Gunners fire blanks as United win at Emirates
Arsenal’s poor, almost comical, defending let London side down again
JIM Carrey and Jeff Daniels were at the Emirates for this encounter — so cue the jokes. Certainly it was Dumb and Dumber on the pitch, to reference the American actors’ most famous collaboration, as Manchester United claimed an unlikely victory through some calamitous Arsenal defending.
Beyond the slapstick there was a crime caper also. For much of this encounter it was larceny that Louis Van Gaal’s side claimed the points. The manager may argue he has not had much fortune this campaign but here it was.
United were indebted to good fortune, poor finishing and even poorer defending from Arsenal and another outstanding display from goalkeeper David De Gea.
The only slice of fortune for Arsene Wenger was that Jack Wilshere was not sent off — rather than later limping off — as he should have been in the first half when he pushed his head into Marouane Fellaini’s. Somehow referee Mike Dean did not even caution Wilshere.
United will desperately hope this result, their first away victory of the season, will kickstart their campaign. Arsenal will be left kicking themselves.
United were at sixes and sevens for long periods of this encounter, and could have conceded six. Maybe even seven
United were quickly on the rack, maybe also adjusting to another intriguing change of system by Van Gaal, who appeared to be operating a 3-4-3 as he continued to try and find a golden formula that will work but has so far eluded him.
Wenger sprang his own mild surprise by unleashing Danny Welbeck down the left against his former club.
United were struggling badly. Sanchez hunted down the ball and David De Gea hurried his clearance straight to Aaron Ramsey, who turned it forward to Welbeck, who quickly found Wilshere. Suddenly the midfielder was clear and he ran at De Gea.
The goalkeeper saved but, again, Arsenal really should have scored. There was yet another adjustment for United as Luke Shaw, who had turned his ankle, hobbled off. On came Ashley Young. It looked even more makeshift at the back — there was the occasional flicker from Wayne Rooney — and the hope that De Gea could keep Wenger’s side out.
United continued to be at sixes and sevens. And could have conceded six. Maybe seven. There only hope seemed to be a piece of individual skill and Angel Di Maria almost provided that with a shot that curled narrowly wide.
For United there was the hope they had finally found a modicum of stability; for Arsenal there was perhaps the fear that their early pressing could not be sustained. The Gunners then suffered a blow when Wilshere turning his ankle.
Inevitably, then, it was United who scored. Having struggled so badly they needed help and received it as Wojciech Szczesny came to punch Young’s cross and clattered into Kieran Gibbs. The ball ran onto Antonio Valencia, who fired in a low crossshot that was bending wide. Gibbs stuck out a left leg — only to divert the ball into the net. To compound it further Szczesny was then taken off having appeared to damage his ribs.
Arsenal, stung, responded with Sanchez guiding a header which De Gea clutched while their frustration was shown as substitute Santi Cazorla tripped Young. Cazorla was more positive soon after as he ran onto Welbeck’s knockdown, only to drive his shot straight at De Gea.
When United scored their second it was Arsenal’s defending again to blame. They piled forward and left Nacho Monreal to deal with Di Maria and Rooney as United broke. The ball was slipped to Rooney by Di Maria and he strode on to chip it into the net. — © The Daily Telegraph, London