Arsenal stunned Manchester United with three goals in the opening 20
minutes as the Gunners moved up to second in the Premier League table.United had no answer to Arsenal's opening burst as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil scored twice in 74 seconds.
Sanchez added a third from 18 yards as the Gunners beat United for just the second time in 14 league meetings. United improved after the break but Arsenal substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the crossbar late on. Defeat leaves Louis van Gaal's side in third place, behind Arsenal on goal difference.
Sanchez added a third from 18 yards as the Gunners beat United for just the second time in 14 league meetings. United improved after the break but Arsenal substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the crossbar late on. Defeat leaves Louis van Gaal's side in third place, behind Arsenal on goal difference.
Wenger relieves the pressure
Arsenal's Champions League defeat at home to Olympiakos in midweek left them in danger of failing to reach the last 16 and manager Arsene Wenger in the face of heavy criticism.Wenger was forced to defend his selection of goalkeeper David Ospina, describing recent criticism as "not analysis of football".
He also
called the press "boring".Arsenal's Champions League defeat at home to Olympiakos in midweek left them in danger of failing to reach the last 16 and manager Arsene Wenger in the face of heavy criticism.Wenger was forced to defend his selection of goalkeeper David Ospina, describing recent criticism as "not analysis of football".
| Arsene Wenger |
But his side were anything but in an opening half which saw them tear Manchester United apart, almost at will.With their first real attack Sanchez back-heeled in at
the near post after good work from Aaron Ramsey and Ozil, and the
Germany playmaker then added the second a minute later after Walcott ran
at a struggling defence. Sanchez shrugged Matteo Darmian aside to add his second
with a brilliant 18-yard strike which brought up an unwanted record for
the visitors, as they conceded three goals in the opening 20 minutes of
a Premier League game for the first time.
And it should have been four just after the half-hour
mark as Ramsey volleyed wide from close range when completely unmarked. With the game won, Arsenal failed to repeat their
attacking display in the second half until substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain
chipped David de Gea and hit the crossbar in injury time. The Gunners are now just two points behind leaders
Manchester City going into a two-week international break which had the
potential to be uncomfortable for their fans and for Wenger.
Did Van Gaal get team selection wrong?
Did Van Gaal get team selection wrong?
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| Louis van Gaal |
Louis van Gaal may have spent over £250m since taking
charge at Old Trafford, but he still appears to have glaring holes in
his squad.The decision to play winger Ashley Young at left-back,
and the continuing selection of Daley Blind at centre-back, were both
exposed by Arsenal's electric start.Blind played most of his first season at United in a
deep midfield role and a lack of pace and strength were both in evidence
against Walcott and Sanchez.
Even Chris Smalling - who has been lauded for his early season form - was too slow to close down Sanchez as he bent in the third goal after easily outwitting Darmian.In front of United's ragged back four, partnering Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield also proved an error.Carrick, 34, and Schweinsteiger, 31, are both masters at keeping possession but in an opening 15 minutes in which Arsenal totally dominated the ball, their lack of pace against the counter-attack was exposed all too easily.
Morgan Schneiderlin - left on the bench - may have been a better option to break up play as Arsenal's Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin bossed the midfield.The anonymous Memphis Depay and Darmian were hauled off at the break as Marouane Fellaini belatedly stiffened the centre and Wayne Rooney was moved out to the left wing.
The changes worked - as United had 72.5% of second-half possession - but they came far too late to affect the result. The recalled Petr Cech - who made a good save to deny Anthony Martial just before half-time - saved well from Schweinsteiger late on, but United rarely threatened.
What a weekend for City
Manchester City started the weekend a point behind leaders United, and level on goal difference. But Arsenal's opening burst, coupled with City's 6-1 thrashing of Newcastle, saw the men in blue open up a two-point lead at the top of the table, eight goals better off than United.
Even Chris Smalling - who has been lauded for his early season form - was too slow to close down Sanchez as he bent in the third goal after easily outwitting Darmian.In front of United's ragged back four, partnering Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield also proved an error.Carrick, 34, and Schweinsteiger, 31, are both masters at keeping possession but in an opening 15 minutes in which Arsenal totally dominated the ball, their lack of pace against the counter-attack was exposed all too easily.
Morgan Schneiderlin - left on the bench - may have been a better option to break up play as Arsenal's Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin bossed the midfield.The anonymous Memphis Depay and Darmian were hauled off at the break as Marouane Fellaini belatedly stiffened the centre and Wayne Rooney was moved out to the left wing.
The changes worked - as United had 72.5% of second-half possession - but they came far too late to affect the result. The recalled Petr Cech - who made a good save to deny Anthony Martial just before half-time - saved well from Schweinsteiger late on, but United rarely threatened.
What a weekend for City
Manchester City started the weekend a point behind leaders United, and level on goal difference. But Arsenal's opening burst, coupled with City's 6-1 thrashing of Newcastle, saw the men in blue open up a two-point lead at the top of the table, eight goals better off than United.
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Man of the match: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
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Manager reaction, while reacting to the result of the match, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said:
"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 boss Louis van Gaal said:
"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."
What next?
Both sides have a fortnight off thanks to the upcoming international break. Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign at Watford on 17 October, while United face Everton at Goodison Park on the same date.
Credit to
"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 boss Louis van Gaal said:
"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."
What next?
Both sides have a fortnight off thanks to the upcoming international break. Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign at Watford on 17 October, while United face Everton at Goodison Park on the same date.
Credit to
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