Press conference

Udinese V
Arsenal
24TH AUG 2011

Sunday 28th August
Kick off: 16:00
Old Trafford

Manchester United
8 – 2
Arsenal

Arsenal V
Swansea
10TH SEP 2011

HIGHLIGHTS

FULL MATCH

Interviews

Other Videos

Live Text isn't live anymore, this is a record of the match events.

Full Time FULL TIME: Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal.
90

GOAL! - Ashley Young 8 : 2 Young makes it 8-2
90

ARSHAVIN EFFORT: The Russian tries a snap-shot inside the box but it goes horribly wide. Sums up Arsenal's afternoon.
89

SMALLING DANGER: The right-back gallops down the wing and forces Szczesny into action with a fierce ball into the box.
83

Substitution ARSENAL CHANGE: Marouane Chamakh replaces Robin van Persie.
83

Substitution ARSENAL CHANGE: Henri Lansbury replaces Theo Walcott.
81

GOAL! - Wayne Rooney 7 : 2 Rooney completes a stunning hat-trick from the penalty spot after Walcott brought down Evra inside the box.
80

PENALTY TO MANCHESTER UNITED.
78

From the resulting free-kick Rooney shoots wide for a brief moment of rest bite for Arsenal.
76

Red Card RED CARD: Carl Jenkinson is shown a second yellow card after bundling over Javier Hernandez on the edge of the box.
74

GOAL! - Robin van Persie 6 : 2 ARSENAL PULL ONE BACK: Van Persie fires home inside the area past De Gea to reduce the deficit.
70

GOAL! - Ji-Sung Park 6 : 1 Park makes it 6-1. This is too easy for United
69

UNITED COME FORWARD AGAIN: Rooney tries an audacious chip over Szczesny from outside the penalty area, but the ball hits the post and bounces to safety.
68

Substitution Ji-Sung Park replaces Nani.
68

Substitution Ryan Giggs replaces Anderson.
67

GOAL! - Luis Nani 5 : 1 Rooney feeds Nani through the middle, who makes no mistake to chip Szczesny for United's fifth of the match.
64

GOAL! - Wayne Rooney 4 : 1 Wayne Rooney curls home his second free-kick of the match from the edge of the penalty area.
63

Yellow Card FREE-KICK UNITED: Djourou brings down Rooney and the home side have another free-kick in a dangerous position.
62

Substitution ARSENAL CHANGE: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Francis Coquelin.
61

TACTICS: AOC onto the right and Arshavin into the middle.
60

UNITED ON TOP: Young forces Wojciech into another good save and Nani misses a sitter from six yards
Top Comments:
- @l3linky on Twitter says:
  
  Loving the Arsenal support. Let's get that at the Emirates. Come on lads, I predict a 4-3 win...
59

SZCZESNY KEEPS US IN IT AGAIN: A neat one-two on the edge of the area presents Cleverley with a wonderful chance to finish it. But Szczesny makes a super stop to keep the score 3-1
57

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Tim Peters and Martin Hayes will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
56

INCHES WIDE FROM ARSHAVIN: Oh, so unlucky. Andrey bursts into the area, shifts the ball onto his right foot before scuffing wide of the left post. This is much better from the Gunners
Top Comments:
- @TheUpbeatGunner on Twitter says:
  
  On American TV, Warren Barton predicted a scoring draw. And he's always right. So watch out for more Arsenal goals.
55

YOUNG LOOKING DANGEROUS: He beats Jenkinson and whips in a decent ball across the six-yards box. Fortunately, no-one is on the end of it
Top Comments:
- @kamal_sabqi on Twitter says:
  
  Hopefully Wenger's words can lift up the spirits. That's what we need right now, spirit!
54

VAN PERSIE WITH THE VOLLEY: That’s the best passage of play we’ve seen from Arsenal this afternoon. Good build-up play from Rosicky, Traore and Walcott on the left leads to a chance for Van Persie. De Gea gets down well to thwart the Dutchman again
Top Comments:
- @GoonGuns on Twitter says:
  
  Can hear the Arsenal fans loud and clear - brilliant support.
53

DJOUROU FORCED TO PUT BEHIND: United break and, when Rooney slides a ball across the area to Hernandez, Djourou intercepts
52

“WE LOVE YOU ARSENAL, WE DO…” The away support are doing themselves proud. They haven’t stopping signing this afternoon.
Top Comments:
- Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
  
  This is much better from Arsenal in the last couple of minutes. What can they do?
51

NANI TRIES TO BE CLEVER: Rooney is not happy at all, and rightly so. Nani does well to get to the byline and, with Rooney well placed in the area, he tries to chip Szczesny at his near post. A waste
Top Comments:
- Dan Roebuck on Twitter says:
  
  The Arsenal fans are still in good spirits this afternoon despite the scoreline.
50

SUBS WARMING UP: Lansbury, Oxlade-Chamberlain and then Chamakh are instructed to warm-up by Pat Rice
49

