Match Summary: Arsenal vs. Manchester United

Arsenal vs. Manchester United       

16^th November 2014      15:00 kick-off                       

Match report by William Okafor-Oregan

After the International break, football fans everywhere could take more than just pleasure in having the opportunity to feast their eyes on one of the Premier league’s highest profile clashes there is to offer. It is indeed, Arsenal vs. Manchester United. 

With both teams in inconsistent form this season, a win either side would be of much relief to both managers.

Danny Welbeck had a point to prove to his former club, it was the first time he had played them since his summer sale and was close to opening the floodgates for Arsenal in only the fifth minute of the match, but failed to get the shot on target from a difficult angle. Shortly after, a Luke Shaw’s boot was clipped by the leg of Oxlade-Chamberlain, and took up a new hamstring injury. 

Then soon after that another promising run from Oxlade-Chamberlain, who delivered a good cross which was met by a free-header by Welbeck, who again failed to test the keeper. 

But Arsenal weren’t to stop there. In the 14th minute, a back pass from United Academy graduate, Blackett to De gea seemed as if it would lead to trouble as in-form Sanchez who kept running for the ball tempted to the Man United keeper to a poor clearance which was quickly intercepted by Ramsey, inside of United’s own half and a quick pass into Welbeck, and then in the stride of Jack Wilshere, who’s dribble and then tame effort on goal was probably the Gunners’ best chance of the afternoon, as he shot straight at the keeper. But soon later in the same period of time as Arsenal re-gained possession, a penalty appeal for Wilshere was quickly turned down by Referee, Mike Dean. 

Nevertheless, the controversy in this big game was to continue as on the half-hour mark, as it was Wilshere again in the midst of it, as he clashed with Manchester United’s Maroane Fellaini but was lucky to not be given the marching orders, as he put his head into the face of Fellaini after a foul, and the referee had an excellent view of the situation. But Man United’s first real chance of the game came several minutes from Half time, as Di Maria broke though on the right flank, to find Rooney in the box, whose shot was expertly blocked by defender, Callum Chambers.



In the opening minutes of the second half, Arsenal looked dangerous again as a World-Class pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain found Welbeck who broke into the opposition’s box and force a stop from De gea at his near post. In the 50th minute of the game, it was worrying signs for Jack Wilshere, who was on the receiving end of a strong tackle from McNair, and injured his ankle. The scores were still dreadlocked at 0-0.

However, it would be six minutes then on, that the score line would change as an Ashley Young cross was fisted away by Arsenal goalkeeper, Szczesny while simultaneously colliding with Kieran Gibbs and picking up an injury in the process. But it was only seconds later that Valencia hit a crisp strike on the rebound and it took a massive deflection off Kieran Gibbs, who was still on the ground and stuck a leg out to block the shot, and nestled in the back of the net. Szczesny was subsequently substituted off for Damian Martinez.

It took fines saves from De gea to deny a Sanchez header and then a Carzola half-volley in similar style to keep Manchester United’s lead intact. By then, that one was Arsenal’s 13 shot at Manchester United’s goal, 8 of them saved by De Gea. But in the 85th minute, after a failed Arsenal build-up, Fellaini intercepted a pass and then launched an accurate ball to Di Maria, who swiftly played in Rooney, who was 40 yards out with no Arsenal defender in front of him. But he continued to charge on and it was a composed lobbed effort from the United and England skipper which became Man United’s second and his 11th goal against Arsenal in the Premier League, a feat no other player has managed against the same opposition. 

image by mirror.co.uk

The game was settled but done yet, as three minutes into extra-time an Arsenal corner was soon cleared away and Man United counter-attacked again, as Rooney played a pass into Di Maria, who dribbled from the inside of his own half into a defenseless Arsenal half of the field, but with goal at his mercy, a lobbed effort went agonizingly wide from the Argentine winger.

Then 5 minutes into stoppage time, Arsenal kept attacking and finally got the goal they deserved, as a superb over-head pass just inside of the half way line saw Giroud, who has just returned from injury to hit a fierce first time strike from 16 yards out into the top corner of the net.

Although that goal gave the home fans something to cheer about, the end result was in favor of Manchester United, who was debatably dominated by an unfortunate Arsenal side. The scores finished, 2-1 to the Manchester United.