WTTGT Reporter: Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Manchester United 8 – 2 Arsenal
Arsenal crumbled to a humiliating 8-2 defeat at the hands of the reigning champions at Old Trafford.
With injuries and suspensions depriving the Gunners of six first-team players, Arsène Wenger was forced to field a weakened side including handing a Premier League debut to young Frenchman, Francis Coquelin.
The visitors started the match brightly, but it was the home side that created the first chance of note when Tom Cleverley shot wide. With United stepping up the pressure they duly took the lead when Danny Welbeck seized on a defensive mix-up to head home.
Minutes later Robin van Persie failed to equalise from the spot after Theo Walcott had won a penalty, and that miss would prove costly as Ashley Young curled home a fantastic strike to double the lead.
The first-half goals did not stop there as Wayne Rooney made it three from a free-kick before Walcott handed Arsenal a lifeline when he slotted home in time added on at the end of the first half.
The second half started with the away team trying to grab the all important second goal, they went close through Arshavin, whilst van Persie forced the home ‘keeper into a good save. The game then turned as Rooney made it 4-1 from another sublime free-kick, and the goal seemed to deflate the Gunners. It would only get worse as Nani and Park Ji-Sung added two more goals before van Persie made it 6-2. Carl Jenkinson was then sent-off for two bookable offences as things turned from bad to worse, Rooney completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot and Young got his second in injury time to complete the misery.
With so many players unavailable it was always going to be a tough ask to get anything from Old Trafford, but to lose in that fashion will be hard to take for any Gooner to take.
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