4 takeaways from Saturday's Premier League action

Sometimes, a jaunt to an East Midlands town famed for leather manufacturing is all you need to put a spring back in your step.

Well, that's what did the trick for Manchester United - its midweek League Cup win at Northampton Town alleviated pressure following three consecutive defeats and showed that, even against third-tier opposition, Wayne Rooney isn't going to find the onion bag.

Hosting Leicester City on Saturday, the United captain was deservedly benched due to a spate of indifferent form.

Meanwhile, Arsenal showed up Chelsea (which still inexplicably misses a certain 35-year-old in its backline), Bournemouth handler Eddie Howe further enhanced his glowing resume with a deserved victory over in-form Everton, and a Harry Kane-less Tottenham Hotspur edged out Middlesbrough - just.

United's problems suddenly Wayne-ing

Jose Mourinho eventually did what those at international and club level didn't dare do before him: ditch Rooney

And it paid off.

Manchester United deservedly beat Leicester by a 4-1 scoreline to begin Saturday's action, with three goals after capitalising on a surprising lack of physicality and awareness from the Foxes on set-pieces.

Most evident for United was the increased tempo and relentlessness in the wake of Rooney's benching: Juan Mata was sprightly and inventive in the No. 10 role, contributing a goal and teeing up Marcus Rashford's tap-in. And Paul Pogba was liberated without Marouane Fellaini and Rooney around, nabbing his first goal for the club in the 42nd minute.

"He's a big player for me, a big player for United, a big player for this country," Mourinho insisted when asked about Rooney post-match. "He's my man, I trust him completely. He's as happy as I am at this moment and that's the team."

Rooney was introduced in the 83rd minute in place of Rashford and, despite one laboured attempt to bring the ball under his spell, completed all of his 11 passes.

Blues backline overawed by Arsenal

Even though he made his debut when penny farthings were a popular form of transport in London, Chelsea still has a reliance on the organisational skills, concentration, and physicality of John Terry. It's shameful.

Gary Cahill, looking like a pensioner at a bus stop rooting for change, was cruelly pick-pocketed by the scampering Alexis Sanchez for the opener, and it was in that vein Arsenal decimated Chelsea with three unanswered goals in the opening stanza.

The damage was irreparable, and it was still 3-0 to the host at the final whistle. N'Golo Kante was being told to do too much, Branislav Ivanovic was doing very little - except giving Marcos Alonso legitimate hopes of holding down a regular starting berth from next Saturday.

For Arsenal, it ends a sorry run of no wins in 10 competitive matches against its London rival, and ignites hopes it can challenge Manchester City for the title this term.

Everton suffers Cherries' crush

Bournemouth inflicted the first defeat on Ronald Koeman's Everton reign thanks to Junior Stanislas brilliantly finding the top corner from 25 yards, capping off a slick passing move from the home side.

"Bournemouth was until now the best team, who create more problems when they have the ball. The other teams play long balls and they want to play and our high pressing was not perfect," Guardiola assessed last week when his Manchester City side beat Bournemouth 4-0.

The Spanish tactician was most impressed by the Cherries' attacking - their insistence at flowing, high-tempo forays under their gifted young boss Eddie Howe - and his thoughts were justified somewhat through the move that preceded Stanislas' effort, but then surpassed through the hindering of Romelu Lukaku and intensity that followed.

Although he struggled when he left Bournemouth for Burnley in 2011 - returning to the south coast 21 months later - you suspect Howe will be handed another opportunity at a club with greater resources in the not too distant future.

The British bookmakers make him the favourite for Wenger's replacement at Arsenal.

Middlesbrough burned by Son

In just three Premier League starts, Heung-Min Son has already matched his tally of four goals and one assist of last season. The South Korean has settled in timely fashion.

Much of the attention when Kane had to leave last week's defeat of Sunderland on crutches was turned to Vincent Janssen, the forward signed for around £17 million in the summer from AZ Alkmaar. The Dutchman managed to nick an assist but was largely ineffectual, leaving the stage for Spurs' new favourite Son.

His second strike in Saturday's 2-1 win at Middlesbrough was sublime. He twisted and turned, the defenders fruitlessly trying to get the better of his low centre of gravity, before arrowing a beauty in the top corner.