Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened
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http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2014/nov/22/arsenal-v-manchester-united-live-report Version 0 of 1. 7.36pm GMT19:36 Last word tonight goes to Lou Roper: “Mr Morgan, predictably, seems not to have checked the Bundesliga table lately,” he writes. Zing! Updated at 7.50pm GMT 7.32pm GMT19:32 That’s it from me for tonight. Thanks ever so much for your time, your tweets and your emails. It was an entertaining game, bnut Arsenal fans won’t be feeling too upbeat this evening. I’ll be able to gauge the mood on the Tube home, once I leave my Kings Cross bunker and wander into yonder inky black north London night. Enjoy what’s left of your weekend. 7.30pm GMT19:30 Full-time: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester United Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeeeeeeeeep! It’s all over at the Emirates. Despite conceding a late goal, Louis van Gaal’s side hang on to bag all three points and go ahead of Arsenal in the table and into the top four. Arsenal drop to eighth, having got off to their worst start in 32 years. They’re 11 points worse off than they were at the same time last season. Manchester United weathered an early storm and held on largely thanks to their goalkeeper. It is to their immense credit that they managed to score two goals at a time when they’d had only one shot on target. “We rode our luck at times,” says Wayne Rooney. “We hit them on the break where we knew they were vulnerable.” Updated at 7.32pm GMT 7.26pm GMT19:26 90+7 min: There’s a mini-rumpus followed by lots of finger-pointing after a foul by Olivier Giroud on Angel Di Maria. I’m not too sure exactly what happened, which I’m prepared to concede probably isn’t what you want to read in an online commentary, but Ryan Wilson and the Frenchman both get booked. Updated at 7.38pm GMT 7.24pm GMT19:24 GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Man Utd (Giroud 90+5) Olivier Giroud grabs a lifeline, shooting past David De Gea with a surface-to-air screamer from about 15 yards at the near post. The Manchester United goalkeeper got a hand to the ball, but couldn’t prevent it from going in. He probably shouldn’t have been beaten at his near post like that, but it was a great effort. Updated at 7.45pm GMT 7.22pm GMT19:22 90+4 min: A let-off for Arsenal, who pile their entire team apart from the goalkeeper forward for a corner, only to see the ball played to Angel Di Maria halfway inside the Manchester United half. He sprints off towards the Arsenal goal with the ball at his feet a la Rooney, only to dink the ball over Martinez and .. wide. 7.20pm GMT19:20 90+2 min: The fourth official holds up his board, recommending eight minutes of added time. Eight! 7.19pm GMT19:19 90 min: The cameras cut to a couple of Arsenal fans, who look very disillusioned with life. I’ll be having a couple of pints with a Gooner later and am looking forward to it immensely. He’ll sound so disappointed and angry. 7.17pm GMT19:17 Anyone got Jurgen Klopp's number? I'm serious. I'm going to call him. 7.16pm GMT19:16 89 min: Manchester United substitution. Ashley Young off, Darren Fletcher on. 7.15pm GMT19:15 87 min: Manchester United caught Arsenal with a perfect counter-attack. With Arsenal’s players surging forward in search of an equaliser, the ball was played to Angel Di Maria on the halfway line. He drew the only defender, Nacho Monreal, then played the ball inside to Rooney. He galloped 40 yards or more, before lifting the ball over Martinez and watching it bounce into the empty goal. It was a splendid finish. Updated at 7.18pm GMT 7.13pm GMT19:13 GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 Man Utd (Rooney 84) In a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Wayne Rooney shows wonderful composure to lift the ball over the onrushing Damian Martinez as United catch Arsenal on the break. Game, set and match ... United. Updated at 7.30pm GMT 7.11pm GMT19:11 83 min: Arsenal have the United goal under something of a siege, as they attempt to Arsenal their way through the United defence in their own inimitable way. They are attempting the odd hit-and-hope, but Manchester United’s defence is coping fairly easily at the moment. 