UNITED 8-2 Arsenal

UNITED 8-2 Arsenal

Welbeck 22, Young 28, Rooney 41, Walcott 45+3, Rooney 64, Nani 67, Park Ji-Sung 70, Van Persie 74, Rooney (pen) 82, Young 90+1

           

United romped to one of the biggest wins in premier league history after disposing of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal with a hatrick from Wayne Rooney, two goals from Ashley Young and strikes from Danny Welbeck, Park Ji-Sung and Nani. In what can only be described as a total humiliation for the French manager and the Gunners (the defeat being their largest since 1896), it was a result that even with Arsenal’s recent troubles was still enough to make people around the world, sit up and take notice. The fact it came not long after United’s neighbours Manchester City demolished Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at White Hart Lane has only added to the intrigue and excitement for this season’s title race, many now claiming the balance of footballing power has shifted to the north of England.

United lined up with an unchanged team from the one which was able to see off Spurs at Old Trafford in their last league game, with Rio Ferdinand having to settle for a place on the bench. Arsenal meanwhile had a number of absentees not least Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere but there were still plenty of familiar faces.

United started off the better side in the early exchanges, but it took 22 minutes for the first goal to be scored. Mancunian Danny Welbeck continued his scoring run after finding the net Vs Spurs as he opened the scoring with a header from 6 yards out. It was poor defending all-round as Djourou was unable to clear Anderson’s chip from the edge of the box, and with Szczesny’s indecision Arsenal were punished. The young striker’s game would later end in a disappointing fashion, as a hamstring injury would force him to come off for Javier Hernandez.

Arsenal 1-0 down were gifted a way back into the game however, as they earned a penalty, but Van Persie was unable to beat De Gea, the Spaniard getting down low to his right to palm away the spot kick. The elation on the keeper’s face as well as his team mates congratulating him was clear to see, perhaps this, a defining moment for the 20 year old after quite a bit of criticism since his big money move.

Things would get worse for Arsenal, Ashley Young scoring possibly the best goal of the game as he curled a shot from outside the box into Szczesny’s top left hand corner. Rooney would add a third, a well placed free kick from just outside the box, this time into Szczesny’s top right hand corner.

Arsenal did pull one back through Theo Walcott on the stroke of halftime, Patrice Evra’s positioning exposed, and Jonny Evans last ditch tackle unable to prevent Walcott on the right from firing low through De Gea’s legs for 3-1. The Spaniard will possibly have been aggrieved with himself for conceding a goal after his penalty saving heroics so late in the half, especially when he could probably have done slightly better.

The second half didn’t bring much change in terms of momentum shifting from one team to the other. Arsenal continued to be exposed defensively much more than the threat they posed going forward. In the 64^th minute, Wayne Rooney got United’s 4^th, yet another freekick. And not long after that, Rooney was at it again, breaking Arsenal’s offside trap with a well timed pass to Nani. The Portuguese winger, one on one managed to compose himself and with a cheeky chip converted United’s 5^th.

It would be his last action of the game, as both he and Anderson were substituted for Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-Sung. It was the South Korean who added United’s 6^th with a low shot across the face of goal from just inside the box after a pass from Ashley Young. With United in control, Van Persie was still able to pull one back for Arsenal to make it 6-2, United could be forgiven for a lapse in concentration and easing off under such circumstances, but they weren’t done yet.

By now an almost unbelievable scoreline, Wayne Rooney, 8 minutes from time, did what Van Persie was unable to do earlier in the game by converting from the spot for his hatrick after Theo Walcott’s foul on Patrice Evra. Finally Ashley Young, a menace throughout the game would put the final nail in the coffin, with a curling strike his 2^nd goal of the game, and United’s 8^th to mark one of the darkest days in Wenger’s Arsenal career.

Scholesy18