Arsenal vs Manchester United, 1-3: Full time analysis and player ratings
The Game
I never, ever expected this scoreline. To be honest, I predicted it in the reverse but after watching yet another heartless performance from some of the Arsenal players, believe me, it’s a very flattering scoreline.
Arsene Wenger is doing an amazing job at Arsenal, he always did, but the minor weaknesses which he never addressed are coming back to haunt us when the going gets tough as in the case of 0-3 vs Chelsea, 2-1 vs United, 1-3 vs United and 4-2 vs City.
This is no good, I’m afraid.
Manuel Almunia, Gael Clichy and Denilson are three players who are causing a lot of damage in this Arsenal team but if I can understand starting with Manuel and Gael because Lukasz Fabianski and Armand Traore failed to show they can replace them adequately, I simply cannot say the same for Denilson. Aaron Ramsey was there, a much better player, available to start, available to come in but was not utilised.
The ratings, as always, are below. It’s not easy after such a game to still provide the service I provide after every game, so appreciate the effort and hopefully I’ll be in a better shape in tomorrow’s day-after thoughts.
Match Video Highlights
Match video highlights are available in the Videos section of our website. If not there yet, rest assured they will be up in a matter of hours.
Player Ratings
Almunia: 2 – There are days where we can afford his mistakes, there are days when we cannot. We started brightly but he gifted them the first goal which helped them cruise to victory.
Gallas: 6,5 – Made a phenomenal interception off Rooney to keep us in the game in the first half and one of the few who showed heart.
Vermaelen: 6,5 – Also showed heart until the end and gave us that little hope when his shot found the net after a deflection.
Clichy: 3 – Lost the battle against Ashley Young, lost the battle against Nani. With Kieran Gibbs out until the end of the season, we’re in deep trouble on this wing.
Sagna: 5,5 – Compared to Clichy, he had very little to do since United’s attacks were all going through Nani but during that little, he didn’t impress against Park.
Denilson: 2 – Big liability. Involved, in the negative, in United’s all three goals. Stretched his leg out instead of using his body against Nani in the first, let Rooney race past him when United counter attacked for the second then gave the ball away and stayed put when they surged forward to score the third.
Fabregas: 6 – I feel for Cesc, I really do. Twice he made exceptional runs into the United penalty area but was ignored by Arshavin. Another one who showed heart, the captain and I’m really sorry he’s not properly supported by his team mates.
Song: 6,5 – He’s back, played well and showed heart, but it’s never easy when you have to do the job of two players, especially after a long trip back from Africa.
Rosicky and Nasri: 4 – These two were supposed to provide the help Arshavin required up front but seriously, did they do anything worth mentioning? Samir, especially, was incredibly disappointing, which was sad to see.
Arshavin: 6 – Full of runs and the only threat to the United back four. However, when I said he and Cesc can be the key to our success in the preview, I should have maybe added that for the key to open the United defence, he had to remember that football is not an individual game and if a team mate covered half the pitch to be in a good position to score, you have to pass the damn ball.
(Subs)
Eboue: 4 – Am I the only one who thinks he looked “confused” out there? The way he fell to his knees when Rooney dribbled him and also the sluggishness when on the ball were strange to see.
Bendtner: 4 – Incredibly slow and failed to provide the strength and height we needed at this stage during the game.
Walcott: 4 – Nice runs with no end product as always.
![[Video] Hull City vs Arsenal: Match Video Highlights, including Nicklas’ last-minute winner!](http://www.thegunninghawk.com/wp-content/themes/arthemia-premium/scripts/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/video.jpg&w=80&h=80&zc=1)
10 POINTS OF FAITH- I BELIEVE MANCHESTER WAS A BAD PENETRATABLE TEAM LAST NIGHT, ARSENAL ALMOST INTENTIONALLY MADE THEMSELVES WORSE.
1. I said before the FA Cup game with Stoke City that we should not rest players as that was a must win game to me and should have been to every Arsenal lover. Many disagreed, they may still do, but i was right.- FA was an easier chance to win, And resting of players has so far helped nothing at all.
2. I wish Manchester United were brilliant last night- they were not- With Arshavin & Song having more than one clear chances, Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas, William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen all through on goal, This was the easiest Manchester game we have ever played, their defence was useless and our shots needed to go wayward with Manchester United’s defence not able to stop us. When you see Alex Song of all people through on goal twice, you know the other team has no defence – I still wonder how we lost.
3. I have never been against Manuel Almunia, but he has to tell us if he is a Manchester United fan, last time around, he gave then a goal through a needless penalty(harsh one though),
Now he scores for them, how lucky they can be 2 sublime goals against ourselves in one season.
4. Denilson chased Mamady Sidibe all the way for Stoke’s goal, then he stepped away when Sidibe was about to DELIVER a deadly pass, He chased Rooney all the way yesterday and then he stepped away when Rooney was about to RECEIVE a deadly pass. Both passes became beautiful goals. Is he on a mission or What is he doing?. We have 2 players who are miles ahead of him in quality, Aaron Ramsey & Craig Eastmond. He should be the bench player and not them.
5. Gallas-1:- He was a let down last night, we were conceding goals when he was on the first line of attack – HIS JOB IS TO BE ON THE LAST LINE OF DEFENCE!!!!!!!. His energy and ‘heart’ were worthless as if he had defended us well, we have other scorers who would have won the game for us. He is obsessed with scoring and as noble as that may sound, It has killed us enough times, Even Pienaar & James Vaughan in our game against Everton, they found nobody in the box.
6. Fabregas was playing with no desire for the first time in his life – How many times he should have shot and scored you all know. He did extremely well with his runs and he actually got THERE!. I can’t believe this but his final ball to Nicklas Bedntner was awful, and he was in a much better position to shoot and score compared to Bendtner.
7. Until when will Manchester United kill us with counter attacks, how come we did not see their box empty as they were manning it while our box was constantly empty with Gallas and Vermaelen always upfront – Is it so hard to learn a lesson? – They have hit us the same way so many times.
8. Clichy had a bad game but it did not cost us anything, In my opinion, Rosicky had a good game and I was sorry to see him going off as that is when i felt that giving up mood. He is a match-winner and you don’t remove someone like him when you want goals.
9. We now have to depend on Manchester United beating Chelsea for us, Liverpool beating Manchester United for us. Everton, Aston Villa, Totenham & Manchester City are now charged with a responsibility to win this league for us.
10. Until it is mathematically impossible and it is still more than possible even almost promising keeping in mind that after the next 10 days we don’t play Big 4 again, And remembering that resounding Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Manchester United last season when they beat United 6-2 aggregate home and away and still United took the trophy, I still KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Sir,
I appreciate your mental agony but still with broken heart you have rightly rated the players. All Arsenal supporters should unitedly criticise AW for not buying players. Arsenal is not his father’s club. He is an extremely stubborn person. Ferguson is miles ahead of him. The way we conceded the 2nd and the 3rd goal is unimaginable. Just by 2-3 touches they finished and the entire defence was absent. Man U or Chelsea or Liversool will never ever concede such type of goal. Arsene Wenger does not try to understand that Almunia, Clichy, Denilson, walcott, Bendner are worst footballers. I really feel extremely sorry for Fabregas, a truely class footballer, for our two central defenders and Arshavin. Though Arshavin missed opportunities but still he was the only man causing problem upfront. One thing I will never understand that why after conceding the 2nd goal in a foolish fashion, AW did not tell Gallas and Vermealan not to go up. Man U were playing on counter attacks and they could have scored 3 more goals. I have always seen that there were atleast 5-6 footballers jamming Man U’s defence.
AW should resign or else he should apologise to millions of Arsenal fans for not utilising money he earned by buying Adebayor and Toure. Why did he allow Gilberto or Flamini to leave ? Gilberto is still playing for worlds best team. Go hell AW, you are the most overrated person on earth.