7.09pm GMT19:09 Ah, there he is ... Not one shot on target and winning. Unbelievable. #AFCvMUFC Updated at 7.09pm GMT 7.08pm GMT19:08 79 min: The bouncing ball fails to sit up properly for Kieran Gibbs in the Manchester United penalty area as he shapes to volley from a tight angle. You get the feeling that, like many other days this season and in recent years, this is not going to be their day. There’ll be some amount of comical mouth-foaming on various phone-ins if they lose at home to an injury-ravaged Manchester United. Has anyone checked on Piers Morgan? 7.06pm GMT19:06 78 min: Giroud goes close to making an immediate impact. From a corner, he heads inches over the bar. He and Tyler Blackett were both holding each other tightly as the ball came in, so he did well to get a clean header. 7.04pm GMT19:04 76 min: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain attempts to pick up the return pass of a one-two with Alexis Sanchez, only to see the ball hacked towards Row Z as it came his way in the Manchester United penalty area. Arsenal substitution: Aaron Ramsey off, Olivier Giroud on. 7.02pm GMT19:02 75 min: Manchester United substitution: Robin van Persie off, James Wilson on. 7.02pm GMT19:02 73 min: Arsenal press forward, with Aaron Ramsey quareter-backing a wonderful pass through the centre from midfield, for Danny Welbeck to chase. Chris Smalling has enough pace and strength to avert the danger. Good defending. Updated at 7.48pm GMT 6.59pm GMT18:59 71 min: Free-kick for Arsenal, on the left flank about three yards in front of the United penalty area. Alexis Sanchez curls the ball over the bar. Updated at 7.00pm GMT 6.58pm GMT18:58 70 min: Arsenal win a corner after good work from Kieran Gibbs. Alexis Sanchez sends the ball into the mixer, where it’s put out for a throw-in by Robin van Persie. 6.57pm GMT18:57 67 min: Another smart save from David De Gea, who gets down to save a fizzing Santi Cazorla daisy-cutter from about 14 yards out. The ball squirms out of his grasp, but De Gea reclaims it before Danny Welbeck can pounce. 6.56pm GMT18:56 66 min: I suspect Szczesny went off because he got a bang on the head. He seemed happy enough to continue, so the Arsenal medical staff must have made the call. Manchester United fans probably can’t believe that their team is winning a match Arsenal should have put to bed after 20 minutes. If they go on to win, there’ll be a lot of very, very angry Gooners sharing the Tube home with me later this evening. 6.52pm GMT18:52 64 min: Santi Cazorla takes one for the team, felling Ashley Young as Manchester United were setting off on a counter-attack that would have left Arsenal horribly exposed at the back. 6.51pm GMT18:51 62 min: Alexis Sanchez goes close with a bullet header from about eight yards out. His effort is too close to David De Gea, who rescues Manchester United once again with another good save. 6.49pm GMT18:49 60 min: Arsenal substitution: Szczesny off, Damian Martinez on. 6.47pm GMT18:47 Szczesney is hurt The Arsenal goalkeeper picked up a knock just before the ball fizzed past him off his own player. He leapt to flap at an Ashley Young cross and collided with Gibbs in mid-air, prompting both men to fall to the ground. When the ball broke to Valencia, he fired it back across the face of goal, where it cannoned off Gibbs, who was still sitting on the ground, and inside the left upright. 6.45pm GMT18:45 GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Man United (Gibbs 56og) Oh Arsenal. Wojciech Szczesny flaps at a cross, wafting the ball towards Antonio Valencia to his left. He drives the ball across the penalty area, where it ricochets off Kierna Gibbs and into the gaping goal. Updated at 7.19pm GMT 6.42pm GMT18:42 Jack Wilshere hobbles off 55 min: Arsenal substitution: Jack Wilshere limps off, Santi Cazorla sprints on. 6.41pm GMT18:41 54 min: Haviong walked off the pitcvh after receiving treatment, Jack Wilshere is back on the field but looks to be in a lot of distress. Given his history of ankle injuries, you’d think he’d be replaced immediately. 