Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer feels standards have fallen across the Premier League.

Shearer wrote in The Sun: "Sadly, it is not of the same standard now as it was 10 or even five years ago.

"How is it that Arsenal can have their worst start in 23 years, yet after beating Wigan in a far from convincing display found themselves in third place on Saturday night?

"Manchester City are playing nowhere near as well as they did last season.

"Their last-gasp victory over rock-bottom Reading at the Etihad was further evidence of that.

"Yet Roberto Mancini's men stand well clear of the rest in second.

"Then at the top we have a Manchester United side who have two fantastic frontmen in Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

"Yet even with those two they are nowhere near the vintage Alex Ferguson teams of the past 20 years."