Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal Match Analysis

With two weeks of the season gone, I've been banging on about the lack of attacking football and goals. Then came the humiliation of a depleted Arsenal team who were mentally exhausted as well as following a lacklustre start to the season. What a wrong time to face the champions.

Having again kept faith with the same lineup of the previous two games, Welbeck chased down a short back pass to the Arsenal goalkeeper which nearly resulted in a freak goal, that was probably a sign of things to come for Arsenal on a day both sets of fans won't forget in a hurry.

A hesitant Arsenal defence failed to clear a cheeky lob by Anderson into the box and Welbeck pounced to head United into the lead in the 22 minute. Then poor judgement on the part of Jonny Evans led Arsenal to earn a undeserving penalty, but De Gea was able to save Van Persie's low drive to his right. United's number 1 needed that boost of confidence and the other United players swamped him to show him that.

Like an arrow

Then the floodgates opened. Young has been impressive so far in his United career, and he curled in a peach of a goal into the top corner to double the lead. Welbeck's night was cut short as he was substituted for a hamstring injury that hopefully isn't that serious. Hernandez came on for him as Arsenal fans must be fearing the worst.

Two great freekicks by Rooney to either side of the posts, sandwiched Walcott's low drive that the United keeper should have definitely done better. 4-1 to the champions. The United striker now becoming more influential.

Rooney then turned provider for Nani as the Portuguese had another poor game but he dinked the Arsenal keeper for the fifth. Ashley Young then exchanged passes with Park before the South Korean drilled in United's sixth.

Need a hug, Arsene

And, although De Gea did make some good saves to deny Van Persie in either half, he couldn't do anything to stop Arsenal getting another consolation as Van Persie fired a shot to the roof of the net for 6-2. It was definitely hard to keep count at this point. But it wasn't over.

Carl Jenkinson should have been sent off earlier in the first half alongside Arshavin but finally found his marching orders as he tripped Hernandez outside the box. Rooney tried to get a hattrick of goals from a hattrick of freekicks but couldn't keep his shot down enough.



Good things come in three's



Evra then tried to get on the act as he surged into the Arsenal box but was accidentally clipped by Walcott. Howard Webb pointed to the spot for a soft penalty. Rooney wasn't going to miss his chance for a hattrick to set on a milestone of 152 goals for United. The record of 249 goals set by Sir Bobby looks attainable for a player who hasn't been out of second gear in the three games played but has still scored 5 goals. Can't wait for him to really push on from here and lead United to more glory this season in Europe and domestically.

The final nail in the Arsenal coffin was Young's second of the night and it was quite a stunning goal too, as he thumped in another top-corner goal.

A day Arsenal fans will never forget as United again played some exquisite stuff. But all told, I still stick by my comment on the goalkeeper as he holds the key to make or break United's season.

With the biggest three clubs in the northwest of England leading the way and looking ominous at that, looks like the balance of power is definitely changing. This builds up the importance of the derby games even more. 

No long distance assignments

The Champions League group stage draw has concluded and United have been drawn against Benfica, FC Basel and, try saying this aloud 5 times, Otelul Galati.

Group C
Manchester United FC (ENG)
SL Benfica (POR)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
FC Oţelul Galaţi (ROU)

Well, at least we can't complain of travelling far and even the Otelul Galati match will be played in Bucharest, rather in Galati's home stadium about 150 km away from the Romanian capital. With the huge squad that we have, rotating players will be the manager's luxury, especially when we have a tough game at Chelsea after travelling to Portugal to face Benfica.

Time to prove that we have the best squad in Europe then.