6.40pm GMT18:40 51 min: Jack Wilshere goes down suffering what looks like a nasty ankle injury after being tackled by Paddy McNair. 6.39pm GMT18:39 49 min: Danny Welbeck gallops down the inside left flank having lost his marker Paddy McNair. He gets in around the defender and shoots from a tight angle, when he might have been better served squaring the ball for the unmarked Alexis Sanchez. De Gea makes another decent save. Updated at 6.40pm GMT 6.37pm GMT18:37 48 min: Per Mertesacker volleys over the bar from a corner after shrugging off Marouane Fellaini, who had a tight grip of his arm, and seeing the ball drop kindly for him. 6.35pm GMT18:35 47 min: Under pressure from Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling rifles a back pass towards David De Gea, who’s forced to hack the ball towards the touchline. Arsenal win a throw-in and attack up the right, with Alex Oxlade cutting inside and pulling the ball diagonally across the penalty area from the byline. His pass is too hard and there’s nobody on hand to fire a shot. 6.33pm GMT18:33 Second half: Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd It’s all go at the Emirates again, with no changes of personnel on either side. 6.31pm GMT18:31 That penalty shout in the 14th minute: A replay shows that Jack Wilshere should indeed have won a spot-kick for his team, having been blocked by Luke Shaw, who was suffering from the effects of the injury that ended his evening prematurely and unable to run. 6.29pm GMT18:29 Got to wonder whether Arsenal will tire after all that early pressing. 6.26pm GMT18:26 In the Sky Sports studio: Graeme Souness and Alan Smith agree that Arsenal should have been 3-0 up after 20 minutes, only to be thwarted by David De Gea. They should also be a man down, following Jack Wilshere’s rush of blood to the head in the wake of ... not much really. I think he thought Marouane Fellaini had made too much of a fairly innocuous challenge and proceeded to lose the plot when Mike Dean gave a free-kick against him. 6.24pm GMT18:24 @bglendenning it's a surprise the referee didn't see fellaini and wilshere up close! #AFCvMUFC pic.twitter.com/dxrdSeHEUY 6.22pm GMT18:22 A reply to Tori N Turner’s tweet (17:11pm): “I am Tori N Turner’s dad,”: writes Andy Turner. “Does she want to come to mine for her tea tomorrow?” Updated at 6.22pm GMT 6.19pm GMT18:19 Half-time: Arsenal 0-0 ManUnited An entertaining but scoreless 45 minutes comes to an end, with Arsenal having dominated. They’ve failed to capitalise on their dominance, due in no small part to the excellent goalkeeping of David De Gea, who’s made several fine saves. It’s all square at the interval. Updated at 6.48pm GMT 6.16pm GMT18:16 45+1 min: Arsenal attack down the right wing and Callum Chambers crosses into the penalty area. His delivery lands on the roof of the United goal. 6.15pm GMT18:15 43 min: Corner for Arsenal, which threatens to curl straight into the Manchester United goal. David De Gea is forced to palm it away, but without much power, allowing Aaron Ramsey to play the ball to Danny Welbeck. Under pressure from assorted defenders and with little alongside him in the way of support, he’s forced to improvise with a speculative back-heel. The score remains nil-nil. 6.12pm GMT18:12 40 min: From three yards out, the ball clanks off Chris Smalling’s shin and wide, when the Manchester United found himself in a great scoring position at the near post. The ball had been headed up in the air from a corner and dropped kindly for the centre-half, who gratefully attempted a diagonal volley with hilarious consequences. If nothing else, it’ll make Mertesacker feel better. 6.09pm GMT18:09 To be fair, I don't think Mike Dean had a clear view of the Wilshere / Fellaini incident. pic.twitter.com/vZW5JK61lH 6.09pm GMT18:09 39 min: Manchester United look to be attempting to “Arsenal” the ball into the Arsenal net, with Di Maria cutting a swathe through the Arsenal defence down the inside right, before laying the ball off to Wayne Rooney in the penalty area. He’s crowded off the ball before he can adjust his feet and shoot. Corner for Manchester United. 