IS BOLT A NEW ROONEY? EPL UPDATE

Is this Rooney's replacement? Sir Alex and Bolt spotted in talks after United match

Sprint king Usain Bolt claims he provided the inspiration for Manchester United's 3-2 Premier League win over Fulham on Saturday - and was later seen having a chat with Sir Alex Ferguson, who could do with someone to replace the injured Wayne Rooney.

Bolt was guest of honour at Old Trafford and received a reception almost as warm as those reserved for new-boys Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa.

Both opened their United accounts as Ferguson's men came from behind to seal their first win of the season.

Secred meeting? Usain Bolt and Sir Alex Ferguson were pictured having talks - and a giggle - together

And Bolt, a lifelong United fan who urged supporters to persuade Ferguson to sign him, likes to think he played his own part in the success.

'I shook their hands before they went on the field so I guess I was a good luck charm,' said the charismatic Jamaican.

There was clearly more to the triumph than an audience with the most famous sportsman on the planet and a chance to look at his three Olympic gold medals from London 2012.

United front: Red Devils fan Bolt with Robin van Persie and Ryan Giggs (right)

'It couldn't have gone much better,' said Van Persie of his full debut, and his first appearance at Old Trafford since being on the wrong end of that 8-2 United mauling of Arsenal last August.

'We were only 10 minutes in and it was a good cross from Patrice Evra.

'I wasn't thinking about what to do. I only had one thing on my mind. I saw a little bounce. I had to hit it well.

'Some go over, some go in. You need to be lucky sometimes and it went into the far corner, exactly as I wanted.

United he stands: Olympic legend Usain Bolt was presented to fans at Old Trafford before the match against Fulham, to chants of 'Sign him up'

 Arsenal 0-0 Stoke

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta rued his side's inability to convert chances after they registered a goalless draw against Stoke - their second consecutive Barclays Premier League stalemate.

The Gunners dominated possession but, just like last week's match against Sunderland, could not make the most of it.

'It (two points from the first two games) is not good enough. We wanted the three points, but it is a hard place to come and try to get the points,' Arteta told Sky Sports 1.

Blocked out: Arsenal enjoyed much of the possession but couldn't break Stoke doArsene Wenger accepted his new-look Arsenal strike force need to forge a better understanding after they failed to score in a frustrating goalless draw against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

Podolski, Giroud and Gervinho were unable to make a breakthrough despite a dominant display in midfield led by Santi Cazorla

Heads up: The Gunners are finding life in front of goal without Robin van Persie difficult

'Offensively we still have some work to do because we missed a bit of accuracy in the final third in our movement and in our passing,' Wenger said.

'We are used to finding each other in the final third and there's something missing but I still think we should have won the game 1-0.

'[It is] an understanding because you have Cazorla and Podolski who one month ago, they didn't know each other, so that will come.

'We have some work to do on the training ground but I believe we have the potential but you can see as well that something is missing.

'They're not spontaneous enough in some situations. I'm very positive about my team. People will say: 'You did not score in two games' and I cannot deny that.

'We played against two teams who as a unit defend very well, Sunderland and Stoke, and overall I believe we can be a good surprise in this Championship.'

Last season, Arsenal saw their bid for the title take an early dent as defeats against Liverpool and Manchester United followed an opening day 0-0 draw at Newcastle.

 

However, Wenger conceded winning a poi