Robin van Persie took less than three minutes to score against Arsenal as Manchester United eased to a 2-1 Premier League win at Old Trafford. More
90+5' Referee Mike Dean immediately blows the final whistle, and despite the close scoreline that was a very convincing win. United go top - temporarily at least.
90+5' GOAL! Santi Cazorla gets one back with the last kick of the game! He absolutely smashes the ball in right-footed from the edge of the box!
90+3' Chance for Arsenal as Giroud meets a low ball in from the left, but De Gea is alert and comes out to block it!
90+1' Arteta decks Van Persie and it's yet another booking. The Spaniard led with his arm in that aerial challenge.
90' Jens Lehmann has just tweeted amusingly about the referee: "What a terrible Dean. Judges differently! Shame!" Erm... probably not the main problem, Jens.
83' Arshavin goes straight into the book for an inept piece of tackling. At least he's trying, eh?
82' Two changes: Andrei Arshavin is on for Lukas Podolski, and Nani replaces the excellent Valencia.
81' Yellow card to Wayne Rooney - United's fifth of the day.
80' Anderson thinks he has made it three as he tucks Van Persie's ball into the right corner, but there is a flag up for offside. It's the right decision.
75' Here's a chance for Arsenal as three men sprint through the middle... slipped into the path of Walcott on the right, but he blazes it into the crowd!
72' On Twitter, @stanistuta says: 'Cleverley got benefit of the doubt and Fergie quickly took him off. Wilshere got second yellow. Both deserved to go, only 1 did' - a fair point, but Wilshere had already had a let off before he was sent off (for his third bad foul). Wenger should have made like Fergie and taken him off. Get in touch on Twitter
69' Jack Wilshere is off! He can have no real complaints as he steams into another rash challenge, this time on Evra. That's a second yellow card.
68' Anderson is unmarked at the edge of the box, opens his body and... fires high over the bar!
67' GOAL! United finally score from the corner. It is played short, and Rooney crosses from the left, picking out Patrice Evra whose downward header bounces into the left corner of Mannone's net.
66' What a chance for Van Persie! He Beats the offside trap to meet Young's lofted pass, but he does not get much power on the shot and Mannone makes a fantastic diving save!
61' Man Utd change: Cleverley is replaced by Anderson, who was excellent against Chelsea on Wednesday.
61' Another yellow card, this time to Robin van Persie for a wild sliding tackle on Sagna.
54' Giroud! Does well to receive the ball eight yards out, turn and get his shot away - but it clangs off the outside of the post and wide!
53' And here's the logical change - Theo Walcott comes on for Aaron Ramsey.
48' Young crosses low from the left... it goes all the way through to Rafael who scuffs it, and then the ball falls for Carrick who shoots off target from long range.
46' WHAT A CHANCE!! Vermaelen slips again and Vam Persie crosses for the unmarked Valencia who misses a virtual open goal! He barely made any contact with it!
46' We're back! United kick the second half off, playing from right to left. Perhaps surprisingly, there have been no changes of personnel.
45+3' That's half-time, and both teams go in wondering how Manchester United are still only one up. Santos gets Van Persie as he leaves the pitch! That's awful... Back in a few minutes.
45+1' ROONEY MISSES FROM THE SPOT!! He drags his shot wide of the left-hand post, and that's an awful penalty. Justice probably done, as that was a really harsh award.
45' PENALTY UNITED! It's handball against Cazorla as he blocked Young's cross. It did hit his hands, but he was protecting his face and that looks very harsh.
37' Cleverley trips Cazorla as the Spaniard nips the ball past him. Clumsy challenge, yellow card and a chance for Arteta to deliver this into the box.
36' Tom Adams tweets: "We all dream of a team of Mertesackers." If by 'we all' he means 'Tony Pulis' he might be onto something.
34' Cleverley bursts into space down the United right and tries to cross towards one of two red shirts at the edge of the box, but it is cut out by the first man. Disappointing delivery from the England midfielder.
30' Yellow card to Ashley Young for holding back Bacary Sagna.
29' Twitter wag time - @MatchOfTheDave says: "André Santos being murdered. Apart from everyone, who would've predicted that?" Well, quite.