I appreciate your mental agony but still with broken heart you have rightly rated the players. All Arsenal supporters should unitedly criticise AW for not buying players. Arsenal is not his father’s club. He is an extremely stubborn person. Ferguson is miles ahead of him. The way we conceded the 2nd and the 3rd goal is unimaginable. Just by 2-3 touches they finished and the entire defence was absent. Man U or Chelsea or Liversool will never ever concede such type of goal. Arsene Wenger does not try to understand that Almunia, Clichy, Denilson, walcott, Bendner are worst footballers. I really feel extremely sorry for Fabregas, a truely class footballer, for our two central defenders and Arshavin. Though Arshavin missed opportunities but still he was the only man causing problem upfront. One thing I will never understand that why after conceding the 2nd goal in a foolish fashion, AW did not tell Gallas and Vermealan not to go up. Man U were playing on counter attacks and they could have scored 3 more goals. I have always seen that there were atleast 5-6 footballers jamming Man U’s defence.
AW should resign or else he should apologise to millions of Arsenal fans for not utilising money he earned by buying Adebayor and Toure. Why did he allow Gilberto or Flamini to leave ? Gilberto is still playing for worlds best team. Go hell AW, you are the most overrated person on earth.
Really2 shit performance by almunia, clichy and denilson. I still can accept errors by clichy, he just came back from 3 months lay off. But what was that with the winker goalkeeper and the brainless brazillian??? I don’t understand why and why wenger still believe in what are for me, two of very big liabilities and biggest threats for Arsenal itself. I am very disappointed that ramsey was not even get a chance, instead he is a center of bidding war between Arsenal and MU in the past. Arshavin, i did not understand why he was so selfish in this match. He got more than 3 clear chances, he was in the difficult angle to score, he saw his teammates unmarked but in the end…….??? We are not playing League 1 or League 2 teams to do all alone our self. Nasri, all time rubbish maker. I just dont want to see Almunia, Clichy, Denilson and Nasri in the starting line up next week. Otherwise, i could say that was a really2 a gift from god if all of these clowns play. Vermaelen should play left back position, he loves to get forward but he returns quickly. He is strong and he can scores. Why not?? Campbell also should play, with Drogba set to feature, Campbell is the only player in our squad who match the size of the ivorian. I really missed the performance of Don Vito, looking back in the last year.
arshavin was one of the best players on the pitch for arsenal…. along with fab04 and song…. it was just not his day. And people are saying why he doesnt pass the ball… well if he would have scored that goal himself… people would have said anything…. i knew for a fact arsenal would lose when i saw denilson starting….i mean why why wenger cant get… that he is not a player to play in the premier league…he needs to be kicked out of the team… he could have played nasri over there and walcott in the wings just to track back evra or nani… doesnt wenger have any brain…. arsenal will not win any silverwares this season and many more seasons to come… until they bring in some quality impact players just like arshavin…. get a proper worldclass striker… who can pair up with van persie… and get a defender and a goal keeper… next season… otherwise we fans will never be happy…. can u imagine we didnt win any of the big games. Even the liverpool game we were losing…. we could lost to everton and villa also….. I personnly have a feeling we will lose fabregas this summer…may be van persie too…..
I was totally dispointed in the starting 11 on Sunday.. I wish Wenger started with either Walcott or Ramsey or both.. Arshavin played well but was a bit selfish as we all saw.. Fabregas and Song probably could have scored a few goals had they kept their cool but it was frustrating to see Man U up 3 goals.. and their confidence was slipping away with time..
Arsenal started so well and up until late in the first half, they created stuff.. But I agree with everyone above that mistakes cant be forgiven at this level.. Almunia doesn’t deserve his place in the team.. Clichy might have been rusty today but he plays well otherwise.. But once again, Im all pissed because Wenger didnt utilize his best to start with which probably would have helper Arsenal score first and it makes a lot of difference to their game if they score first..
I want to go on n on writin.. but the point is, there’s no use.. and unfortunately so…
don’t moan u gunners fans, we just put you in your place where you deserve to be we tore you apart in your so called “fortress” you are no longer the force that you used to be now there is no so called “big four” now there is only “big two” manchester united and chelsea and it was once again men against boys now you will lose next game against chelsea and tou will be back in the race for that 4th spot……..lolzzzz
Lovely feeling boss but I hope you belong to Manchester United at least Man U is a big something, Chelsea is a big nothing, The only teams in their league of 2 or 3 or 4 trophies is Newcastles & Aston Villas, They are not even comparable to Sunderland, Tottenham or Everton!
