Premier League - United end Arsenal run

Eurosport - Sun, 30 Aug 11:20:00 2009

Manchester United ended Arsenal's perfect start to the season as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Wayne Rooney penalty, FOOTBALL - 0

Wayne Rooney earned and converted a penalty after 59 minutes before Abou Diaby headed through his own net four minutes later.

Andrei Arshavin had given the Gunners a 40th minute lead with a thunderbolt shot but Arsenal have only themselves to blame after gifting the defending champions both goals.

Arshavin, who had not scored in the Premier League since his four goals at Liverpool last season, broke the deadlock with a 25-yard screamer.

Only moments earlier the Russian was claiming a penalty after Darren Fletcher had made a sliding tackle on him but he took out his frustration in the best way possible with a rasping shot than Ben Foster got a hand to but could not prevent from nestling in the roof of the net.

Goal attempts had been limited up to that point with Arshavin coming the closest after Foster flapped at a corner. The former Zenit St Petersburg man opened his body but curled his shot just inches over the top corner.

United had their moments with Fletcher putting an early effort over the top from 12 yards and Rooney, playing on his own up front, curling a free-kick narrowly wide of the post.

Nemanja Vidic had a great chance to level on the stroke of half-time but he scuffed his shot from no more than eight yards.

Arsenal started the second period brightly and Arshavin's cross from the left was met by Robin van Persie but Foster made a superb save with his outstretched left foot to deny the Dutchman.

If Foster was partly culpable for the goal, he certainly made amends with that save and 10 minutes later his side were on level terms.

A long pass down the left channel from Giggs was collected by Rooney who went down under a challenge from the outrushing Almunia. It was a clear penalty and the United striker picked himself up to send the Spanish custodian the wrong way with his spot kick.

Van Persie struck the middle of the crossbar with a swinging free-kick from the right before Diaby gifted the hosts the lead.

Giggs swung in a free-kick from the right and inexplicably the French midfielder headed past Almunia under no real pressure.

Diaby almost made instant amends but after creating an opening with a superb mazy run, he dragged his shot wide of the far post from 14 yards.

The game then became scrappy with nine yellow cards dished out by referee Mike Dean.

Almunia denied Evra before both Nani and substitute Dimitar Berbatov spurned golden chances in added time to seal the victory.

There was still time for van Persie to have a goal disallowed after William Gallas strayed offside.

A frustrated Arsene Wenger was sent to the stands for comments made to the fourth official in the aftermath and he was surrounded by United fans as the final whistle went moments later.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

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  1. it looks like most gooners took referein' courses­ interestin'

    From kunje2006, on Thu 3 Sep 2:33PM

  2. FA refs;Man-u suppoerters in ref'skins!-Dosang from­ Uganda.

    From RODERICK, on Wed 2 Sep 2:26PM

  3. FA refs;Man-U supporters in ref"skins!-Dosang from­ Uganda.

    From RODERICK, on Wed 2 Sep 2:24PM

  4. The spirit in competition is gona be suffocated andor­ killed sooner than later due to referee's­ unbalanced officiation moreso being inclined to­ man-u!-Douggie Uganda.

    From RODERICK, on Wed 2 Sep 2:19PM

  5. The spirit in competition is gona be suffocated andor­ killed sooner than later due to referee's­ unbalanced officiation moreso being inclined to man-u!

    From RODERICK, on Wed 2 Sep 2:06PM

  6. I don't understand the unnecessary hype Arsenal­ fans have been generating since losing 1-2 at Old­ Trafford. The officiating was okay. No Arsenal fan­ talks about their growing penchant for diving these­ days. Eboue got a yellow card for this antic they have­ perfected-they should represent their countries for­ swimming!

