Sunday 4 October 2015 | Emirates Stadium | Referee: Anthony Taylor | Attendance 60,084
- Alexis Sánchez (6, 19)
- Mesut Özil (7)
| Arsenal |
3 - 0
|
Man Utd |
Arsenal turned in a devastating first-half performance to storm
to a memorable 3-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Manchester
United.
Goals by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in the space of 74 seconds gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead by the seventh minute at Emirates Stadium and Sanchez scored his sixth goal in three matches in the 19th minute.
Petr Cech returned for Arsenal following Arsene Wenger's decision to rest the goalkeeper for Tuesday's 3-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to Olympiacos, but the selection decisions made by his opposite number Louis van Gaal are now set to fall under the spotlight.
Van Gaal dropped Morgan Schneiderlin to accommodate Michael Carrick in midfield, but a United's soft centre was repeatedly exposed by a rampant Arsenal, while Matteo Darmian was substituted at half-time for a second time this season, having switched to right-back to accommodate Ashley Young in the other full-back position.
Aaron Ramsey might have ensured United conceded four first-half goals for the first time in BPL history before the early drama gave way to a more sedate second-half affair, in which United dominated possession but lacked penetration.
Arsenal leapfrog their opponents on goal difference to go second in the table, two points behind the league leaders Manchester City.
Wenger's men showed no sign of a hangover from their midweek defeat, pressing the visitors deep into their own half from the kick-off, and United crumbled under the pressure in just the sixth minute.
Ramsey slotted a nicely weighted pass down the right channel for Ozil to cut back from the byline and Sanchez beat David De Gea to the ball to net an impudent backheel at the near post.
The Chile forward had the audacity to repeat the trick a minute later, his instinctive flick releasing Theo Walcott to speed past Daley Blind and cross for Ozil to double the advantage with a first-time shot.
There was little evidence of United's heads having cleared when Arsenal delivered another telling blow.
Walcott picked out Sanchez 25 yards from goal on another sweeping attack and the South American waltzed past Darmian's challenge before sending a blistering strike into the top corner.
It could have been 4-0 when Sanchez lofted a cross to Ramsey at the back post but the unmarked Wales international sent his close-range volley over the bar.
Cech was a virtual spectator but he made a telling contribution a minute before half-time, saving with his left leg after Anthony Martial took advantage of Per Mertesacker's slip.
Van Gaal opted for a double change at the interval, with Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini replacing Darmian and Memphis Depay.
There was greater poise about the visitors after the resumption but Ozil fizzed an effort narrowly wide after his 52nd-minute free-kick came back off the wall.
Wayne Rooney, who displayed his frustration when booked for a foul on Ozil, was the next United player to extend Cech with a bouncing drive.
The ex-Chelsea goalkeeper then thwarted Bastian Schweinsteiger before Juan Mata looped a left-footed attempt over.
Arsenal substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain clipped the crossbar with a neat lob in stoppage time, attempting to add the result that ended Man Utd's run of three consecutive top-flight wins.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We did not give them any chances to score and that was vital. We surprised them with our start.
"From Petr Cech to Theo Walcott we only had superb performances. I have managed many strong teams and never had one that played 60 games at the same level.
"You have to accept that we are human beings."
Manchester United manager Luis van Gaal: "It was a very bad start, without aggression and the will to win. That is the first time I have seen that from my team. I did not expect that.
"We have won our last four matches - I gave the players a day off because they were tired. On Saturday the training was normal, I was very amazed to see that.
"All teams will have a dip."
Goals by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in the space of 74 seconds gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead by the seventh minute at Emirates Stadium and Sanchez scored his sixth goal in three matches in the 19th minute.
Petr Cech returned for Arsenal following Arsene Wenger's decision to rest the goalkeeper for Tuesday's 3-2 UEFA Champions League defeat to Olympiacos, but the selection decisions made by his opposite number Louis van Gaal are now set to fall under the spotlight.
Van Gaal dropped Morgan Schneiderlin to accommodate Michael Carrick in midfield, but a United's soft centre was repeatedly exposed by a rampant Arsenal, while Matteo Darmian was substituted at half-time for a second time this season, having switched to right-back to accommodate Ashley Young in the other full-back position.
Aaron Ramsey might have ensured United conceded four first-half goals for the first time in BPL history before the early drama gave way to a more sedate second-half affair, in which United dominated possession but lacked penetration.
Arsenal leapfrog their opponents on goal difference to go second in the table, two points behind the league leaders Manchester City.
Wenger's men showed no sign of a hangover from their midweek defeat, pressing the visitors deep into their own half from the kick-off, and United crumbled under the pressure in just the sixth minute.
Ramsey slotted a nicely weighted pass down the right channel for Ozil to cut back from the byline and Sanchez beat David De Gea to the ball to net an impudent backheel at the near post.
The Chile forward had the audacity to repeat the trick a minute later, his instinctive flick releasing Theo Walcott to speed past Daley Blind and cross for Ozil to double the advantage with a first-time shot.
There was little evidence of United's heads having cleared when Arsenal delivered another telling blow.
Walcott picked out Sanchez 25 yards from goal on another sweeping attack and the South American waltzed past Darmian's challenge before sending a blistering strike into the top corner.
It could have been 4-0 when Sanchez lofted a cross to Ramsey at the back post but the unmarked Wales international sent his close-range volley over the bar.
Cech was a virtual spectator but he made a telling contribution a minute before half-time, saving with his left leg after Anthony Martial took advantage of Per Mertesacker's slip.
Van Gaal opted for a double change at the interval, with Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini replacing Darmian and Memphis Depay.
There was greater poise about the visitors after the resumption but Ozil fizzed an effort narrowly wide after his 52nd-minute free-kick came back off the wall.
Wayne Rooney, who displayed his frustration when booked for a foul on Ozil, was the next United player to extend Cech with a bouncing drive.
The ex-Chelsea goalkeeper then thwarted Bastian Schweinsteiger before Juan Mata looped a left-footed attempt over.
Arsenal substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain clipped the crossbar with a neat lob in stoppage time, attempting to add the result that ended Man Utd's run of three consecutive top-flight wins.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We did not give them any chances to score and that was vital. We surprised them with our start.
"From Petr Cech to Theo Walcott we only had superb performances. I have managed many strong teams and never had one that played 60 games at the same level.
"You have to accept that we are human beings."
Manchester United manager Luis van Gaal: "It was a very bad start, without aggression and the will to win. That is the first time I have seen that from my team. I did not expect that.
"We have won our last four matches - I gave the players a day off because they were tired. On Saturday the training was normal, I was very amazed to see that.
"All teams will have a dip."
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