28' Valencia mugs Santos yet again and clips the ball in... the ball falls to Rooney on the left side whose powerful left-foot shot is parried by Mannone and the rebound falls to safety for Arsenal.
24' De Gea called into action as Ramsey fires a low cross in from the right. The goalkeeper parries it clear - might have been harder if an Arsenal player had made a run into the six-yard box.
21' Van Persie brings a save from Mannone after a brilliant through ball from Rooney! Another right-foot shot, not an easy chance.
14' Based on that tackle, it appears that Jack Wilshere has been out since the 1970s. Proper reducer on Cleverley and that's a booking.
3' GOAL!! It's Robin van Persie!! Ridiculous! Rafael crosses weakly from the right, Vermaelen makes a right hash of the clearance and Van Persie tucks the ball away with his right foot from the edge of the box.
1' Arsenal kick off, playing from right to left as we see it. The far side of the pitch is in sunshine, the near side in shade. As if you care.
12:42 Out come the teams! It's a sunny lunchtime at Old Trafford. Arsenal are in their natty purple and black hooped away strip. Which actually sounds odder than it is. Obviously, Van Persie gets a full complement of handshakes from the Arsenal team - including a couple of hugs.
12:40 Game time approaches - time for another quick hello. I'm Alex Chick, and will be describing today's action. You can follow me on Twitter if you want to puff up my ego - @alexchick81 Get in touch on Twitter
11:52 TEAMS: MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Valencia, Carrick, Young, Cleverley, Rooney, van Persie. SUBS: Lindegaard, Anderson, Hernandez, Nani, Scholes, Powell, Wootton. /// ARSENAL: Mannone, Sagna, Santos, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud. SUBS: Martinez, Koscielny, Walcott, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Chamakh.
11:50 In the meantime, hello, my name's Alex Chick. I'll be live texting this game, Tottenham-Wigan and West Ham-Man City. A shortcut to RSI if ever one existed. You can get in touch with me on Twitter - @alexchick81 Follow me on Twitter (if you like)
90+5' GOAL! Santi Cazorla gets one back with the last kick of the game! He absolutely smashes the ball in right-footed from the edge of the box!
90+3' Chance for Arsenal as Giroud meets a low ball in from the left, but De Gea is alert and comes out to block it!
80' Anderson thinks he has made it three as he tucks Van Persie's ball into the right corner, but there is a flag up for offside. It's the right decision.
75' Here's a chance for Arsenal as three men sprint through the middle... slipped into the path of Walcott on the right, but he blazes it into the crowd!
69' Jack Wilshere is off! He can have no real complaints as he steams into another rash challenge, this time on Evra. That's a second yellow card.
68' Anderson is unmarked at the edge of the box, opens his body and... fires high over the bar!
67' GOAL! United finally score from the corner. It is played short, and Rooney crosses from the left, picking out Patrice Evra whose downward header bounces into the left corner of Mannone's net.
66' What a chance for Van Persie! He Beats the offside trap to meet Young's lofted pass, but he does not get much power on the shot and Mannone makes a fantastic diving save!
54' Giroud! Does well to receive the ball eight yards out, turn and get his shot away - but it clangs off the outside of the post and wide!
48' Young crosses low from the left... it goes all the way through to Rafael who scuffs it, and then the ball falls for Carrick who shoots off target from long range.
46' WHAT A CHANCE!! Vermaelen slips again and Vam Persie crosses for the unmarked Valencia who misses a virtual open goal! He barely made any contact with it!
45+1' ROONEY MISSES FROM THE SPOT!! He drags his shot wide of the left-hand post, and that's an awful penalty. Justice probably done, as that was a really harsh award.
45' PENALTY UNITED! It's handball against Cazorla as he blocked Young's cross. It did hit his hands, but he was protecting his face and that looks very harsh.
34' Cleverley bursts into space down the United right and tries to cross towards one of two red shirts at the edge of the box, but it is cut out by the first man. Disappointing delivery from the England midfielder.
28' Valencia mugs Santos yet again and clips the ball in... the ball falls to Rooney on the left side whose powerful left-foot shot is parried by Mannone and the rebound falls to safety for Arsenal.
