Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said Jack Wilshere is more of a threat in the final third because he has regained confidence and power following last season's ankle injury.

The midfielder scored during the Gunners' 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Saturday.

Wenger told the club's official website:, external "He works on it [his finishing] and I believe for a long time he didn't kick the ball well because of his ankle.

"Now in training he kicks the ball well and he works on his finishing. Not excessively because first he's a midfielder and you want him to give good balls."

Manchester United will get Angel Di Maria to try to convince his close friend Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Real Madrid and return to Old Trafford next summer.

That and why QPR had to make a 194-mile coach trip back to London after their defeat at United because they couldn't book out a train carriage in today's BBC Gossip.

Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has said a sense of togetherness is the reason behind Villa's fine start to the season.

Paul Lambert's men beat Liverpool 1-0 on Saturday to move to second in the league with 10 points out of a possible 12.

"I think there is more togetherness - that's the main thing - and a bit more experience to a good group of young players," he told the club's official website. , external"This summer the manager has brought in players who know the Premier League."

Image source, Getty Images

More reaction to our question of whether Newcastle manager Alan Pardew deserves more time in charge of the club:

Neil Howells:, external From fifth to bottom of the league in little over two seasons. One win in 13. Enough said. Has to go.

Alex Mays:, external Pardew has to go. Five Premier League wins out of 23 in 2014 and using the fans as an excuse to their poor form - that's a step too far.

Christopher Southern:, external Pardew isn't under threat after four games as everyone seem to imply, the horrendous results and excuses have lasted nine months.

Mark Reynolds:, external Pardew has had players sold from underneath him, but he's also let players like Ben Arfa and Yanga-Mbiwa go of his own accord

Keep your thoughts coming on Twitter using #bbcsportsday or leave a message on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has said he has been "craving" Champions League football during the club's five-year absence from Europe's premier competition.

The club's last Champions League involvement came in December 2009 - a 2-1 home defeat by Fiorentina which confirmed their exit from the group stages.

"There has almost been a jealousy and an envy that we weren't involved," said the Liverpool captain., external "Watching the likes of Chelsea and Man United in it when we were finishing outside the top four was tough. I've been craving it."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

There is Champions League action tomorrow and it's a big night for Liverpool, back in the competition after a five-year absence, as they face Bulgarian side Ludogorets at Anfield.

There's a media conference with Brendan Rodgers at 14:00 BST. We'll bring you all the news as it happens.

Image source, SNS Group Craig Williamson

Celtic winger Aleksander Tonev has been accused of racially abusing Aberdeen defender Shay Logan.

The incident is said to have occurred early in the second half of Saturday's Premiership match at Celtic Park.

Referee Bobby Madden received the complaint which will also feature in SPFL delegate John Connelly's report.

A Celtic spokesperson says they have discussed the allegation with Tonev and that the Bulgarian says the accusation made by Logan is not true.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas says his team's 4-2 victory over Swansea was all the more important because the teams who are expected to challenge them for the title dropped points.

Arsenal and Manchester City drew 2-2, while Liverpool lost 1-0 against Aston Villa, leaving the Blues at the top of the league with the only 100% record in the Premier League.

"Obviously we wanted three points as usual, but the more we take advantage of our rivals the better," said the Spaniard., external "We know it doesn't mean much because there is still a long way to go, but we knew [before the game] Manchester City and Arsenal had dropped points so it was very important."

Image source, Englandrugby.com

England unveil their new kit,, external which features the English rose in the centre of the chest. Stuart Lancaster's men will wear the kit for the first time when they take on New Zealand at Twickenham on 8 November.

Image source, Getty Images

Midfielder Juan Mata was delighted by the attacking verve Manchester United displayed in their 4-0 win over QPR, and claimed it is the way they have to play with the personnel they've got.

He told the Manchester Evening News:, external "We tried to score even more and that's what we have to do with the players that we have - we have to play good, we have to score a lot of goals."

Some have suggested Mata, 26, might be the man to make way for the new United arrivals when the January transfer window comes, but the Spaniard started against QPR and scored his second goal of the season.

"I am getting into the box. That's what you have to do and try to help the team to score or assist," Mata added.

Image source, Guardian

The Guardian reflects on Louis van Gaal's belief that the win over QPR is the start of a new era. And it says Alan Pardew will get one more chance to turn around Newcastle's fortunes.

