Sir Alex Ferguson: “When we hit form like that, someone suffers. Arsenal unfortunately suffered.”
Massacre at Manchester
It was billed as the game of the weekend!! But United’s neighbours City looked all set to steal the headlines with a spectacular 5-1 victory over Tottenham. But Ferguson’s boys weren’t going to be shut out easily as they ran riot and put in eight goals past Arsenal to savour their biggest victory ever against the Gunners.
Ferguson started with the same lineup that ran riot against Spurs last Monday while Wenger missed the services of Nasri who moved to Manchester City during the week. United made their intentions clear from the start with some mesmerizing passes and it was Welbeck who came closest first as he shot wide of the post. But there would be no missing a few minutes later as Anderson’s cleverly lofted pass found Welbeck who headed it past Szczesny. Smalling set himself up beautifully after Rooney’s chip found him but he dragged his short just wide.
It was against the run of play that Johnny Evans was penalized for bringing down Walcott in the box. But new skipper Van Persie just failed to capitalize on the advantage as a weak shot was easily saved by De Gea. United made sure Arsenal paid for their mistake right away as Young bent a perfect curling shot into the top corner to make it 2-0. Welbeck had to limp off with a hamstring injury while the foul count increased as Arshavin and Jenkinson bringing down Young on two different occasions, the latter just inches outside the box.
Rooney rolled the freekick to Young who trapped it before Rooney floated the ball into the top corner as United extended their lead to three goals. Rooney, who seems to be enjoying his football tested Szczesny with a shot from his own half as United looked to be making a mockery of Arsenal. It was only seconds before halftime that United defence’s switched off as Rosicky fed Walcott on the right whose powerful shot went past De Gea’s legs as the teams went into the break with the scoreboard reading 3-1.
If the first half was lively, the second was nothing short of pulsating!
It started off with Szczesny making a fine save to deny Young and Nani wasting a wonderful opportunity as he looked for personal glory. The Gunners responded immediately with a couple of chances of their own as De Gea was forced into a save to block Van Persie’s volley and Arshavin shooting wide to waste a golden chance.
It was Rooney who finally struck first blood in the second half with another sublime freekick from the edge of the box to become Manchester United’s leading scorer in the Premier League. Rooney, then set up Nani who joined the demolition party to make the scores 5-1. Ferguson replaced Nani and Anderson with Giggs and Park but the flurry of attacks never seemed like stopping.
Rooney, enjoying a dream game, dug out a shot of absolute brilliance but was only denied by the post but it wasn’t long before United extended their lead as Young and Park exchanged passes as the latter completed the move with a shot into the bottom corner. Goals continued to flow as Van Persie made it 6-2 with a well taken goal after Phil Jones’ mistake allowed him a free shot at goal. Another United attack was cut short as Jenkinson brought down Hernandez just outside the box to receive his second yellow. Rooney couldn’t convert his freekick but he was to not to be denied his hat-trick when Evra was brought down in the box by an anxious Walcott.
Rooney blasted his shot into the bottom corner, and to rub salt into Arsenal’s wounds, Young rounded it off with another curling beauty from the edge of the box to make it 8-2 and seal Arsenal’s fate.
United moved to the top of the table with nine points, ahead of their city rivals on goal difference while for Wenger, it was his worst day in his fifteen year reign at Arsenal as they conceded eight goals for the first time since 1896 and with one point from three league games, lie at 17th position in the table, already eight points adrift of the Manchester clubs.
Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, English Premier League, EPL, Football, Manchester United, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson
