United slaughter Arsenal 8-2 at Old Trafford, with Wayne Rooney scoring his 150th goal for the club…
Match Report – Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Kick-Off & Date: 4pm, Sunday, 28th August 2011
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester (Home)
Attendance: 75,448
Manchester United piled the misery on Arsenal, as the reigning Premier League Champions slaughtered The Gunners by 8-2 at a packed Old Trafford on Sunday. Danny Welbeck, Luis Nani, Ji-Sung Park and Ashley Young (twice) all found themselves on the scoresheet, along with hat-trick hero Wayne Rooney. Theo Walcott and Robin Van Persie netted nothing but consolations as The Red Devils placed themselves on top of the Premier League table…
Sir Alex Ferguson put out an unchanged starting XI to that which capably saw off Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 at home last Monday. David De Gea was given the gloves, with Patrice Evra captaining the side. Phil Jones partnered Jonny Evans, with Chris Smalling on the right. Luis Nani and Ashley Young started as wingers, with in-form midfielders Tom Cleverley and Oliveira Anderson supporting Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck in attack.
The Reds started the better of the two sides, and it was what you would expect from an in-form United team. Welbeck posed a real threat to Wojciech Szczesny, while Rooney looked sharper than ever. It was taking the shape of a loosely-fought match, with Arsenal trying their own luck on as many occasions as possible. But on 22 minutes, a lofted ball from Anderson found Welbeck in the box, who headed into the goals from close range. What a start…
Danny done Wel: England striker opens the scoring on 22 minutes
Clash of the Ash: Young fires a stunner into the top corner on 28 mins after David De Gea saves penalty
Welbeck justified his place ahead of Javier Hernandez, but 5 minutes later The Gunners had the opportunity to equal the scoreline after Evans was harshly punished when he made contact with Theo Walcott inside the box. The Northern Irish defender was booked, but little did it matter as David De Gea saved Robin Van Persie’s penalty to his right. The Spanish goalkeeper is starting to make a name for himself at The Theatre Of Dreams.
Minutes later and the drama continued to unfold, as Ash Young collected a poor Armand Traore header outside the box, and rifled home an absolute stunner of a goal into the top right corner on front of the Stretford End. De Gea made two excellent saves from Andrei Arshavin and Van Persie, before play was curtailed due to a hamstring injury to goalscorer Danny Welbeck. He received a standing ovation, as Chicharito came off the bench.
Carl Jenkinson found himself lucky not to be sent-off by referee Howard Webb when he brought down Young outside the box, moments after Arshavin committed to an awful challenge on the same player. However, Rooney played a one-two with Young from the free-kick and the result was fatal: Wazza scoring his 150th goal for the club with a superb, curling effort. Roo had tried the same trick against Tottenham last week to no avail, but this time it worked.
Wayne Rooney gets in on the act with an amazing free-kick on 41 minutes (his 150th goal for the club)
Theo Walcott gives Arsenal hope, scoring in the 3rd minute of first half stoppage time
Just before the half-time whistle, Walcott registered Arsene Wenger’s side their first 2011/2012 Premier League goal, but even at that stage the North Londoners had a mountain to climb, at 3-1 behind. Nani and Cleverley came close in the second half, and it was clear than The Gunners weren’t going to match United’s pace or skill, despite having an average age that matched that of The Reds. The order from Sir Alex was to get the job finished.
On 64 minutes, Rooney repeated his free-kick feat, again playing a one-two with ‘The Youngster’ before smashing a beauty of a shot into the far corner of the goals. Wayne now became the club’s all-time scorer in the Premier League (1992 – current format), and his colours were determined to add more daylight between the two title rivals. The capacity 75,000-plus supporters at Old Trafford were getting value for money, with more goals on the way.
From the back, United charged forward, releasing Rooney to dispatch a through ball to Nani – in the box – who audaciously chipped Szczesny for his third goal of the new season. That turned out to be his last involvement, as Ji-Sung Park entered the fray. The impressive Anderson also made way for Ryan Giggs. Cruising at this stage, United may well have shut up shop and held out for the 5-1 win, but that just isn’t the way our players are taught !
Rooney nets another irresistible free-kick on 64 minutes
Luis Nani thanks the heavens on 67 mins, chipping the goalkeeper
With half and hour to go, Young assisted Ji-Sung Park for another Manchester United goal. The South Korean – just minutes on the field – drilled a low shot into the right corner of the Arsenal goal with the goalie easily beaten. His customary goalscoring record against big teams continues, but at this rate Wenger’s faltering side can hardly be called a big team. They will seriously struggle for a ‘Top Four’ finish unless new faces are drafted in…
That didn’t stop Van Persie from punishing The Champions for some slack marking, scoring from close range one-on-one with De Gea to restore a small piece of respectability to the 6-2 scoreline. Things only went downhill from there for Arsenal, as Jenkinson showed his sheer inexpedience when bundling Hernandez to the ground just outside the box. The ref could have brandished a straight red, but opted to show the defender his second yellow.
Off Carl went, and United put The Emirates outfit under even more pressure, which became glaringly obvious when Walcott fouled Pat Evra inside the away team’s penalty area. Webb awarded the spot kick, which Rooney tucked away nicely to round-off an exquisite set piece hat-trick. The 25-year-old striker has now scored 5 goals in his last 3 games, all of which took place in the domestic league. You’d be inclined to think ‘that was that’ in the 82nd minute…
Walk in the Park: Ji-Sung’s strike 30 minutes from time can’t be stopped
Robin Van Persie scores a late consolation for The Gunners on 74 mins
Three minutes were added on at the end of the 90 minutes, and if United wanted to reach the summit of the Premier League on goal difference, then they had to score once more… Giggsy passed to Young – already oozing with confidence – who launched his second scintillating strike into the top right corner of the goals. 8-2 it finished, and boy were The Red Army happy. The day started out with an anti-Glazer protest, ending with a thrashing of Arsenal.
It can be said that United played mesmerising football at times, but a large majority of the goals came from a shocking Arsenal backline. Our midfield has in the past been criticised, but The Gunners’ own central players were nowhere to be seen all day long. Next up it’s an International break, coming at a good time for Arsene Wenger and his board, and one which will see United remain at no.1 in the Barclays Premier League Title Race.
And that is why we’re Champions.
Wazza completes his stunning hat-trick with an 81st minute penalty
Gr8: Young thanks Ryan Giggs for the assist to his stoppage time eye-catcher
United Team: David De Gea, Chris Smalling, Patrice Evra, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Oliveira Anderson (Ryan Giggs ’68), Ashley Young, Luis Nani (Ji-Sung Park ’68), Tom Cleverley, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck (Chicharito ’36).
Goals: Welbeck ’22, Young ’28, Rooney ’41, ’64 & ’82 (Penalty), Nani ’67, Park ’70, Young ’90+1
Bookings: Evans ’26, Young ’26