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Wayne Rooney left Manchester United's fitness programme out of his suitcase when he headed off on holiday - and five weeks of strictly-imposed inactivity has been rewarded with a golden spell of form.

Rooney, naturally hyperactive and a victim of boredom during down time in campaign in South Africa, deliberately kept away from weights and refused to take a single step of road work.

The result has been a devastating start to the season that has brought five goals in three straight Premier League wins as in search of their 20th domestic title.

And it was a relaxed who revealed the secret of his rejuvenation as he joined up with England's squad at their Hertfordshire headquarters for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria in Sofia on Friday and Wales at Wembley next Tuesday.

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Old Trafford

The sound of Sir Alex Ferguson almost killing Arsene Wenger with kindness may have been the most ominous noise of all for a manager who had just suffered his greatest humiliation.

Wenger still has aspirations to win titles and revisiting one of the great Premier League managerial rivalries - a fanciful notion after Manchester United became the first team to score eight goals against Arsenal since Loughborough in 1896.

So to hear Ferguson expressing genuine sympathy bordering on sorrow for Wenger at Old Trafford, the place where Arsenal once triumphantly confirmed the league and FA Cup double, after an 8-2 mauling only added a further layer of embarrassment to his obvious suffering.

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Sir Alex Ferguson penned a vote of confidence in the new breed at Old Trafford when he told Manchester United's fans in his match notes for the meeting with Tottenham: "Don't fret about the transfer market."

It proved to be a timely message as the second youngest side Ferguson has ever fielded in the Premier League - average age 23 - produced compelling evidence that he is in the process of building another monument to domestic domination.

The suspicion lurks that Ferguson will still need the quality and experience of a player in the mould of Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder at the sharp end of the Champions League, but the glimpse into the future offered in an emphatic carried an ominous look for those wishing to deprive United of a 20th title.

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Arsene Wenger's body language could have been set to a sombre musical soundtrack as he suffered an increasingly familiar fate. It did not just rain on Arsenal's manager at Emirates Stadium, it poured.

As Wenger ruffled his hands furiously through hair soaked by a torrential downpour, then lurched forward in frustration in his seat as , an inescapable conclusion was reached.

Wenger now faces 10 days that may not exactly define his future, but which have the capacity to shape the mood of an entire season for an increasingly depleted Arsenal squad and their manager.

Arsenal face a hazardous in Italy on Wednesday before travelling to face champions Manchester United at Old Trafford next Sunday. And then, with great significance and a reason for Wenger to act with an urgency that has escaped him this summer, the transfer window will close.

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While under new owners the , there has been nothing other than a long summer of silence across Stanley Park at Everton.

Manager has barely spoken publicly since - perhaps an understandable stance given that he has had nothing to discuss given the lack of activity at .

All that changed when the results of a conversation between and "The Blue Union" supporters' group were published late on Wednesday night and revealed the stark state of Everton's financial position and their inability to finance any improvements to Moyes' squad.

In the meeting, which caused great embarrassment and anger inside Goodison Park when its contents were made public, Kenwright laid bare how Everton are as they wrestle with debts of around Β£45m and outlined the failure to attract buyers to improve their fraught financial framework.

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Arsene Wenger started the night perched high in The Emirates chewing on a toothpick; Arsenal's fans went straight for their fingernails and ended it grateful for the relief of victory against Udinese.

Wenger was fidgety and agitated. The gallery was nervous, unsettled, unsure. And every one of these emotions was mirrored by Arsenal as they inched their way agonisingly to a one-goal advantage to take to Udine next Wednesday for the second leg of the Champions League qualifier.

Theo Walcott's early goal gave Arsenal a very acceptable result against dangerous opponents, a and no away goal conceded. It was also achieved with Cesc Fabregas finally back in the arms of Barcelona, Jack Wilshere injured, newly-appointed captain Robin van Persie suspended and Samir Nasri also banned and on his way to Manchester City.

And yet it was an occasion that did little to dispel the mood of restlessness currently hanging over Arsenal, an uncertainty over direction and over what lies ahead if Wenger fails to act decisively and successfully before the transfer window closes.

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Manchester United's show of strength in the win against demonstrated their determination to land a 20th domestic title.

Can City build on their win and seriously threaten their Old Trafford neighbours? Or can new bring the title back to Stamford Bridge?

Kenny Dalglish has spent Β£100m since returning as Liverpool manager in January, but will that be enough to beat Arsenal and Spurs to a place in the top four and a return to the Champions League, the publicly-stated aim of owner John W. Henry?

And can any of the promoted teams - , and - expect to survive in the top-tier?

So many questions - and time to dust down the crystal ball and to try to predict what the forthcoming season will bring...

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