EPL Update: Manchester United beat Arsenal 1-0 (Part II)
Read the first Part http://www.senore.com/EPL-Update-Manchester-United-beat-Arsenal-1-0-Part-I-a48020.
Arsenal got the second half started. No changes from either manager. United started on the front foot after the interval with the first attack, as Nani tried to hammer home from 20 yards out but Laurent Koscielny put his body on the line to block it.
Thomas Rosicky, who has not scored for Arsenal since January, had a shot at the other end, but his 20-yard effort bounced well wide.
Nani was definitely United's best player on the night. The likes of Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri failed to get past United’s stubborn defence. Wojciech Szczesny kept his side in the contest with a great save. Wayne Rooney managed to slip the ball through
to Anderson inside the area but the young Pole was quick off his line to block his shot.
Edwin Van Der Sar rode his luck as he pushed Samir Nasri's low shot in to Marouane Chamakh path, the Moroccan was first to the loose ball, on the edge of the penalty box. The problem for the Arsenal striker was that it was not in his path and he failed to
re-adjust. He scuffed the shot wide.
The game opened up, and it should have been 2-0 to United. United counter attacked quickly and Nani had acres of space on the right, only to be denied by Gael Clichy's desperate tackle. Nani got a second chance with space and time but failed to pick his
spot or find a team-mate, he scuffed his shot over the bar.
Wenger brought on Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie with 25 minutes remaining for Thomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere, both battled well but created little.
Gael Clichy conceded a silly free-kick in the right-hand corner with a push on Nani. Arsenal had all their players back to defend this, but they cannot clear it properly and were grateful when Anderson slammed a shot just wide. A pretty wild aerial challenge
by Rio Ferdinand left Bacary Sagna writhing in agony, but he appeared to be OK. Ferdinand was guilty of catching him with his boot in the stomach, and Sagna had a ripped shirt to prove it. No card was shown by Howard Webb.
The controversy struck as United were awarded a generous spot-kick as Gael Clichy handled the ball accidently while on the ground and was booked after Nani dribbled past him in the area. This was a great chance for Wayne Rooney to give United breathing space
from the spot, but he got it wrong - smashing the ball into Row Z after trying to beat Wojciech Szczesny with raw power. That wasn't even close. Arsenal were still in this.
Theo Walcott replaced Andrey Arshavin and was straight into action as he picked up the ball, made space for a shot from about 30 yards out. But it rolled wide of the post. Marouane Chamakh then rose to meet a free-kick pumped into the box but he was too
far out to trouble Edwin van der Sar.
Alex Song got in Howard Webb's book, after catching Patrice Evra. Ryan Giggs was on for Anderson. Wayne Rooney will have to wait a little longer for his first United goal in open play this season. He almost made up for that terrible penalty with a delightful
chip over Szczesny after holding on to a long ball, but the debutant was alert to back-pedal and shove it away.
Arsenal were enjoying enough possession, and in United's half too - but they failed to broke the United back-line as game neared its end. Rafael and Patrice Evra were superb for the home side. In stoppage time, Gunners hoisted a high ball into the box, Marouane
Chamakh flicked it on, but Theo Walcott sliced his first-time shot over the bar.
Despite Wayne Rooney's missed penalty, Manchester United replaced Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. They are two points clear of the Gunners and neighbours Manchester City, with Chelsea another point further back, and have a game in hand on all three
of their rivals.
Alex Ferguson summed things up after the game, “We had to play well tonight, and we did - particularly in the first half. In the second half, they came into it a little and pegged us back a bit. It was an unusual pen by Wayne Rooney - I've never known him
to hit one over the bar before. That gave Arsenal some impetus but we defended magnificently tonight."
Wenger was disappointed not to get a point from the game as he talked after the game,
“The technical quality of the game suffered from a very bad pitch and that's why we've seen both sides make bad technical mistakes. I don't think we failed to deliver; you have to give credit to United's defensive quality. We still had a few chances
and I thought we were unlucky to lose."
The big games are coming thick and fast, with Chelsea versus Manchester United the pick of next weekend's fixtures. Before all that, though, on Wednesday night there is Utrecht v Liverpool in the Europa League.
Final Score: Manchester United 1 Arsenal FC 0
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