Arsenal swept aside by United
Reuters - Sunday 31 January 2010, 20:19
LONDON - Champions Manchester United
delivered a devastating statement of Premier League title intent
by beating rivals Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
United produced a superb attacking display, taking the lead
when Nani's cross was turned into his own net by goalkeeper
Manuel Almunia after 33 minutes before Wayne Rooney started and
finished a stunning counter-attack before half-time.
Park Ji-sung got the third seven minutes after the interval
and Arsenal had only the minor consolation of Thomas Vermaelen's
deflected volley 10 minutes from time.
"We delivered a completely off-the-mark performance and
that's why we were well beaten," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
said.
"We gave them too much room, we were naive and that's why we
have to stick together and produce a much better performance
next Sunday when we go to Chelsea."
Chelsea, who won 2-1 with a late goal at Burnley on
Saturday, top the standings on 54 points, one ahead of United
and five clear of Arsenal. Chelsea have a game in hand on both
rivals and play it against Hull City in midweek.
Arsenal went into the United match full of confidence after
a 10-game unbeaten run and both sides showed total commitment to
attack.
Arsenal's Andrei Arshavin escaped three times down the left
but finished poorly on each occasion while Nani looked highly
dangerous down the United right.
It was the Portuguese winger who made the breakthrough with
a brilliant piece of trickery to get past three Arsenal
defenders and when he hoisted over a deep cross, Almunia, trying
to turn it over the bar, only flapped it into the net.
SNUFFED OUT
The second goal was a classic as United snuffed out an
Arsenal attack in their own penalty box and broke.
Rooney turned the ball into the path of Nani before
sprinting 70 metres to collect the return and sweep it in first
time.
It was the 100th Premier League goal of the 24-year-old
England striker's career and came just over seven years after he
opened his account for Everton against Arsenal when he was 16.
United's third was another long-range break and hesitant
defending allowed Park to travel from halfway before calmly
slotting his first goal of the season.
Vermaelen's goal led to a brief flurry but United held out
quite comfortably and Arsene Wenger's side must bounce back
immediately at Chelsea.
"We need to deliver a special performance at Stamford Bridge
next Sunday before we can even start thinking about winning the
game," Wenger said.
United manager Alex Ferguson said he would be hoping Arsenal
found their form against Chelsea.
"Arsenal are not out of it, I hope that Arsenal go to
Stamford Bridge and batter them," he told Sky Sports.
Ferguson had special praise for the "unbelievable Rooney."
"He was the key player for us and they could just could not
handle him. He was a really great player today," he said.
In Sunday's other game, Emmanuel Adebayor marked his return
from Togo's traumatic time at the African Nations Cup with the
opening goal in Manchester City's 2-0 win over bottom club
Portsmouth at Eastlands.
Vincent Kompany headed the second as City won without
breaking sweat to close on Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in
the battle for fourth place.