6.06pm GMT18:06 34 min: Angel Di Maria cuts inside from the right touchline with the ball at his feet and attempts to curl the ball around Szczesny and inside the left upright. He succeeds in the first part of his mission, but not the second. Wide, but not by much. That was a decent effort. Updated at 6.45pm GMT 6.03pm GMT18:03 32 min: Manchester United win a free-kick halfway inside the Arsenal half, for some indiscretion or other by Aaron Ramsey. The ball’s sent floating towards the Arsenal goal, where Szczesny gathers comfortably. 6.02pm GMT18:02 29 min: Arsenal continue to turn the screw, but without capitalising on their obvious early superiority. There are minor handbags between Wilshere and Fellaini and both get a ticking off from referee Mike Dean, who summons both captains to listen in. Jack Wilshere was incredibly lucky not to get sent off there, having roared a potty-mouthed volley of abuse at Dean, before sticking his head into Fellaini’s grill. Updated at 6.32pm GMT 5.58pm GMT17:58 28 min: Arsenal win a corner, which Jack Wilshere takes. He aims for Danny Welbeck at the far post, but the ball sails wide. 5.57pm GMT17:57 26 min: Mikel Arteta stands the ball up for Per Mertesacker on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area. With all the finesse of a baby giraffe on a Taekwondo mat, the big German shapes to volley one, presumably into the top corner, and misses completely. 5.55pm GMT17:55 24 min: Replays suggest a brief moment of hesitation did for the Ox there. He paused briefly before shaping to shoot, giving De Gea a split second to make up ground before sliding in to block the low diagonal shot towards goal. 5.54pm GMT17:54 23 min: Alexis Sanchez plays a wonderful through-ball down the inside-left for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to run on to after getting in behind Tyler Blackett. David De Gea hares off his line to thwart the Arsenal man with another fine piece of goalkeeping. Manchester United are on the ropes here. Their defence is looking very, very shaky and they’d be a couple of goals down only for their Spanish stopper. It remains scoreless, however. 5.51pm GMT17:51 20 min: Manchester United win a free-kick in dangerous territory, about five yards outside the Arsenal penalty area, to the left of the D. Wayne Rooney tries to curl a shot past Wojciech Szczesny, but succeeds only in fizzing the ball high over the bar. 5.49pm GMT17:49 18 min: Watching a replay of that Wilshere chance, it seems incredible that he didn’t score. With the goal at his mercy, he pulled the trigger a mite too early. De Gea took a guess and dived low to his left to make a splendid save. Updated at 6.18pm GMT 5.47pm GMT17:47 16 min: The jig is up for Luke Shaw. He’s unable to continue after turning on his ankle a few minutes ago and hobbles off to be replaced by Ashley Young. Manchester United are seriously under the cosh in these early stages. Updated at 6.06pm GMT 5.46pm GMT17:46 14 min: Jack Wilshere goes to ground as he tries to take the ball around Luke Shaw on the edge of the Manchester United penalty area, then appeals for a penalty. None is forthcoming. Moments previously, Wilshere had ghosted into the penalty area to pick up a through ball from Aaron Ramsey, only to bring a fine save out of De Gea with a low drive from eight yards. He should have scored. 5.44pm GMT17:44 12 min: Jack Wilshere drives towards the edge of the Manchester United penalty area and unleashes a shot, but his low drive is saved by De Gea. 5.43pm GMT17:43 11 min: The Manchester United defence pushes up and Alexis Sanchez spots their movement and immediately tries to play Aaron Ramsey in behind them. His pass is a little too meaty and De Gea gathers. 5.41pm GMT17:41 10 min: Manchester United earn some respite, advancing into Arsenal’s half with a long ball to Angel Di Maria in the opposition’s left-back position. Offside. Luke Shaw is back in the game and seems to be suffering no obvious after-effects from what looked a really bad twist of his ankle. Updated at 5.41pm GMT 5.40pm GMT17:40 8 min: Luke Shaw walks off the pitch and immediately signals to the referee that he wants to come back on. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scurries industriously down the right flank and crosses for Welbeck. His header zips wide. 5.38pm GMT17:38 6 min: Bad news for Manchester United’s already threadbare defence, as Luke Shaw goes down in a heap after turning on his ankle. That looks very nasty. I’ll be surprised if he’s able to continue after that. 5.36pm GMT17:36 5 min: Danny Welbeck has a near-post shot from a narrow angle blocked by David De Gea and put out for a corner. From the ensuing inswinger, Per Mertesaker gets his head to the ball, but doesn’t get enough purchase on it to do any damage. Updated at 5.37pm GMT 5.35pm GMT17:35 4 min: David De Gea hoofs clear after it looked like there might be a mix-up between himself and Antonio Valencia, who was shepherding the ball back to him, with Angel Di Maria threatening to pounce. 5.34pm GMT17:34 3 min: Robin van Persie is penalised for offside, having been greeted by a loud chorus of boos upon touching the ball for the first time. 5.32pm GMT17:32 And we're off ... 1 min: Manchester United have lined up with a back three of Paddy McNair on the right, Chris Smalling in the middle and Tyler Blackett on the left. Wojciech Szczesny gets an early touch and Manchester United are the first team to launch an attack, up the inside right courtesy of Angel Di Maria. Updated at 6.11pm GMT 5.30pm GMT17:30 Not long now: The teams are out on the pitch going through the pre-match niceties, with Arsenal in their usual home kit and Manchester United’s players lining up in blue shirts, blue shorts and blue socks, all with red trim. The boys and girls in charge of the match graphics have United lining up in a 3-5-2. Wayne Rooney and Mikel Arteta join Mike Dean and his team in the centre-circle for the coin-toss. 5.27pm GMT17:27 William Marzouk cranks it up a notch ... @bglendenning "the widening gyre" Almost certainly a reference to The Second Coming by WB Yeats, although it may be a case that it’s a Batman reference and I’m giving him too much credit. 5.21pm GMT17:21 An email from Tom Barnaby: “Chambers can play centre back and Monreal obviously can’t,” he says. “Surely Chambers in the centre and Monreal or Bellerin on the right is the better option? Chambers got the runaround against Swansea and him getting isolated against Shaw and Di Maria appears to be a grim inevitability. Maybe it’s all part of a glorious plan, but it seems more like sheer bloody-mindedness from Wenger.” 5.17pm GMT17:17 An email from Robert Sansum: “It could of course be a back four with Chris Smalling at right back,” he writes, immediately earning disqualification by using more than three words. 5.15pm GMT17:15 @bglendenning broccoli.zucchini.cabbage @bglendenning my 3 words “Taking Part Counts" @bglendenning Who On Earth 5.13pm GMT17:13 In Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Ireland’s are losing 20-17 against Australia, having raced into a 17-0 lead after 18 minutes, writes minute-by-minute reporter keeping one eye on the rugby. 5.11pm GMT17:11 #MUFCvsAFC @bglendenning As a Utd fan my 3 words are unprintable, but all three were obscenities. An alternative 3? We are screwed. 5.10pm GMT17:10 On Sky Sports, Graeme Souness, Alan Smith and Jamie Redknapp are doing the analysis and to a man think that both sets of forwards will be fancying themselves to fill their multi-coloured boots this afternoon. 5.08pm GMT17:08 @bglendenning 3 words re that United defence "http://t.co/yB1lIiXOqN" or looking on the bright side "trust. In. Youth "... #gulp 5.06pm GMT17:06 @bglendenning "Three. Five. Two." @bglendenning "Sanchez. Webeck. Chamberlin" .@bglendenning Let us know how many 'van Gaal out' replies you get to the 3 word summary 5.00pm GMT17:00 Where the teams stand. Chelsea have beaten West Brom, while Everton’s win over West Ham has pushed Arsenal down to seventh and Manchester United to ninth. 4.55pm GMT16:55 Calling Manchester United fans: If you fancy sending me a three-word summary of your feelings upon seeing that defence for the first time, I’d love to hear them. I’m guessing “Oh. My. God.” may feature prominently. 