairing against Bolton in the absence of the injured Thomas Vermaelen, and Wenger believes his back line will only get stronger with time. Players such as Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Steve Bould have been lynchpins in successful Wenger sides of the past and the manager has every confidence in his current crop of defenders. "The only thing you can say is to win the league we need to be stable at the back. That's of course the challenge we have," said the Frenchman. "I'm confident because we have come out of two games against Blackburn and Bolton with six points. You see Blackburn drew at Manchester City, they are a good side and against Bolton we won again against a good side. Defensively we did well, even though we made a mistake on the goal. The team is improving at the moment."ASTON VILLA
New manager Gerard Houllier is hoping to be at the helm for the Carling Cup match with Blackburn on Wednesday week although he will be assisted by caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald. He said: "If all goes to plan the Carling Cup match with Blackburn will be the first game I pick the team for. But I will do that with Kevin obviously. I think Kevin will stay alongside me (for that game)." BIRMINGHAM CITY
Alex McLeish was delighted with James McFadden's performance against Liverpool in the 0-0 draw on Sunday. "I was really pleased for McFadden. He answered a few critics with the performance that he gave," said the Scot. "Not only that, he did a shift trying to augment the midfield, getting back in there. And I thought the two strikers (McFadden and Cameron Jerome) worked really hard. We were more of a threat as a pairing than I have seen so far this season, from any of the other games."BLACKBURN ROVERS
Sam Allardyce believes England coach Fabio Capello should try to persuade Paul Robinson to come out of international retirement. "Robbo is very comfortable with his game and himself at the moment - you could see that in his all-round performance," Allardyce said. "It would be up to Fabio Capello to build bridges and see whether he can talk Paul out of it or not. But his performances last season never got him in the squad or to the World Cup so he felt he wasn't considered capable of playing in the team." BLACKPOOL
Ian Holloway admitted he gave his side little chance ahead of their shock 2-0 win at Newcastle. "If you had asked me before we started, the emotion we were all feeling, I wouldn't have given us a cat in hell's chance," he said. "But they just never cease to amaze me, these boys, they are the best group I have ever worked with. We have got 11 new people in and that's far too many, but that's their job, to blend, and performances and results like that will help them."BOLTON WANDERERS
Rookie Adam Bogdan was encouraged by his full Barclays Premier League debut - despite Wanderers' heavy defeat to Arsenal - and is eager for more. The 22-year-old Hungarian was beaten four times at the Emirates Stadium but also made some impressive saves, none more so than a second-half block from Marouane Chamakh. "I think we did well but we were unfortunate with the goals that we conceded because we were in the game for a long period," he said. "But I don't think I could have asked for a nicer place to make my first league start and the only thing that would have been better is if we had won the game. Obviously I tried to do my best and keep the goals out because that is what I have to do. I think I had a decent game but you can never be happy when you concede four goals and lose the game. I have to learn from this game and this experience will make me stronger. I now have the belief that I can play at this level and that with a lot of hard work and concentration then I can be on the same pitch with all these wonderful players."CHELSEA
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists owner Roman Abramovich is not obsessed with winning the Champions League. It has been claimed that the Blues' Russian owner is desperate for European success, but Ancelotti insists that is not necessarily the case. "I speak with Roman a lot, but he is not obsessed with the Champions League," he said. "He wants to win everything, but he's not desperate. I don't have pressure from outside. I want to put myself under pressure because I want to win, he wants a team with a clear identity and we have created that. The normal step for players in this situation is to think about winning the Champions League. The players have reached the semi-final five times and one final. They deserve it, but only if you do it better than others."EVERTON
Midfielder Steven Pienaar says he is enjoying his football at Everton and that confidence within the dressing room remains high despite a disappointing start to the season. Pienaar accepts the World Cup made things difficult for many players who returned to their clubs later than usual ahead of the new campaign but he feels in top form. "When you come back from pre-season and join a team late you have to catch up," he said. "But for me it wasn't really a matter of that, it was just getting fully fit by playing games. Even if I made mistakes I just had to improve, so by playing even for the national team it's helped me get sharper and get my confidence. I feel fit and that's so important because I'm enjoying my football." FULHAM