    From Nwabueze, on Mon 31 Aug 7:50PM

  7. In the Sun on sat. EVRA claimed that the tackles by­ Arsenal were so bad even referee Mike Dean warned him­ to be on his guard as it appeared arsenal were­ targeting him, this was last year.? How come the same­ Mike Dean gets to ref. the game this year,assuming he­ realy said this. Maybe thats why he dished out another­ 6 yellow cards to the gunners, and then sent AV of even­ if he has got to appologise

    From eric.george, on Mon 31 Aug 7:22PM

  8. If referee Dean is allowed to continue officiating i­ wonder what would become of Epl.Atleast he should have­ shown some level of decency even if he wanted Manu to­ win at all cost.Fans pay to watch good football and not­ kick boxing that was exhibited by manu. from uchman -­ Nigeria

    From Nene, on Mon 31 Aug 2:00PM

  9. that is just the begining of fulstration from wenger­ the whole gunners arsenal

    From Akoche, on Mon 31 Aug 12:03PM

  10. Manchester United ALL THE WAY.NO SHAKING

    From Evans, on Mon 31 Aug 11:30AM

  11. WE GOT TEVEZ WE GOT TEVEZ WE GOT TEVEZ YOU GOT ­ BERBADONKEY EEEEEEEEEEEEEEYAWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

    From mcpluker, on Mon 31 Aug 10:41AM

  12. Diaby could easily have been Man-of-the-Match but for­ the error of scoring an own goal. I wonder how he's­ feeling. I would advise him to pick himself up and­ continue with the run of form that he has shown this­ season. I love him in spite of the own goal. Sometimes,­ players need these terrible experiences as part of­ their "growing up" process. Even the team­ needs some disappointment in order to be truly great.­ Arsenal played better on the day. They had more­ attempts at goal than Man U. The Gunners will rise­ again to fall no more.

    From Kaybee, on Mon 31 Aug 10:36AM

  13. Most interesting,in here Uganda i was telling people­ that its real hard to predict agame btn the big two bt­ then it was expected from united.livingstone.UGANDA.

    From livingstone.musoke, on Mon 31 Aug 10:01AM

  14. Most interesting,in here Uganda i was telling people­ that its real hard to predict agame btn the big two bt­ then it was expected from united.livingstone.UGANDA.

    From livingstone.musoke, on Mon 31 Aug 9:58AM

  15. Immediately after the manu/arsenal game, I got a text­ from one of my mates, who, without doubt is a manu­ fanatic. His text began with two very interesting­ words, AH Well. Says it all really!!!!!!! I,m not going­ into what did happen, what should have happened, what­ could have happened. At the end of the day, utd had two­ goals and we did,nt. But mark my words, on this­ performance, and unless they get one or two in, utd­ will most definitely NOT win the premiership this­ season. PS, this is not sour grapes on the loss to utd,­ and no, I DO NOT need to go to any type of savers, it­ was all there to be seen!!!!!

    From michael c, on Mon 31 Aug 8:43AM

  16. Man united won Arsenal but they still a player that can­ really make the different because me as a fen i am­ getting afraid a,d i know many other fans out have the­ same idea with me so let they go for more players.

    From edmond, on Mon 31 Aug 8:35AM

  17. Why was VP's goal disallowed when Gala was not ­ active or involved in the ball at the time. ManU get ­ pen @ home all the time. I knew that will happen as ­ soon as Arsnal got goal first. Mafia!

    From ayomoshe2, on Mon 31 Aug 6:45AM

  18. Why was VP's goal disallowed when Gala was not ­ active or involved in the ball at the time. ManU get ­ pen @ home all the time. I knew that will happen as ­ soon as Arsnal got goal first. Mafia!

    From ayomoshe2, on Mon 31 Aug 6:44AM

  19. Why was VP's goal disallowed when Gala was not ­ active or involved in the ball at the time. ManU get ­ pen @ home all the time. I knew that will happen as ­ soon as Arsnal got goal first. Mafia!

    From ayomoshe2, on Mon 31 Aug 6:42AM

  20. Why was VP's goal disallowed when Gala was not­ active or involved in the ball at the time. ManU get­ pen @ home all the time. I knew that will happen as­ soon as Arsnal got goal first. Mafia!

    From ayomoshe2, on Mon 31 Aug 5:54AM
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