United 2 Arsenal 1

United continued with their winning ways to beat a ten-man Arsenal side who were, to be honest, a shadow of what we expected to show up.

For this fixture, Sir Alex Ferguson chose to select the same starting eleven that had served him so well in the victory at Stamford Bridge, last Sunday, meaning United lined-up as follows:-

Team - De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Cleverley, Carrick, Young, Rooney, Van Persie

Incidentally, it was the first time Sir Alex has selected an unchanged team for a Premier League fixture this season.

First Half- With the sun shining at Old Trafford it didn`t take long for United to take the lead. Only three minutes had been played when a ball in from Valencia was poorly cleared by Vermaelen and Robin van Persie coolly beat Manone from some sixteen yards out. Van Persie, having played for Arsenal for so long, didn`t, as you might expect, indulge in any dramatic celebration.

United were dominating the first half and only some decent goalkeeping from Manone kept the score as it was with the Arsenal keeper denying Van Persie, after Evra had won possession and then denying the same player after a Carrick ball over the top had seen Rooney also have a shot saved.

As half time approached, United had a golden chance to double their lead when Cazorla was adjudged to have handled the ball. Rooney stepped up but his aim was a touch out and the ball slipped the wrong side of the post.

As for Arsenal, they offered very little in the first half apart from a Carlos shot that almost hit the corner flag and a Ramsey cross in that was palmed away by De Gea.

Half Time - United 1 Arsenal 0

Second Half - United had a glorious chance to double their lead early on when another error from Vermaelen saw the defender lose possession but when van Persie squared the ball Valencia couldn`t apply that final touch.

Wenger introduced Walcott, in place of Ramsey, and Arsenal started to play better exerting some pressure on the United defence with Giroud hit the outside of the post from a narrow angle.

United responded forcing Manone to make a flying save from van Persei but from the resulting corner, taken short, Rooney delivered a ball into the box and Evra was on hand to knock it home to double the lead.

Almost immediately Anderson, on for Cleverley, blazed over when set up by Valencia before Arsenal were reduced to ten-men when Wilshere received a second yellow card.

Down to ten men you were hoping United could take advantage but it never happened and when De Gea produced a great save from Giroud you thought that was it but with the last kick of the game Cazorla produced a peach of a shot to beat De Gea and any hopes of keeping a clean sheet were over.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.