Mark Hughes revealed the club moved promptly to sign Moussa Dembele from AZ Alkmaar in the transfer window. "When it was flagged up that he was in the last year of his contract and likely to be sold, we moved quickly," he said.LIVERPOOL
Roy Hodgson is refusing to set any targets for his first season in charge of Liverpool. Hodgson saw a fine display from keeper Jose Reina earn his side a goalless draw at Birmingham Sunday, moving his side to five points from four matches. The former Fulham manager subsequently denied reports he had dismissed the Reds' title aspirations as being "unrealistic". "I didn't say that. I don't set targets. I never do," said Hodgson. "My target is to prepare the team to do well in each game we play and we will see where that takes us. If you ask me the question 'Can this team win the league?' I would say I don't know. We will take each game as it comes, work hard in every game, and see where we are in May. I think it is amusing people are discussing whether teams can win the league after four games! We play 38. I would like us to play as well as possible and get as many points as possible and see where that takes us. But I'm not prepared to make any statements whether this team can or can't win the league."MANCHESTER CITY
Joe Hart has accepted full responsibility for the blunder that gifted Blackburn the opening goal in Manchester City's draw at Eastlands on Saturday. After making such a massive impression in the first month of the season, and claiming the number one goalkeeping berth with England, Hart has suddenly shown signs of vulnerability. The 24-year-old had a shaky 10-minute spell for his country in Switzerland last week and then got into a real tangle with Kolo Toure to present Nikola Kalinic with a tap-in. As the player who had a far better view of the dangers that were lurking, Hart knows he should have taken control of the situation. And he accepts the blame for the mistake lies with him. "I got there and Kolo was about to head it. He heard me coming and left it," Hart said. "It was me getting in the way. I hold my hands up. I am sorry for that."MANCHESTER UNITED
Midfielder Darren Fletcher accepts Manchester United have lessons to learn about their away performances so far this season if they are to avoid serious damage to their Barclays Premier League title challenge. Having spent so many seasons dishing out last-gasp defeats to their rivals, Sir Alex Ferguson's side received a taste of their own medicine as Everton fought back from 3-1 down to snatch a draw with two goals in injury time at Goodison Park. In their only other away match so far this season United saw Fulham's Brede Hangeland earn a 2-2 draw with an 89th-minute header - moments after Nani had missed a penalty. Those four points are the difference between the third-placed Red Devils and the leaders and defending champion Chelsea, who are the only side with a 100 per cent record. It may only be early days but Fletcher knows allowing winning positions to slip from their grasp will become costly. "We should have learned from the Fulham game and we didn't," said the Scotland international. "We really have to learn from this game if we want to take it forward this season and win the league. We can't afford to throw away points as we have done in the two away games so far. It just shows you that you think you are winning 3-1 and can take it easy but you've got to keep taking your chances and really finish the game off. These are moments you can look back on and say 'That should have been three points' but it is a long season and there are many twists and turns to come."NEWCASTLE UNITED
Steve Harper was impressed by the performance of counterpart Matt Gilks in Blackpool's 2-0 win at Newcastle. Harper said: "Their goalkeeper had one of those special days that can happen every now and again, but it is a disappointed dressing room in there. Goals change games in the Premier League and when a team comes here, you don't want to give them anything to hang on to and that's what we did. We gave them a penalty and they managed to hang on to that, and they caught us with a sucker punch at the end when we had to go chasing the game, so it was a disappointing day."STOKE CITY
Stoke's summer transfer activity has added more goals to the squad but they still have to retain their defensive solidity, according to Tony Pulis. The Potters manager has brought in forwards Kenwyne Jones, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jonathan Walters as well as Real Zaragoza winger Jermaine Pennant and Portsmouth midfielder Marc Wilson. "Bringing the new players in has given the place a lift, it has given it the bubble it needs. We have more options up front and to score goals, which has always been a major worry for us, but we have to make sure we stay nice and tight as a group. Over the two seasons of the Premier League we have had 26 clean sheets and we have to work hard to make sure we maintain that but we now have more quality and cutting edge up front. With Pennant and Gudjohnsen we are hoping they will give us that. Wilson can also score goals from midfield so we are hoping they will be able to add a bit more to us when we have the ball. But we won't play any differently, we will play to win. Sometimes the reputation we have for a certain style is unfair but I'm not bringing the players in to change the style or reputation or curry favour with people outside who say we do this or that. I will always do it the way I think is right and how it suits this club." SUNDERLAND