Rio Ferdinand says David Moyes was "unlucky" with the way his 10 months at Old Trafford turned out, but he misunderstood what was required at Manchester United.

"Before every game he made a point of showing us videos of how dangerous the other team could be. There was so much attention to the subject it suddenly became a worry," said Ferdinand, in his autobiography, being serialised in the Sun.

The defender, now at QPR, also recalled a video meeting with Nemanja Vidic and Moyes, dissecting the 4-1 defeat to local rivals Manchester City, and how he emerged afterwards with no idea what the Scot was trying to convey.

Ferdinand added: "You heard a lot of guys complaining: 'I just don't know what he wants.' He had me doubting everything."

Image source, Getty Images

Rio Ferdinand has highlighted a series of mistakes which he believes David Moyes made during his Manchester United tenure - starting with the banning of chips the night before matches.

In his autobiography '#2Sides', which is being serialised by the Sun, the 35-year-old centre-back claims the players were confused by mixed messages from Moyes, frustrated by his mentality and angered by changes in routine, such as the chips being taken away.

"Guess what happened after Moyes left and Ryan Giggs took over?" wrote Ferdinand.

"Moyes has been gone about 20 minutes, we're on the bikes warming up for the first training session and one of the lads says: 'You know what? We've got to get on to Giggsy. We've got to get him to get us our chips back.'"

Some more reaction to our question of whether Newcastle manager Alan Pardew deserves more time in charge of the club.

Rohan Banerjee:, external Pardew isn't under pressure for four games. It's a tenure of underachievement. He's awful.

Bradley Sparkes:, external Pardew was an unpopular figure from the start of his tenure, Hughton was our man but was booted for having ambition.

George Drakesmith:, external Pardew deserves two more games (vs Hull and Stoke) where he has to get at least four points. If not, then he has to go.

Durantus:, external He has had a few years. Up and down seasons. Its time for a change. We need a young English manager with fresh ideas.

The Evening Chronicle in Newcastle reports that the club's board members have postponed a fan forum, external scheduled for next Monday until October 20.

"Supporters had been hoping to quiz Newcastle's directors after the club's shocking start to the season," reported the paper. "A guidance on where the Magpies aim to finish this season and their outlook on the cups was understood to be up for discussion.

"But the club canned plans for the meeting to take place."

Image source, EPA

Want nine goals, two red cards and a comical own goal?

Thought so. Read what happened in the Serie A game between Parma and AC Milan last night. It sounded a cracker.

Here's the report.

Image source, Daily Mirror

It's not all Newcastle though. Manchester United dominate the back pages just as much, their 4-0 win over QPR lit up by the magic of Angel Di Maria and co, raising hopes that this season might turn out to be a success after all. This is the Mirror's take on things.

With Alan Pardew's position at Newcastle under scrutiny, there has been speculation about who could replace him.

Steve Bruce has been heavily mentioned, which is not something the Hull City manager is pleased about.

"I find it very disrespectful that I am linked with somebody else's job when he is still in the job," Bruce told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek.

Bruce, 53, took over as manager of Newcastle's rivals Sunderland in June 2009 but was sacked in November 2011.

"I'm like any other manager... when I see another manager under huge pressure like Alan is - and it was only a few years ago I was in the same sort of situation - it isn't nice," said Bruce.

Some reaction to our early question of whether Newcastle manager Alan Pardew deserves more time in charge of the club:

George Skelly:, external Thought we should give him time at first, but he's been on the edge since the season before last. He's done now.

Ozil No Se Vende:, external He should stay. He's done a great job at the club. Got them into Europe. Fans are being spoilt.

Tim Pollard:, external Mr Pardew keeps saying we need patience. After 55 years supporting NUFC though thin & thin my patience has run out.

Keep your comments coming in to us using the hashtag #bbcsportsday and we will post the best message on this page throughout the day.

Mark Jenson, editor of Newcastle United fanzine The Mag, says "an overwhelming number of the fans" want Alan Pardew to go.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Jenson said: "I think that fans for a long time have thought what is the point of getting rid of Pardew because we will get someone just as bad, but I think that the time has come when it is very hard to see how he can carry on."

Asked why Pardew appeared to be so unpopular with the Magpies fans, Jenson added: "With any manager the starting point is results. And he has absolutely no affinity with the fans. It is not like Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson beforehand where, if we were going through a bad patch, there was a lot of goodwill for them."