Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2: Crushed and humiliated! Wenger in crisis as Rooney runs riot

By MATT LAWTON

Last updated at 12:49 AM on 29th August 2011

According to Gary Neville, Manchester United used to bully Arsenal physically. This, however, was more brutal than that; a far purer form of sporting torture that left Arsene Wenger and his players not only embarrassed but emasculated.

Arsenal were as bad as United were good, weakened by the absence of so many key players but weak-willed, too.

Where was that defiance and determination we saw only a few days earlier against Udinese? Where, more to the point, were Arsenal?

Here we go: Danny Welbeck (right) lifts the ball over Wojciech Szczesny to open the scoring at Old Trafford

MATCH STATS

Manchester United: De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Evans, Evra, Nani, Cleverley,
Anderson, Young, Rooney, Welbeck (Hernandez 35).

Subs Not Used: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Berbatov, Giggs, Park, Fabio Da Silva.

Scorers: Welbeck, Young, Rooney (3), Nani, Ji-sung

Booked: Evans, Young

Arsenal:Szczesny, Jenkinson, Djourou, Koscielny, Traore, Ramsey, Coquelin, Rosicky, Walcott, van Persie, Arshavin.

Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Oxlade Chamberlain, Chamakh, Lansbury, Miquel, Ozyakup,Sunu.

Scorers: Walcott, Van Persie

Booked: Arshavin, Jenkinson.

Sent off: Jenkinson

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

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This looked like a team of imposters who had tied up the real players and emerged from the Old Trafford tunnel in their kit. A team even Wenger conceded had ‘collapsed’.

‘It was painful for us,’ he said, if not a broken man then a severely battered one.

Against a United side seemingly determined to match Manchester City stride for stride, they had no answer.

Inspired by Wayne Rooney, now back to the player he was prior to that ankle injury last year and the scorer of a marvellous hat-trick here yesterday, United were terrific.

Ashley Young was only marginally inferior to Rooney, scoring his first United goals to crown a quite exceptional display on the left wing. But then they were all outstanding yesterday, even if goalkeeper David de Gea managed to take the shine off an otherwise impressive display — including a penalty save — by allowing Theo Walcott to score through his legs.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s young side again showed a level of maturity way beyond their tender years. Phil Jones and Jonny Evans were superb in central defence; Tom Cleverley and Anderson were just as dominant in midfield.

Danny Welbeck was also growing in stature until a hamstring injury brought his afternoon to a premature end and ruled him out of England’s plans. He had scored the first goal, but when he went off Ferguson was could turn to Javier Hernandez.

Denied: David De Gea saves Robin Van Persie's penalty to keep United in the lead at Old Trafford

Compare that to Wenger’s first substitute, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, hugely promising but way out of his depth as a replacement for the equally ineffective Francis Coquelin.

These are the kind of players who highlight the need for Wenger to spend some money — and fast. Yes, there were eight players missing, among them Jack Wilshere, Alex Song and Gervinho. And yes, they lost Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to richer, more attractive clubs.

Peach: Ashley Young curls the ball home to double United's advantage as they take control against Arsenal

But Wenger has to add strength and quality, if only to prevent more goals like Welbeck’s opener being conceded. Can you imagine Tony Adams or Sol Campbell bouncing off the young English striker the way Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny did here? They really did not look fit to wear the shirt, so pathetic were their attempts to win the ball.

Three and easy: Wayne Rooney bends home a free kick to put United three up against Arsenal

Wenger said Park Chu-young, the South Korean striker, would soon be arriving from Monaco. But he needs a Gary Cahill at the back and he needs a defensive midfielder too.

Back in it? Theo Walcott celebrates his goal but his joy was short lived as United soon took command again

United were as in control as Arsenal were out of control yesterday, with Andrey Arshavin lucky to escape with a yellow card for a shocking challenge on Jones and players arguing. Carl Jenkinson, eventually sent off for a second booking, was severely reprimanded by Walcott for allowing Patrice Evra to burst clear.

Who's a clever boy? Rooney of celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal with team mate Anderson

It was moments after their exchange that Welbeck got the 22nd-minute opener, shrugging off those challenges from the Arsenal centre halves to meet a delightful chip forward from Anderson with a header that looped over the advancing Wojciech Szczesny.

Within five minutes, Arsenal had the opportunity to equalised. Evans pulled down Walcott in the box and Howard Webb invited Robin van Persie to score from the penalty spot, but the Arsenal captain’s effort was poor and De Gea made a save that had the home supporters singing his name.

Five star: Nani salutes the crowd after putting United further in front against Arsenal

The miss proved all the more painful because of what followed two minutes later; a stunning 22-yard shot from Young that curled into the top corner.