GREAT SAVE SZCZESNY: That keeps Arsenal in it, just. Young is given too much time and space, allowing him to cut inside onto his right foot before drilling towards the bottom-left corner. Szczesny gets down brilliantly to keep it out
48

COQUELIN: The midfielder has done OK so far. This time, he breaks up play in the Arsenal half
47

DJOUROU TOO STRONG FOR ROONEY: As the pair tussle for possession. Arsenal have started brightly
Kick Off BACK UNDERWAY AT OLD TRAFFORD: No changes for either side
Top Comments:
- Dan Roebuck on Arsenal Player says:
  
  That Theo Walcott goal is certainly giving Arsenal a bit of hope for the second half. It's a foothold back into the match.
Half Time THERE GOES THE HALF-TIME WHISTLE: That Theo goal will give Arsenal something to build on in the second half
Top Comments:
- @jujun30 on Twitter says:
  
  Let's have a great comeback in second half. Don't give up Arsenal!
45

GOAL! - Theo Walcott 3 : 1 ARSENAL ARE BACK IN IT: Right on the stroke of half-time, Rosciky slips in Walcott who drills through the legs of De Gea from a tight angle. Game on
43

UNITED FULL OF CONFIDENE: Rooney sees Szczesny off his line and tries an audacious chip from just inside his own half.
42

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Tim Peters and Martin Hayes will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
41

A long way back now. The Arsenal players look dejected as they kick off. United are threatening again
41

GOAL! - Wayne Rooney 3 : 0 Rooney curls into the top corner. 3-0 United
40

Yellow Card JENKINSON LUCKY: The right back hauls down Young as he bears down on goal. Webb brandishes a yellow card. Free-kick United, right on the edge of the area, just left of centre
36

HIGH FROM NANI: Rooney steps over it and the Portuguese winger thumps the ball over
35

MORE UNITED PRESSURE: Djourou fouls Young and the home side have a free-kick in a dangerous position, here. Rooney is lining this up
Top Comments:
- @Cheers_NMk on Twitter says:
  
  Let Arshavin play in the centre. Keep him there and he will shoot from outside the box more!
34

Substitution UNITED CHANGE: Welbeck limps off and Hernandez replaces him
33

ARSHAVIN IN HARD IN YOUNG: The Russian is on a yellow car and has to be careful
32

SLOPPY FROM RAMSEY: Good possession from Arsenal but the Wales midfielder puts the ball out for a throw-in when trying to find Walcott on the right
Top Comments:
- @Andy17AFC on Twitter says:
  
  It could be worse, we could be Tottenham.
31

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Tim Peters and Martin Hayes will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
29

GREAT DOUBLE SAVE FROM DE GEA: Arshavin stings the keepers’ palms from range and Van Persie forces him into another stop with the rebound. Better from Arsenal, though
28

It goes from bad to worse for Arsenal. Young brilliantly curls into the top-right corner from outside the area. United double their lead and Arsenal have it all to do now
Top Comments:
- @RYH_des on Twitter says:
  
  Things may look bad, but we've proved we can stand up and fight this week. Come on Arsenal!
28

GOAL! - Ashley Young 2 : 0 Young makes it 2-0
27

Yellow Card Ashley Young picks up a yellow card for dissent.
26

De Gea saves from Van Persie. Oh no! Robin hits the ball low the keepers’ right and the Spaniard gets down to make a brilliant one-handed save
25

Yellow Card EVANS PULLS BACK THEO IN THE AREA: Howard Webb points to the spot…
24

PENALTY TO ARSENAL
23

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Tim Peters and Martin Hayes will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
22

UNITED LOOKING FOR A SECOND: Rooney drags an effort wide of the left post. Arsenal need to be careful here
21

Anderson lofts a ball over the Arsenal back four and Welbeck outmuscles Djourou before heading past the wrong footed Szczesny from close range.
21

GOAL! - Danny Welbeck 1 : 0 United go ahead. Welbeck is the scorer
Top Comments:
- @Robbo1654 on Twitter says:
  
  We showed great mental strength on Wednesday, we can do it again!
20

DANGEROUS BALL FROM THEO: He attacks Evra and delivers a wicked ball into the area. Unfortunately, there is no-one in a blue shirt to capitalise
19

GOOD TRACKING FROM TRAORE: Nani runs in-behind the full-back but Armand sticks with his man and wins the ball with a well-timed sliding tackle.
18

REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Tim Peters and Martin Hayes will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
17

KOSCIELNY MEETS IT: But heads over the bar from a decent position. De Gea was stranded, there.
16

ARSENAL VENTURE FORWARD: Good play from Ramsey in the middle presents Rosicky with a shooting chance and is effort is deflected behind. Arsenal corner…
Top Comments:
- @ITSMYHOOD on Twitter says:
  
  Coquelin's made a good start!
15

UNITED CORNER: The home side are enjoying the better of things now. Szczesny punches away and then Djourou hacks clear
14

Yellow Card ARSHAVIN CLATTERS JONES: And gets a booking, no arguments there.
13

UNITED PRESSURE: Koscielny is forced to clear from a dangerous position inside his own area after quick, incisive play from the home side
Top Comments:
- @craigrobertson7 on Twitter says:
  
