Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal - Van Persie Kicked Off Torrid Afternoon For The Gunners
Match report for the PL game between Man U and Arsenal - 3rd November 2012
Arsenals former golden boy Robin Van Persie inspired Manchester United to a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford, on what turned out to be a torrid afternoon for the Gunners. It could not have been a better start for United and Van Persie, as the £24m man took just three minutes to score against his former club, and in a game where Sir Alexs men were dominant for the majority, they could even afford the rarity of a missed Wayne Rooney penalty. Patrice Evra went on to double Uniteds advantage with a headed effort on 67 minutes, and a red card for the returning Jack Wilshere capped another miserable day for Arsene Wengers side in Manchester, despite Santi Cazorla reducing the deficit with a beautiful curling strike in the 95th minute. Unsurprisingly, most of the talk and analysis surrounded Van Persie as he lined up against his former club for the first time since making the switch to Old Trafford in the summer. And with just three minutes on the clock, the Dutchman took full advantage of a failed clearance from Thomas Vermaelen, and fired a first-time effort into the far corner of Vito Mannones goal. The home side went on to dominate the match after the early goal, with Arsenal creating very few clear-cut chances for themselves, with their impotence in the final third highlighted when Olivier Giroud watched his headed effort sail well wide of the target from a corner midway through the first half. United should have put themselves even further in the lead during first half stoppage time, when Cazorla was adjudged to have handled a cross from Ashley Young inside the box, but Wayne Rooney dragged his shot wide from the resulting spot kick. Antonio Valencia missed a golden opportunity to add to Uniteds lead just after the break, when the winger completely messed up his shot from five-yards out following some good work from Van Persie to find the Ecuadorian in the box. The home sides dominance finally paid off in the 67th minute when Rooneys cross was met by the on-rushing Evra, who directed his header beyond Mannone and all but guaranteed United the three points. The Gunners then saw Wilshere sent off for a second bookable offence following a late tackle on Evra, and scored late on through Cazorla, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the North Londoners. The win sends United top of the Premier League for the first time this season, and marks their fifth in succession over Arsenal at Old Trafford.