4.43pm GMT16:43 Arsenal v Manchester United line-ups Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Sanchez, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck. Subs: Rosicky, Podolski, Giroud, Cazorla, Flamini, Martinez, Bellerin. Man Utd: De Gea, Smalling, McNair, Blackett, Shaw, Carrick, Valencia, Fellaini, Rooney, Di Maria, van Persie. Subs: Mata, Januzaj, Lindegaard, Young, Ander Herrera, Fletcher, Wilson. Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral) Kick-off: 5.30 (GMT) 4.40pm GMT16:40 Team news: I’ll bring you the full ine-ups, with substitutes just as soon as they appear on the wires. It looks like Louis van Gaal; is playing a 3-5-2 with Paddy McNair, Chris Smalling and Tyler Blackett at the back, with Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw playing as wing-backs. Among the Arsenal ranks, Theo Walcott hasn’t made the bench, but Mikel Arteta is fit to start and does so ahead of Mathieu Flamini. Updated at 6.23pm GMT 4.40pm GMT16:40 Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Sanchez #AFC #MUFC 4.29pm GMT16:29 #MUFC: De Gea, Valencia, McNair, Smalling, Blackett, Shaw, Carrick, Fellain, Rooney, Van Persie, Di Maria. #AFC 4.29pm GMT16:29 Premier League: What looks like another merciless, cold blooded assassination-in-progress by Chelsea, this time of West Brom will put them 15 points ahead of Arsenal and 16 clear of Manchester United after just 12 games. That’s a lot of points by any standards, not least considering we’re still in November. 4.18pm GMT16:18 News on Arsenal’s lame and halt: The Gooners have injury concerns of their own, with Arsene Wenger having suggested Alexis Sanchez looked tired before he went off on international duty with Chile and returned looking like he could do with a night in front of the telly with his feet up watching Pointless Celebrities and Strictly Come Dancing, rather than spend it gadding about the Emirates. He can’t not start him. Can he? Elsewhere in the Arsenal ranks, Theo Walcott (groin) is a major doubt, while Danny Welbeck (hamstring) will also need a late check but looks likely to play. He’ll have bumped into long-term physio room occupants Laurent Koscielny (calf/shin), Mesut Ozil (knee), Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) and David Ospina (hip) while getting his rub yesterday. 4.15pm GMT16:15 News on Manchester United’s lame and the halt: The international break was rather unkind to Manchester United, who lost their excellent Dutch defender Daley Blind to a knee injury that will keep him out until January at the earliest. England full-back Luke Shaw (hamstring) is also a doubt, while Michael Carrick (groin) may also join Blind on a lengthy injury list that includes - deep breath - Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Rafael, Jesse Lingard and Radamel Falcao. In some good news for United fans, Louis van Gaal has stated that he expects goalkeeper David De Gea and Angel Di Maria to be fit, while both Shaw and Carrick trained yesterday. 4.15pm GMT16:15 Guardian tactics expert Michael Cox was set the interesting task of figuring out which of Manchester United and Arsenal are weaker at the back. You can read his findings by clicking on the link, but in a nutshell, he concludes they’re both a bit bobbins. Arsenal are seriously missing the pace Laurent Koscielny brings to his central defensive partnership with Per Mertesacker, while Manchester United are missing leadership and in a constantly changing back four (née three). 4.15pm GMT16:15 Good evening everybody. It’s a tough one to call this, what with two fierce rivals, both teetering on the brink of “crisis”, going head to head at the Emirates. Defeat for either side will leave their fans seething, although one gets the impression that already fuming Gooners may have to cut an extra couple of amps-on-11 Spinal Tap style notches in their rage-o-meters if their team capitulates against injury-ravaged United. With the strength of both teams quite obviously lying in attack, stoutness of defence is likely to be key today. Both sides have more than enough firepower to punish the kind of ill-disciplined and kamikaze defending that has been the hallmark of many of Manchester United and Arsenal’s poorer performances this season. Alternatively, they could just go hell-for-leather and treat us to a massively entertaining 9-9 draw. Updated at 4.17pm GMT |