  The boys are defending well, keep it up!
12

ARSENAL GROWING: After a nervous start, the visitors have settled now. This is better from Wenger's boys
11

TAME EFFORT FROM THEO: Good build-up play from Arsenal leads to a shooting chance but Walcott drags wide of the left post. Worth an effort
10

WELBECK: That’s twice the United frontman has run in-behind Koscielny. His pace looks a real threat
9

WELL PLAYED COQUELIN: He does brilliantly to outmuscle Young inside the area as the former Villa man is about the pull the trigger.
8

FRANTIC PACE: It’s end-to-end here.
7

ARSHAVIN NEARLY FINDS THEO: Inside the area, Walcott just can’t get on the end of it. Unlucky
6

GREAT CHANCE FOR WELBECK: Arsenal were caught napping there. Young threads a ball through to Welbeck, who springs the offside trap, and he bursts into the area before hitting a left-footed effort wide
Top Comments:
- @montychewtoy on Twitter says:
  
  Arsenal fans doing all they can at the game; I personally have everything crossed!
5

COQUELIN: That is the first we have seen of the young Frenchman. He plays a neat give and go with Van Persie before spreading the ball wide to Traore. The left-back beats Smalling but his cross is headed away. Better from Arsenal
4

ARSENAL SLOPPY WITH THE BALL: Djourou gives the ball away and Rooney shoots straight at Szczesny from outside the area. The visitors haven’t settled yet
3

CLEVERLEY SHOOTS WIDE: Smalling gets in-behind Traore on the Arsenal left and cuts the ball back for Cleverley, who curls a low effort inches wide of the right post. Wojciech Szczesny had that covered, I fancy.
Top Comments:
- @jasonkohlmorgen on Twitter says:
  
  Remember the 2005 FA Cup Final? Absorbed their pressure and won the day. Lets do it again (minus shoot-out!).
2

BRIGHT START FROM THE HOME SIDE: Early possession for Man Utd. As the home side you would expect that, though
1

TACTICS: Coquelin is sitting in front of the back four. Theo from the right and Arshavin on the left, as expected.
Top Comments:
- @ianfrancis555 on Twitter says:
  
  If we come out all guns blazing we could surprise them, we need a goal to get in the game.
Kick Off WE’RE OFF: United get us underway, Arsenal kicking from left to right in this first half
WHAT AN ATMOSPHERE! High fives and hugs from the Arsenal players. Cheers from the away fans greet the Gunners starting XI.
Top Comments:
- @jasonkohlmorgen on Twitter says:
  
  So far, so good! Performed well in the handshake and nobody tripped over running out. Come on you Gunners!
HERE THEY COME: Robin leads out Arsenal, who are playing in their 125th anniversary away kit this afternoon
PLAYERS IN THE TUNNEL: Here were go…
Top Comments:
- Martin Hayes on Arsenal Player says:
  
  It's a massive task for these lads today. They're just going to have to dig in.
“We love you Arsenal, we do…”
The Old Trafford pitch is getting a final sprinkling while the away support continue to sing their hearts out
Both sets of players have just made their way back down the tunnel and kick-off is now just 10 minutes away.
Tottenham have been beaten 5-1 at home - which will bring a smile to the faces of all Arsenal fans. But today is all about the Arsenal.
By the way, I’m Giuseppe Muro and I’ll be bringing you live updates from Old Trafford. I’ve just made my way up to my seat in the press box and the Arsenal fans are making themselves heard away to my right
Top Comments:
- @molochNATION on Twitter says:
  
  It'll be a great game. Could go either way...
Laurent Koscielny has recovered from a back injury and partners Johan Djourou in central defence
Bacary Sagna misses out through illness so Carl Jenkinson moves to right-back and Armand Traore will make his first start of the season at left-back.
The 20-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Lorient, is included in Arsène Wenger’s starting XI and starts in midfield for the trip to Old Trafford.
Team in full: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Djourou, Koscielny, Traore, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, Van Persie, Arshavin
TEAM NEWS: Francis Coquelin will make his Premier League debut
REMINDER: Stay online after the final whistle for our post-match show. Tim Peters and Martin Hayes will be taking your calls as well as your e-mails so phone the studio on 020 7607 3200 (from inside the UK) or +44 20 7607 3200 (from outside the UK).
Tim Peters and former Gunner Martin Hayes are in the studio for today's match while Arsenal.com editor Richard Clarke joins Dan Roebuck in the commentary box.
Our coverage starts at 3.45pm (UK time) and kick off is 15 minutes later. Open up your laptop and visit player.arsenal.com to hear live audio commentary. If you're following the game on your iPhone or iPad you can listen and read our text updates too.
Let's be honest, it has been a difficult start to the season. But Wednesday's win in Udine showed the quality and spirt in Arsenal squad ahead of this trip to the Premier League champions.
Arsenal's travel to Old Trafford this afternoon for a mouthwatering clash with Manchester United and you have come to the right place for unashamedly Arsenal-centric commentary.