@ Stupid Manchester fan, you are obviously insane, and devoid of good sense of understanding. U watched d game but did not understand the game. The season isnt ended yet. We played without Van Persie. I hope Rooney gets injured so that we will see how you guyz would play.
Let’s face it, Wenger srewed the pooch. BIG TIME!!! Denilson should be dropped from the team for the rest of the season, two games in a row he gave away the ball at a crucial moment, one led to a goal the other could have. I was so shattered after we conceded that second goal, after the first i felt we would surely come back and show that steel that has been evident in the team this season, but no, we rolled over and let Manchester United obliterate us. Can someone tell me why Gallas thinks he’s a striker, sure he was good in defence but you can only be good in defense when your actually in the defensive line and after the first goal he was absent from that position. Mr Wenger should have been on his feet screaming for Gallas to remain in his position but he allowed the defender to play where he wanted to, and when he does get into a position to score he screws it up horribly, by that time my remote was broken from how hard i had been squeezing it. Also, is it just me or is Almunia shockingly bad, he’s got to be in the bottom five keepers in the premiership, and what really annoys me about him is that when he makes a blunder and concedes a goal he gets this look on his face like it was not his fault, like the defense should have done better, but that Nani goal was a fiasco in which he is the main recipient of blame. After a loss by the gunners i usually go into a depressive state in which i think our whole season is screwed but over the next day i recover my optimistic point of view and get excited for the next game, but with Chelsea next i don’t think i’ll be too plucky for a couple of weeks.
how painful was that result. I must say that some of that some of those arsenal players were piss poor.I can’t say I didn’t see that coming. No matter what anyone says we gave a wretched performance at villa.Some of the players are just there to enjoy the riches at arsenal.
Almunia was as unnassured as any keeper can be.same yesterday and same against villa.when he kept launching his goalkicks long for the whole match despite the fact that our strike force consists of midgets.You think somebody would say something to him but even arsene sat there like a dolt
Samir Nasri rarely contributes in defence -.remember the chelsea game he let cashley cole get his crosses both times and no need to describe how he allowed nani in for the first.every wiide player in the premier league help out their fullbacks and our’s think they are a gift to the league – too good to bother about defending and come on honestly the bloke is no great shakes going forward.most of his game consists of sideways padding
I don’t know what’s happened to clichy.He get’s terrorised by good runners and his decision making is poor at times conidering his experience – but you cannot fault the guy for effort – so let’s move on to the bigger culprits.
Speaking off culprits – Denilson is probably the worst player in the top 4 teams. And think about it.If you offer him to portsmouth for free or hull or wolves I don’t think they would play him.With or without the ball he has no clue what to do on the pitch. tackling- poor marking – poor pace – ***** effort – poor passing – sideways or misplaced and yet he plays everytime he is fit.
that brings us to the gaffer.The guy is the most deluded person on earth.Every year his squad is injury hit and he refuses to buy.I don’t think this team has the desire to win matches adn have very little character and it won’t change as long as Arsene is in charge.
Apart from arshavin, cesc, gallas, vermaelen, song the squad has 0 ambition they just don’t care . just coasters happy to be at arsenal
We need the boardroom to step up for us. Someone needs to line up the entire team from manager down to reserves and demand that anyone who fails to represent the club with maximum effort and skill will be sold to Notts County. We are way to soft on underperforming “developing” talent. i am all for allowing player to develop in a nurturing enviroment, but when do we finally lay down the law and make these kids grow up!!!!!! manager included.
I am severely disappointed in this club. We have been asked to be patient and when are we going to see results?
The gunners obviously played better especially Varmalean, Fabregas and Arshavin. The goals we conceded were cheap and avoidable goals. Why did Clichy allow of all people Nani outplay him? Denilson did not cover Rooney in the second goal and Gallas Sagna went up front which led to the third goal. We lost for some stupid decisions and Man U won cuz they took their chances.