Premier League - Nasri nails United

Eurosport - Sun, 09 Nov 07:21:00 2008

Samir Nasri scored twice as Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-1 in a pulsating Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Samir Nasri v Manchester United, FOOTBALL - 0

The France international netted either side of half-time as the Gunners bounced back from their recent bad run to move above Sir Alex Ferguson's side and into third in the table.

Nasri's 22nd minute opener took a wicked deflection off Gary Neville but his second, three minutes into the second-half, was a crisp strike after a patient Gunners move.

Rafael Da Silva gave United hope with his first goal for the club in the last minute but the hosts held on in the six minutes of injury time that were played after an earlier injury that forced keeper Manuel Almunia from the field.

United had 17 efforts at goal, the first of which came after just three minutes when Anderson's strike was blocked only for the ball to fall to Michael Carrick who dragged his shot narrowly past the post.

Wayne Rooney's curling shot from the edge of the box was then palmed away by the diving Almunia. Dimitar Berbatov turned the ball in but he was offside.

Arsenal really should have taken the lead after ten minutes when Gael Clichy produced a superb cross from the left only for an unmarked Nicklas Bendtner to head over from eight yards.

Three minutes later the Dane, playing up front on his own in the absence of Emmanuel Adebayor, failed to get any contact on Nasri's cross after again finding himself unmarked in the area.

The hosts continued to press and Edwin Van der Sar's poor punch fell to Abou Diaby on the penalty spot whose shot was blocked by Carrick.

But Rooney missed a glorious chance to open the scoring when he spooned over Cristiano Ronaldo's cut back from close range.

The opener did come when Cesc Fabregas's free-kick was headed out only as far as Nasri whose fierce drive from the left corner of the penalty area took a big deflection off United skipper Neville, leaving Van der Sar with no chance.

Ronaldo's whipped free-kick was then headed just centimetres past his own post by Clichy before Fabregas had an effort deflected narrowly past the post as the game continued in an end-to-end nature.

There was still time before the break for Almunia to dive full length to his right to palm away Park's drive before Bendtner's cross to the back post was volleyed wide by Theo Walcott.

Walcott was pivotal in Arsenal's second just after the break as his run took Nemanja Vidic out of the penalty area and Fabregas's pass found Nasri in the gap vacated by the Serb. The young Frenchman unleashed a fierce strike for his and Arsenal's second.

United could have pulled a goal back almost immediately but Ronaldo sidefooted his volley from five yards just past the post.

Diaby then headed wide after Van der Sar was hesitant at a corner and Arsenal had strong claims for a penalty after Vidic tugged on Nasri's shirt after a surging run from the summer recruit.

Almunia took an accidental kick in the head from Carrick, after failing to hold a corner and diving on the ball just ahead of the United midfielder, and with 12 minutes remaining he was replaced by Lukasz Fabianski.

The young Pole had no chance when another sub Rafael chested the ball down on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a stunning volley into the bottom corner.

But unlike the recent game against Tottenham, Arsenal held on for the victory to bring the curtain down on an eventful week for Arsene Wenger and his team.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

Comment 287 - 306 of 346

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  1. ggggggggggggguuuuunars i wondered wen thay wud break throughthe best

    From tany_nee111, on Sun 9 Nov 10:36AM

  2. up yours to all the man u fans out there who thought they would come down and just walk away with three points whos laughing now also its nice to see our lads doing there bit for our war heros past and present unlike the rest of the teams who probably think they are above all that

    From parrmichael@..., on Sun 9 Nov 10:28AM

  3. up yours to all the man u fans out there who thought they would come down and just walk away with three points whos laughing now also its nice to see our lads doing there bit for our war heros past and present unlike the rest of the teams who probably think they are above all that

    From parrmichael@..., on Sun 9 Nov 10:28AM

  4. Mr. Wise comment 305 ... death has called you already time is up GO DIE hahaha... Man it's still early for people to predict what is going to happen ... You talk of the top four what about Villa? Villa are much capable of finishing 3rd or 4th this season ... It's football not something we decide who wins ...

    From Imad A, on Sun 9 Nov 9:46AM

  5. Savvid,r u a soothsayer?Just watch over ur straying Man U sheeps rather than wasting ur time pressing a whole lots of nonsense into the comment box.Arsenal is gud 2 gun.Can't u get it?U nd 2 b shameful 4 now.Football is about fairness,pls learn dat n comment fairly.Thanks 4 ur jealousy-driven advice.God on our side,we'l go 2 higher places.A GOONER tl death calls.

    From wise, on Sun 9 Nov 9:33AM

  6. utd's season could be over in 3 weeks time an easy 1 against stoke but then away to the villa and then away to man city where they havent won in a while, according to SIR ALEX utd had 41 chances in the last 2 games and only scoring 2, giggs and right back, rooney ronaldo tevez berbatov(the new cantana haha)
    and none on score sheet oh bring back deago 4goals forlan

    From John F, on Sun 9 Nov 9:19AM

  7. regardless of what team you suport one thing i noticed in this game that gave me more respect for the gunners was they all were wearing poppies , where as not one member of man utd was wearing one ,

    From kate, on Sun 9 Nov 8:48AM

  8. i am very happy that arsenal show all the critcs that arsenal is still in the title race...
    nasri will be the next star for arsenal ..... goooo nasri

