Manchester United scored an incredible eight goals against Arsenal at Old Trafford to go top of the Premier League.
Danny Welbeck started the rout before goals from Ashley Young (two), Wayne Rooney (three), Nani and Ji-sung Park piled on the misery for the Gunners.
It was not all one way traffic, with David de Gea saving Robin van Persie's penalty with the score at 1-0, while Theo Walcott and Van Persie did find the target for the visitors.
Carl Jenkinson was sent off late on for a second yellow card. The only negative on the day was Welbeck's early withdrawal with what looked like a hamstring strain.
Revamped
Sir Alex Ferguson's revamped Champions were afforded a second run out after the 3-0 swamping of Spurs last Monday.
The real measure of the new-look Reds was on the bench where the strength of the seven was far superior to that of Arsenal and of Fergie’s subs five of them started the Champions League at Wembley against Barcelona.
But why would you alter this side unless you are forced to?
They repaid the faith with a first 45 minute performance, barring a couple of blips, that shouted, ‘Don’t even consider resting us.’
Welbeck’s impressive start to the season sadly turned from triumph to tragedy when he was forced off with a hamstring injury after 34 minutes.
But not before the Mancunian, who opened the scoring last Monday against Tottenham, had shown the value of giving your own products their heads.
Arsenal’s defence is the root of much of the Wenger critics ire and their decidedly hesitant efforts to clear Anderson cheeky dink over the top was seized upon by the lively Welbeck. The striker was more pro-active than Laurent Koscielny as he got his head in to guide the ball over keeper Szczesny.
De Gea might finally want to have the English papers translated for him as the Spaniard brilliantly halted a possible Arsenal comeback.
The new Reds number one has invited some stick with an uncomfortable start to his Old Trafford career for those waiting to pounce. A successful central role in a pivotal moment was just what the 20-year-old needed to lift his spirits.
A clumsy Jonny Evans challenge on Theo Walcott presented de Gea with his opportunity for redemption.
Turning point
His spot kick save from Van Persie should be a turning point for him.
It certainly effectively shut the door on any hopes this fragile Arsenal side had of making a contest of this showpiece.
A minute later it was another of United’s close season investments Young who further emphasised the worth of spending some cash.
His superb curling shot poured salt in the Gunner’s penalty miss wounds.
Rooney continued his goal-a-game start to the campaign with a wonderful free kick after 41 minutes before United allowed their concentration to drift and Walcott the chance to drill in some compensation.
Would the pre-interval injury time goal rock the Reds? Not a bit of it. They were even more supreme in the second period.
Maybe they realised that it was going to take a goal avalanche to ensure neighbours City wouldn’t steal all the national headlines.
The country was set to slaver over the Blues’ White Hart Lane demolition but this was total annihilation that demanded the spotlight.
It was the first time Arsenal had conceded eight goals since 1896 when Loughborough thumped them in the Second Division. United could have inflicted their heaviest ever loss they were so rampant.
Apart from Van Persie slamming in a 74th minute goal it was marvellous one-way traffic and more than one match ball could have been needed to recognise individual achievements.
Rooney got it on his own after a carbon copy second free kick beat Szczesny even though he knew exactly what was coming in the 64thn minute.
Nani cheekily chipped in a fifth, substitute Ji-Sung Park crashed in a sixth and then as the Gunner’s reached desperation point Jenkinson was red carded for a second yellow and Rooney slammed in his hat trick. Young produced another sensational curling shot to complete the riot as United’s players vied for best goal of the game competition.
What is your verdict? Have your say.
Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2
August 28, 2011
Comments
Login or Register to comment
what a game again! am I the only one who thinks this united team plays the old united way (fast attacking football). top mark goes to ashley young rooney jones smalling some anderson & cleverley. what a delight to watch these young players rip arsenal up
downsides are nani back to his irritating best, evans will never be anything apart from back up.
as for our blue brothers what ever you do we do a little bit better! (8-2)
Oh. My. God....
Despite our differences, one thing that consistently unites us as Mancunians is our overwhelming civic pride. Its a great day for manchester, two great performances and manchesters teams on the top of the league. Great performance reds.
absolutely loving it, Arsenal were demolished.
You've got to feel sorry for the bitters, their best win in Premier League history and United go and do that to the gunners, Forever in our shadow
Ashley Young, what a signing that lad is turning out to be !
told you all it had 1.1 written all over it i also predicted the wiild women from wongo would make more at the cinema box office than titanic we all make mistakes thats why they put rubbers on the end of pencils
I was tempted to feel sorry for the Bitters ..but it didn't last long. Spurs were poor but that was the berties best performance so far..then we score 8..priceless.
Pick your superlative boys !!
Congratulations to all the lads , top class performances all round . Hope Welbecks injury not too bad .
UNITED UNITED TOP OF THE LEAGUE .
Just as City thought they were the mutts nutts and the blue hoards were waiting to come one here gloating, the red side of town shows whose the real sheriff in this town.
