16 Sep 2012

Scholes celebrates 700th game with goal

1:10 pm on 16 September 2012

Manchester United veteran Paul Scholes marked his 700th appearance for the football club with a goal in a 4-0 Premier League win over Wigan.

The league champions Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke.

Elsewhere, Arsenal thrashed bottom of the table Southampton 6-1 to leave the newly promoted Saints still searching for their first points of the season.

At the Britannia Stadium, England striker Peter Crouch gave Stoke a 15 minute lead when he bundled the ball in from close range.

But City were level 10 minutes before half time when new signing Javi Garcia scored on his debut after heading in Carlos Tevez's free-kick.

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross's goal-line clearance late on ensured a point for the Potters.

Arsenal struck in the 11th minute at the Emirates when Keiran Gibbs's cross was turned in to his own net by Southampton defender Jos Hooiveld.

Lukas Podolski then made it 2-0, just after the half hour mark, when he swung in a 25-yard free-kick over the wall.

Gervinho added Arsenal's third 10 minutes before half-time before another Gibbs-inspired own-goal, this time by Nathaniel Clyne, made it 4-0.

There was still time in the half for Saints to get on the scoresheet when Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny dropped a cross and Danny Fox smashed in the loose ball.

But Gervinho restored Arsenal's four-goal lead in the 71st minute when he tapped in from close range after substitute Aaron Ramsey's cross hit the post.

And, two minutes from time, Theo Walcott scored against his old club to make it 6-1.

At Loftus Road, there was no pre-match handshake from Anton Ferdinand for Chelsea captain John Terry.

The match was the first between the clubs since since Chelsea and England defender Terry was found not guilty of using a racial slur against the Hoops' Ferdinand in the corresponding fixture last October.

Terry is still the subject of a Football Association investigation over charges he has always denied.

The match ended goalless, with QPR duo Park Ji-Sung and Bobby Zamora both failing to make the most of good chances.

Aston Villa won their first league match under new manager Paul Lambert as they ended Swansea's unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 home win.

And former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov scored twice as Fulham beat West Brom 3-0.