Why a good start is only that — a start

Arsenal supporters, and Liverpool fans for that matter, have a right to feel heartily encouraged by the sight of the current top four as the Premier League moves into October; but Jose Mourinho’s assertion the table means nothing until December will resonate with those who believe the vagaries of the draw have given some clubs, notably Manchester United, a raw deal in the opening months of the campaign.

David Moyes could not have predicted his side would go into October sitting 12th with only seven points; but he must have known the moment the 2013-14 fixture list was released just what a difficult job he had been given at Old Trafford.

Matches against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in the opening weeks of the new campaign have proved too much for Moyes, whose misery was compounded last week by a home defeat against West Brom — a result that means the vultures are already circling for today’s visit to Sunderland.