Awesome, just awesome, we could of had a bakers dozen.
Hate Man U with a passion...but outstanding. Will leave it at that
The worst Arsenal team I have ever seen.
Fantastic scoreline. De Gea did well for the penalty save but should have stopped Walcott's attempt.
One of the best matches in terms of the strikes we have from Rooney, Young and even Park! Glad that we may finally have the potent strikes from free kicks outside the box. Build on that Rooney!!
Way to go!
Wow! What a spanking, eh?
I felt sorry for old Arsene. He just sat there and took his lumps like a good 'un! The plain fact of the matter is, Arsenal didn't play too badly. They just didn't have an answer to the young guns of United. Arshavin should have seen red for the disgraceful tackle on Jones. Other than that, the only bad thing about it was Danny Wellbeck pulling up with a hamstring twanging. Let's hope he isn't too seriously hurt and back in the saddle pronto. That bullet header surely deserved a goal and, I hate to say it, but he is my choice ahead of Chicharito.
All praise to the Roo. A glorious hat-trick with two sensational, and very cheeky I might add, free kicks. The penalty was a no brainer, it was going in (RVP take note - that's how you take a penalty).
The future is bright - the future is RED.
LUHC
TOP OF THE TABLE!
Time for perspective.
This side can grow to overcome Barcelona.
Just loving that we scored that last goal. One more than "the self appointed Barca of England".
Never got a chance to see how special the Busby Babes could've become. But the Fergie Babes are here now. What a story this could be.
As good a game as I have ever seen United play. The whole team put in a magnificent performance for the whole of the game. Smalling and Jones were massive and Rio will have a job to get his shirt back. The midfield were again magnificent, showing guile and power. The forwards took their goals superbly, obviously Rooney and Young. What a good buy he is. The only surprising thing was that Hernandez didn't score in an 8-2 route. How Arshavin stayed on the pitch after 2 over the ball fouls I do not know.
whilst City demolished a good side (Spurs away 5-1) a team that INCLUDED Modric, not left out as he was on the visit to Stretford, Utd were made to look good against the worst Arsenal team in living memory.
Arsenal and Arsene Wenger thought he could let good players go and not replace them, whilst Utd flattered to deceive he was proved wrong.
I just hope this stops Ferguson strengthening because he really needs to, this wasnt a fluke because it could have been 12-6, but Arsenal really were that bad, for all the waffle Utd were ok nothing better.
Of course the media will love it that United have gazumped City but its short term and will be worth it when the honours are handed out in May and you have faded with your over-rated journeymen.
Anything city do, we can do better
We can do anything better than them
No you car'nt yes we can !!!
Talk about stealing citys thunder. Could have been 12. Thought city were clinical, but we were on another planet. Brilliant from the champ19ns. Cue Danny !!!!
very poor arsenal team( who could scored at least 5 against us,we better in prove or our noisey neighbours we be crown champions this year aaarrrrrrrr
I hate supporting a team in decline.
Fabulous, amazing game. Credit Arsenal for trying to make a game of it. Shambolic defending, a midfield overun by United but they still tried to play. I thought every player was outstanding for United. I didn't think it was a penalty for the Gunners, but great save by De Gea. The defence let him down for Arsenals goal. Two opposition players on one defender with lots of space, not good.
But the team were outstanding overall. It's one of the best games I've seen for ages, where everyone played well. Get some good rest Danny, come back strong. I am stunned by that performance from a very young team!!
Just awesome.
The good, well most everything but Andeson's little lob over had me laughing, what cheek and I said after the tour that I thought Rooney was going to have a legendary year. Any questions about de Gae? Anyone hello hello...as I thought.
It's just too exciting everyone.
The bad, Welbeck going off, hope he's ok and I almost felt sorry for Wenger but got over it right away. Our early game (4:30 am) was city and yikes they were strong.
The bad, Drogba really got whacked and I sincerely hope that he will recover.
On a side note for all you rapid MLS fans "over there" the Whitecaps won their forth of the year and it was a perfect afternoon, the beer was cold and the scenery was mind blowing.
Enyoy everyone, I'm off to celebrate, (or maybe a nap...)
r7
one of the reason why we are playing so well is the change in midfield.no longer we have the usless one dimentional carrick playing there,and now without him in the team everyone can see how well the team plays. some of us were wright when we said carrick needed to be sold and a top midfielder bought in.
as for berbatov,i dont know why fergie doesnt sell him and buy a replacement,as we all can see fergie's lost totall faith in him.
All you footballl pundits darn sarff.Game over dont bother turning up.Manchester...... the only place to watch football red or blue !!!!!
Being a glass half full person all im even saying is if this generation fullfills its potential there are european cups afoot. Dont get me wrong i have wonderful childhood memories of ron atkinsons years. but To think that incredible mans first game in charge was a 2-0 defeat away to oxford utd 8th nov 1986. now on the 28th of aug 2011 he is beating arsenal 8-2! that a wonderful achievment for the man. We are blessed to have sir alex ferguson.