    From Joe P, on Sun 9 Nov 8:46AM

  9. Bad day for United, the killer instinct was lacking. The game was played in good spirits by both teams and was free flowing, it really could have ended 2-1 either way and still been a fair result. That said, i think SAF got the team selection wrong,Gary was off his game completely and Park was never really useful on the day. Nani & Fletch should have started and Tevez should have been brought only much earlier. I still tip United for the title as Liverpool will slip as the Champions Lge gets tough and Rafa looses concentration. Arsenal will do wat they always do, be decent against the top four, spectacular against middle teams while loosing to the minnows. It will be a rough road for United as the margin for error shrinks but can we do it???? YES WE CAN

    From chuxx a, on Sun 9 Nov 8:23AM

  10. Bad day for United, the killer instinct was lacking. The game was played in good spirits by both teams and was free flowing, it really could have ended 2-1 either way and still been a fair result. That said, i think SAF got the team selection wrong,Gary was off his game completely and Park was never really useful on the day. Nani & Fletch should have started and Tevez should have been brought only much earlier. I still tip United for the title as Liverpool will slip as the Champions Lge gets tough and Rafa looses concentration. Arsenal will do wat they always do, be decent against the top four, spectacular against middle teams while loosing to the minnows. It will be a rough road for United as the margin for error shrinks but can we do it???? YES WE CAN

    From chuxx a, on Sun 9 Nov 8:19AM

  11. The "big four" are in the top four and they'll still be there at the end of the season but in a different order. Disappointing result for United but at least they've now played all their main rivals away from home. A paltry one point from those three matches will be a concern to Fergie but United did score in all of them and created enough chances to win all three. Stoke will feel United's wrath at Old Trafford next week and get a good hiding.
    Arsenal fans will hate me for saying this but I tip them to finish 4th. They play brilliant football at times but their inconsistency could be costly. Just look at the teams they've lost against. Arsene Wenger will need to use the January transfer window to buy a couple of six-footers in central defence and a Patrice Vierra type figure in midfield if they're going to mount a genuine challenge for the title.
    Liverpool are at the summit now but I tip them to finish 3rd at the end of the season. They're certainly an improved team from last season and they no longer rely solely on Torres to get the goals, but if they suffer injuries to key players their fate could mirror Arsenal's from last season.
    Which leaves Chelski and Man United to fight it out for the top two spots. Last season United had a vastly superior goal difference. This season Chelski have turned the tables with a more expansive game under Big Phil and their defence is still formidable. Unfortunately their team of thirty-somethings didn't have the legs to last the distance last season and now that those players are a year older, the same is likely to happen again.
    So where does that leave Man. United? They'll trail behind Chelski and Liverpool in 3rd place for much of the season. Then, as those two falter on the final straight (especially if they're still involved in the Champion's League), United will come from behind and @#$% the title by a nose.

    From Dino, on Sun 9 Nov 8:15AM

  12. thats was a great day for Arsenal,hahahahaha arsenal best of the epl.

    From 04kk_oo6, on Sun 9 Nov 7:30AM

  13. supose to commenting on the the united game...then you have morons like no291....if cant talk about the teams on here shut the hell up...tit....

    From Dazzzza, on Sun 9 Nov 7:08AM

  14. Hi ... United fan here... Very angry at the lose and the way we played. A disgrace to say the least. First i would like to hand it to Arsenal young kids for controling the game play of united and dominating the midfield. They came out to win regardless they are missing key players...shame on us United... As for the team selection, Gary shouldn't have even played till the last 10 mins of the game. Rooney was off but i would still have started Rooney and Tevez ... Park? Why? What did he do? Nani is hungry to prove something to the manager. Where was Fletch? We didn't have a fighting spirit and the only player that impressed me well was Anderson and what happens he gets substituted ... Bad idea. We lost fair and no excuses hope we bounce back with better play.
    One United

    From Imad A, on Sun 9 Nov 7:07AM

  15. i am a big arsenal from more than 8 years. ilike the team very much.i am very delighted to see arsenal won against utd. they should wn t 2-0.i would be happy if arsenal can win any title n thiis season. and also hoping oneday manutd and liverpool wll be relagated from bpl.come on gunners, iam always with u .wipe out utd

    From ahamedtariqalam, on Sun 9 Nov 6:42AM

  16. sir alex made all the mistakes how could he put gary on the field when a young hungry brazilian was on the bench gary was a lame duck rooney was terrible berbatov was a snail sir alex should revert to the RTR partnership that was unstoppable last season otherwise he's gonna get the wrath of united fans

    From matike36, on Sun 9 Nov 6:39AM

  17. sir alex made all the mistakes how could he put gary on the field when a young hungry brazilian was on the bench gary was a lame duck rooney was terrible berbatov was a snail sir alex should revert to the RTR partnership that was unstoppable last season otherwise he's gonna get the wrath of united fans

    From matike36, on Sun 9 Nov 6:33AM

  18. Man united from 15 to 5th with one game left, arsenal from 1st to 4th Hahahaha!!!!

    From Berhane Taddele, on Sun 9 Nov 5:46AM

  19. Liverpool top of table until end of season....hahaahahaha

    From Marcozs, on Sun 9 Nov 5:31AM

  20. you loser aRsEnaL!!!...HAHAHAHA
    MAN U LONG LIVE
    MAN U CAN FIGHT THEM ALL BIG FOUR...
    GO.GO.GO.GO.GO MAN U

    From nazz.phylez, on Sun 9 Nov 5:30AM
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