Joy of six: Park Ji-sung (right) piles on the misery for Arsenal with yet another goal

Rooney made it three with another curling strike from a free-kick, his 150th goal for United. That Walcott then replied seconds before the break with a shot that De Gea should have dealt with did little to ease the sense that Arsenal were being annihilated.

Hat-trick hero: Rooney slots home a penalty to score his third, and United's seventh

Seeing red: Carl Jenkinson (left) is sent off after fouling Javier Hernandez

Rooney scoring United’s fourth goal by employing the exact same free-kick routine in the 63rd minute must have been all the more galling. There was worse to come.

Nani beat Szczesny in the 67th minute with an outrageous chip — again Rooney was the creator — before sub Park Ji-sung shared a one-two with Young before driving home low for 6-1.

There was a brief riposte in the form of a volley from Van Persie.

Jenkinson was the provider of that but he then earned Arsenal’s third red card of the season for a foul on Hernandez.

When Walcott, now at right-back, then brought down Evra, Rooney completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, Young making it eight with a goal almost identical to his first in second-half stoppage time.

Afterwards, Wenger requested ‘more time’ before being written off as a spent force, and he has certainly earned it.

He also deserves more support from members of the Arsenal hierarchy, who had disappeared from the Old Trafford directors’ box long before referee Webb brought an end to the torture on the pitch.

Wenger needs to bring in reinforcements, if only to ease the suffering.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2031027/Manchester-United-8-Arsenal-2-Champions-run-riot-Wengers-men-ripped-apart.html#ixzz1Y0LNUMLC

MU 8 - 2 Arsenal - Yes! It is true

Wayne Rooney led Manchester United to a spectacular eight-goal demolition of Arsenal on a day the champions answered an emphatic title statement from Manchester City.

It was a classic case of anything you can do, we can do better. First City, inspired by four-goal Edin Dzeko, thumped Tottenham 5-1 at White Hart Lane.

Then United responded by thrashing Arsenal 8-2 at Old Trafford to overtake City at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

All smiles: Wayne Rooney stole the show on a spectacular day for Manchester United

Rooney grabbed a hat-trick for United - on a day that established Manchester as the powerbase of English football - to inflict the heaviest defeat on Arsenal since 1896 and pile more pressure on under-fire boss Arsene Wenger.

'The performance today was incredible and we deserved the result,' Rooney said. 'Whether or not Arsenal have a full-strength squad every time we play them we have a go and try to score. They had some players out but that should take nothing away from us.'

Rooney also reached a landmark 150 goals for the club, continuing a trend against the Gunners.

'A lot of my milestone goals have come against Arsenal,' he added. 'My first goal when I was at Everton was against them and my first United goal in the Premier League came against them too.'

But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sounded apologetic for increasing his rival’s misery.

Landmark: Rooney's goals took him above 150 for Manchester United

He said: ‘We could easily have had more goals, but, to be honest, I didn’t want to score more than eight. I was more than satisfied with the outcome.

‘Arsenal were very weakened, but you still have to do the job, which we did with some fantastic goals.’

The result appeared to take its toll on Wenger, who looked drained but vowed to fight on.

He is about to wrap up the £3million signing of Monaco striker Park Chu-young but seemed on the point of despair over a collective failure to strengthen in other areas, with time running out before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.

‘I am very open to the idea of finding the right players and there is money,’ said Wenger, who denied trying to sign Everton’s Mikel Arteta.

MU 3 Spurs 0 - Welbeck Stars!

After securing £40million in sponsor ship from a certain logistics company, this was probably a night when Manchester United needed to deliver.

And it was the timing of the delivery that would have pleased Sir Alex Ferguson most.

Heads I win: Welbeck opens the scoring for United on the hour

MATCH FACTS

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): De Gea 6; Smalling 6, Evans 7, Jones 7, Evra 6; Nani 6, Cleverley 7 (Giggs 81min), Anderson 7, Young 7 (Park 81); Rooney 8, Welbeck 7 (Hernandez 81).
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Berbatov, Carrick, Fabio da Silva.
Scorers: Welbeck 61, Anderson 76, Rooney 87.
Booked: Evans.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-1-1): Friedel 8; Walker 6 (Corluka 46, 6), Kaboul 6, Dawson 7, Assou-Ekotto 7; Lennon 6, Livermore 6 (Huddlestone 74, 6), Kranjcar 6 (Pavlyuchenko 74, 6), Bale 5; Van der Vaart 7; Defoe 6.
Subs not used: Gomes, Jenas, Bassong, Townsend.
Booked: Dawson, Defoe.
Man of the match: Wayne Rooney.
Referee: Lee Probert 6.
Attendance: 75,498.

