Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal 1 Manchester United 3: Rooney shatters Gunners' title illusions
Arsene Wenger might struggle to accuse Manchester United of adopting an 'anti-football' approach on this occasion. It was anti-Arsenal. [LNB]In fact, it was so anti-Arsenal it was almost sadistic. But only in the way it shattered their illusions about this season's title race, only in the way it underlined Arsenal's shortcomings and all but reduced it to a two-horse race between Chelsea and this marvellous United side. [LNB]Inspired by the irrepressible, irresistible Wayne Rooney, Sir Alex Ferguson's side were just brilliant yesterday. [LNB] Don't look back in anger: Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia helplessly watches the ball loop over him and into his net after a cross-cum-shot by Nani (far left)[LNB]Brilliant in the way they so brutally dismantled a strangely fragile Arsenal defence and brilliant in the way they absorbed the pressure - in the absence of suspended Rio Ferdinand - so often applied by the artist Andrey Arshavin. [LNB]When United secured the same scoreline at the Emirates last season in that memorable Champions League semi-final, Patrice Evra declared it was 'men against boys' and, on this evidence, not much has changed.[LNB] Rooney was remarkable, and not just because of the manner in which he scored his 100th Premier League goal. It will rank high among his favourites but his contribution extended way beyond the eight or nine seconds it took him to send Nani racing down the right, sprint 60-odd yards and then meet his Portuguese colleague's return-pass with a right-foot first-time finish that curled beyond Manuel Almunia. [LNB][LNB][LNB]Wayne's world: Rooney celebrates[LNB]Rooney's was a magnificent individual display. His link play, his energy, his commitment. Not to mention the kind of ability that makes him the best player in the country and someone that could yet emerge as the next England captain. [LNB]Wenger said he could play for Real Madrid. Wishful thinking by any chance? [LNB]It would be wrong to say United are a one-man team. Especially when Nani performed as well as he did. But Rooney has almost single-handedly made up for the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo this season and, for as long as he maintains this kind of form, United seem capable of anything. 'They just couldn't handle him today,' said Ferguson. This completed a near-perfect week for United. Victory against Manchester City, three precious points here. Even the John Terry scandal could work in United's favour if it does start to have an impact on Chelsea. [LNB]For Arsenal, it proved a lesson every bit as painful as Chelsea's visit to the Emirates at the end of November. Another encounter that demonstrated to Wenger's side that, for all their potential, they might not be yet quite ready to actually deliver their manager a fourth championship. [LNB]Having no recognised striker in the starting line-up did not help. But more of a problem was an alarming lack of defensive discipline. If this had been a war, William Gallas would have faced a court martial for desertion, so intent was he on joining Arshavin in attack and leaving his post alongside quick-healing Thomas Vermaelen. [LNB]Arsenal started brightly, with Arshavin creating an opportunity that ended with him shooting just wide and threatening again after battling his way past Wes Brown. [LNB] Enlarge [LNB]But when Darren Fletcher and Nani got the better of Gael Clichy there were signs that something was not quite right with the Arsenal back-line. [LNB]Gallas and Vermaelen have been excellent as a partnership this season but they lacked their usual organisation this time. In fairness to them, the failure of their colleagues to command midfield added to their problems. They were no match for Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes. [LNB]Praise me: Nani celebrates after his sublime opener[LNB]Finally justifying that £17million price tag, Nani crowned what he considered his finest performance in a United shirt with a superb demonstration of his skills in the 33rd minute. [LNB]He was terrific, bursting between Clichy and Samir Nasri with the ball at his feet before accelerating past disappointing Denilson and delivering a teasing chip that Manuel Almunia contrived to flap into his own goal. [LNB]It could not compare, however, to the goal that followed four minutes later. A goal that will be used in coaching videos to illustrate how effective rapid counter-attacking football can be. [LNB]Rooney was deep in United's half when, facing his own goal he collected the ball, turned and delivered a pass that split three Arsenal players and found its way to Nani; he was just a blur of speed and power when he then surged upfield and swept the ball that Nani returned low and accurately into the corner of the net. What a player. What a goal. [LNB]United's third wasn't too bad either. Scored in the 52nd minute after both Arshavin and Nani had squandered further opportunities, Ji-sung Park sprinted onto a chipped pass from Carrick before running unopposed for 50 yards and guiding a shot between Almunia and his right-hand post. [LNB]Enlarge Wenger was furious. Not least, one assumes, with Clichy for failing to challenge the advancing Korean and instead standing off him in the hope that one of his team-mates would get there instead. [LNB]To say it was a poor decision would be something of an understatement because the chasing Arsenal defenders were never going to catch Park in time. [LNB]It was all the more costly because Vermaelen did then reduce the deficit, albeit with just 10 minutes remaining. The Belgian defender seized on United's failure to clear a corner with a half-volley that took a nasty deflection and flew past a wrong-footed Edwin van der Sar.[LNB] Wenger was bitterly disappointed, not least by the manner of the defeat. In August he had responded to defeat at Old Trafford, and what was a much better Arsenal display, by complaining about United's rather underhand approach. He never named the outstanding Fletcher, but he appeared to imply that the Scotsman's one objective was to kick Arsenal's midfield out of the game.[LNB]Here, however, Arsenal were beaten not just in the physical contest but in the beauty contest, too. United might have lost the world's best player to Madrid in the summer but, as the evidence suggested yesterday, they remain one of the world's best teams.[LNB] Enlarge [LNB] [LNB] How Wayne Rooney will scoop the jackpot if he stays at Manchester UnitedWe made massive errors against Manchester United, admits Arsenal boss Arsene WengerEx-Arsenal great Thierry Henry hails Manchester United hotshot Wayne RooneyFuture's so bright we need shades - Sportsmail enjoys Arsenal v Manchester United in groundbreaking 3D broadcast[LNB]