24' De Gea called into action as Ramsey fires a low cross in from the right. The goalkeeper parries it clear - might have been harder if an Arsenal player had made a run into the six-yard box.
21' Van Persie brings a save from Mannone after a brilliant through ball from Rooney! Another right-foot shot, not an easy chance.
3' GOAL!! It's Robin van Persie!! Ridiculous! Rafael crosses weakly from the right, Vermaelen makes a right hash of the clearance and Van Persie tucks the ball away with his right foot from the edge of the box.
12:42 Out come the teams! It's a sunny lunchtime at Old Trafford. Arsenal are in their natty purple and black hooped away strip. Which actually sounds odder than it is. Obviously, Van Persie gets a full complement of handshakes from the Arsenal team - including a couple of hugs.
11:52 TEAMS: MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Valencia, Carrick, Young, Cleverley, Rooney, van Persie. SUBS: Lindegaard, Anderson, Hernandez, Nani, Scholes, Powell, Wootton. /// ARSENAL: Mannone, Sagna, Santos, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud. SUBS: Martinez, Koscielny, Walcott, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Chamakh.
Manchester UnitedManager: Alex Ferguson
ArsenalManager: Arsène Wenger
When will Tudor win a game fair ans square. Not until the fa all retire to the nearest mental asylum and the refs grow a pair and stand up the that piece of dog mess fergie and no I don't give a flying fvck about his no meaningless title
The vermaelen mistake so early in the game allowed man u, the advantage.Even great players are prone to drop clangers now and then.Man u, ran the game from then on.Our turn next time. Come on you Gunners.
Arsenal `s policy is , even the another five years also without tittle.
Arsenal as a club has no Intention of coming up against the lyks of ManU or Chelsea now or in the near future. The fans must learn to live with this management position. The idea is to groom players and sell them for a profit as long as Arsenal is not relegated or miss qualifying for CL. HORRIBLE.
Stop the United jealousy.The gap in thew teams was immense.United played grear attacking football and could have won by 5.Only a complete idiot would not acknowledge that Ferguson is a genius.He is the 4th biggest net spender in the last 5 years behind City Chelsea and Liverpool yey every season his club are always there challenging or winning the Premier.Wengar is a very good manager but he has not got the genius of Fergie.The United squad and team ooze class
anderson played well, he should be a starter, not cleverley
Foff Gazidis
F off Wenger
Cant ever remember a manager shaking hands with an opposition goalscorer when leaving the pitch for half time.... or an opponent asking for his shirt a few moments later.(if he want a utd shirt so bad try to sell the #$%$ to them).Its becoming worse than a joke and when utd fans sing 'we love you ARSENAL'......how can anyone NOT want Gazidis and Wenger out?
well done utd....rvp's dream will be success....
As I predicted..podolski, ramsey and giroud just to be cheerleaders ... why theo, arshavin even chamak no being starting ... que sera sera gooners 4 live
3 points and top of the table. Well, 2-1 against a very poor Arsenal. Too many missed chances. Utd should have scored a sackful. Maybe some of the team are not paid enough to 100% for 90 minutes work. Come on Utd it should have been 5-0 at least even with a card happy ref who did nothing to keep the game flowing. Yes, there were fouls, it happens, but they don't all warrant a card.
#$%$ for those hatter...stop saying something about the red card....if you watch the game...you will know that definitely is a red card(sec yellow)....arsenal lose because they didnt play better that all.....so stop saying the referee is aiding man utd
Arsenal were never in the running , i think i will put ten pounds on them winning nothing , money in the bank .
Idiot how can he celebrate that supid goal!!!!
we were poor once again.can't see us beating schalke on tuesday on this form.
I'm angry but not surprised after Wenger's selection. Walcott should have started, and I would normally be saying Santos cost us but he actually played alrigth, and I think Gnabry and Eisfeld could have been on the bench after Wednesday. The next three games against Schalke, Fulham and Spurs are the most important of the season so far, and if we win all of them, this game will not matter, and we'll probably be 4th and pretty much qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, and we're pretty much in the semis of the League Cup with Bradford in the quarters, so they just need to be inspired by something! Maybe Wenger himself...Arsenal 'till I die!