The fact that on an evening when United's manager urged supporters to once again put their trust in a fresh crop of young players, those players proved their worth.

A relatively meaningless end-of-season game at Hull aside, two-and-a-half years ago, this was the youngest United team to have appeared in a Barclays Premier League encounter.

But Ferguson anticipated that there might be some concern among the Old Trafford masses and tackled the issue in his programme notes.

Conscious, clearly, that he might not land his principal transfer target of the summer in Wesley Sneijder, Ferguson urged supporters not to 'fret'.

He said he had confidence in this new generation of United players and by the end of this thoroughly entertaining encounter there was more than enough evidence to suggest that, as ever, the man knows what he is talking about.

Double your money: Anderson makes it two for the hosts

Even if there were still periods of the first half when United could have used someone of Sneijder's considerable quality and experience.

Ferguson sent out Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and David de Gea at Old Trafford and Welbeck, in particular, repaid that trust, scoring the first goal and creating the second for Anderson before Ryan Giggs replied for the old guard by inviting Wayne Rooney to score the third.

Flying high: Rooney's late header completed a great night for the Champions

Heated: Nani and Younes Kaboul clashed in the first-half

That the cross for that opening goal came from Cleverley would have also pleased Ferguson, although nothing seemed to excite him more than the backheel Welbeck directed into the path of Anderson.

How fitting that on a night when United chose to mark that 19th league title with special scarves for every United supporter it was their No 19, Welbeck, who did most of the damage. Also of some encouragement was a clean sheet for De Gea.

Best of friends? Fergie and Redknapp share a joke while Roberto Mancini and David Platt look on

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Twice he spilled a shot and twice Jermain Defoe nearly punished him, sending one effort against a post before just failing to beat the Spaniard to the loose ball on the second occasion. For Harry Redknapp, it was all rather more disappointing.

His players gave a pretty good account of themselves for the opening 45 minutes but lost momentum as United grew in stature after the break.

Crucially, they lacked something in midfield, a central partnership of Jake Livermore and Niko Kranjcar failing to impose itself in a way Luka Modric might have done had he not been holding out for that move to Chelsea.

United were able to carve through Tottenham's midfield, with Nani planting a cross on the head of Rooney only to see his colleague direct a soft header into the hands of Brad Friedel. Friedel's selection was an interesting one.

Heurelho Gomes did little wrong at Hearts but he was on the bench, pointing to the possibility that the Brazilian has always made his manager nervous.

It was developing into an entertaining game.

Some classy football as well as some crunching challenges, with Jones - while proving himself an able understudy to the injured Rio Ferdinand - lucky not to concede a dangerous free-kick for a foul on Gareth Bale.

But the breakthrough came just after the hour, Cleverley delivering a perfect ball that Welbeck rose above Michael Dawson to meet with a terrific header.

That Welbeck then provided the final ball for Anderson to score United's second in the 76th minute thrilled Ferguson.

We thought he was having us on when he first said Welbeck could soon be in the England squad.

But the one-two he executed with Anderson was exquisite, as was the cross Giggs then provided for Rooney to score the third.

Oh what a night! Welbeck celebrates on the night United fans celebrated their record 19th top-flight title

How the Youngs are doing

United's new faces

DAVID DE GEA

STRENGTHS: Close-range shot-stopping.

WEAKNESSES: Flapped at free-kicks, panicked with defenders in front of him. Beaten far too easily and his biggest problem might be his mental strength. Could not forget mistake and his body language after was terrible.

VERDICT: Needs to learn to cope with the pressure of being at United - quickly.

ASHLEY YOUNG

STRENGTHS: Linked well with Wayne Rooney. Inswinging free-kicks were dangerous.

WEAKNESSES: Goes inside on right foot too often and his delivery was not up to his normal standard. Does not attack crosses at back post either - could have scored from two whipped deliveries had he gambled.

VERDICT: Still a lot to prove in a United shirt.

TOM CLEVERLEY

STRENGTHS: His movement and work-rate are brilliant. Gambles off the shoulder of Wayne Rooney and looks the perfect foil for Anderson.

WEAKNESSES: Slight build, shrugged off the ball easily at times by Paul Scharner and Youssouf Mulumbu.

VERDICT: Looks a star of the future. His understanding with Rooney is a real bonus for United - and England.

PHIL JONES

STRENGTHS: Big, strong and has a cool head. Dealt well with late bombardment alongside his young defence.

WEAKNESSES: Was a little careless in possession and allowed Gabriel Tamas to run off him at late free-kick.

VERDICT: Another real star in the making for Fergie. He lost Nemanja Vidic and then Rio Ferdinand but his young defenders stood up.