Striker Asamoah Gyan is on top of the world after capping his Barclays Premier League debut with a goal against Wigan Athletic. The Ghana international cost the Black Cats a club record £13m after joining from French side Rennes before the transfer window closed. He made his debut at the DW Stadium on Saturday and put his side ahead with a fine volley, although Wigan fought back for a 1-1 draw. Gyan praised Jordan Henderson for the cross which set up a goal the striker described as one of the best of his career. "I think my goal was really nice. Perfect," he said. "The goal was very, very amazing and it was great that it was for my new club. Jordan (Henderson) did so well, taking one man on and producing a perfect cross to create my goal. It was one of my best goals, though - I don't score goals like that all the time!"TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
QPR manager Neil Warnock has snapped up Tottenham youngster Kyle Walker on a one-month loan deal. The 20-year-old full-back said: "QPR are a good, ball-playing team so I am pleased to join the club and hopefully I can improve while I am here," he said. "I didn't really cross paths with Neil Warnock at Sheffield United because I signed scholarship terms when they got promoted and he left the following season. I didn't have much dealings with him but he's a good guy, a funny guy."WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Steven Reid hopes his versatility can help him to establish himself in West Brom's first team this season. The former Republic of Ireland utility man was a regular at right-back in the latter stages of the Baggies' promotion campaign but made a 17-minute cameo as a substitute in central midfield as his side drew with Tottenham on Saturday. "I'm experienced enough to know that when I get my chance then I need the right attitude, even if that means getting five or 10 minutes," the 29-year-old said. "I can play at right-back, I like sitting in the middle and being involved - I even played at centre-back last week for the reserves." And he feels he can add to an increased physicality which can stand Albion in good stead, adding: "There is a physical presence, pace - Peter (Odemwingie) is a strong lad, (Marc-Antoine Fortune) has come back, I've arrived, (Paul) Scharner's arrived - you need players like that against the Stokes and Blackburns of this world, you need presence."WEST HAM UNITED
Avram Grant has revealed Benni McCarthy is still not fit enough to play for the club. The South African striker has been criticised for his weight problems since arriving at Upton Park from Blackburn last winter. McCarthy has made just seven appearances for West Ham and has so far failed to find the net for the East London outfit. McCarthy has been battling to lose weight and despite losing eight kilos, Grant believes the 32-year-old is not ready to start for the struggling Hammers. "I was surprised he was like this," Grant said. "He was brought here to perform and then there was the World Cup in his country. I can tell you he's a very nice guy, I don't know why he was like this. But he's lost eight kilos and is a very good player and I'm sure he will help us - and that's what's important. If I look at the past about many things I will be like many people here at the club who always say 'last year was not this, not that'... I say to everybody 'I don't care what happened. I'm looking forward', and so is Benni McCarthy."WIGAN ATHLETIC
Roberto Martinez has backed misfiring striker Mauro Boselli to come good at the DW Stadium. Boselli has yet to score for Wigan since his big-money arrival from Estudiantes this summer and he missed a gilt-edged chance to open his account in Saturday's draw with Sunderland. However, Martinez is refusing to panic and he believes Boselli will prove his worth once he is fully fit. "He's a finisher, he's a goalscorer and I've never seen him miss in that situation," said Martinez. "The Argentinian league has completely different demands physically and he is getting used to playing here. He's reaching that level for 55 or 60 minutes and when he gets fully fit he will never miss those sorts of chances because that's his strength."WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Midfielder Karl Henry insists there was no malice in the challenge which broke Bobby Zamora's leg on Saturday, and has sent his sympathy to the Fulham striker. Zamora was carried off on a stretcher in the first half after his ankle buckled under a fair but robust challenge from Henry. It was a cruel blow for a player who had signed a new contract the previous day and won his first England cap last month, and Henry told Wolves' website: "I'm sorry that the damage was done to him because it's the last thing I would have wanted. I know Bobby - we've got the same agent and we were away with the England Under-21s together. I'd never go out to hurt anyone, let alone him. I felt it was a good tackle. I just tried to win the ball, but I could see he was in agony straight away and called to their physio."