Never write off the Gunners

[Dunny]

The Gunners back in business,we have had our bad patch now the only way is up. Arsenal 2 - 1 Man U.

[Gamma]

m notice seh "dem guy deh" missin dis mawnin'....

[Karl]

Well! Well!

[Karl]

Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd

Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd



By Phil McNulty at the Emirates Stadium



Nasri scored once in each half



Samir Nasri struck twice as Arsenal beat Manchester United and delivered an emphatic confirmation of manager Arsene Wenger's belief that they are still serious Premier League contenders.

Nasri's deflected shot opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and he doubled their advantage three minutes after the interval with a powerful finish from Cesc Fabregas's precise pass.
Substitute Rafael volleyed United back into contention with a minute of normal time left - but Arsenal survived six extra minutes and an outbreak of mass anxiety at the Emirates to claim the three points.

It was a victory they merited, with United creating and wasting chances, but never carrying the same sense of self-belief as Arsenal in a highly-charged atmosphere.

Arsenal have suffered 10 days of soul-searching and criticism after allowing Spurs to claim an unlikely draw and losing in acrimonious circumstances at Stoke City, but they responded with an almost open show of defiance on and off the pitch.

They even had the strength of character to cope with losing goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to injury in the closing stages to keep United at bay.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have been frustrated by his side's wastefulness, with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo guilty of wasting obvious openings, but he can have no serious complaints about the result.


For Arsenal, this performance and result will have only made Wenger - who was given noisy vocal backing throughout the game - even more entrenched in his belief that he will not sacrifice his principles for a more physical style of play.

Arsenal were without injured Emmanuel Adebayor and the suspended Robin van Persie, while United predictably restored Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov after the Champions League draw at Celtic.

But Arsenal looked anything but under-strength in a vibrant first 45 minutes that brought a host of chances at both ends and a deserved lead for Wenger's side.

It was United, however, who had the first opportunity when Arsenal keeper Almunia inexplicably picked up a back-pass from Mikael Silvestre inside the first two minutes.

Arsenal were relieved when Anderson's free-kick was half-cleared and Michael Carrick turned the loose ball wide.

Wenger appeared to have instructed Arsenal to probe United's right-flank, where Gary Neville looked desperately uncomfortable at the start of what was a harrowing afternoon for the England defender.

Gael Clichy's cross was headed off target by Nicklas Bendtner, who then failed to get on the end of another dangerous ball from Nasri.

Rooney missed an even better chance for United after 17 minutes, carelessly lofting an inviting ball from Ronaldo over the top when it seemed certain he would score.

Arsenal took full advantage of the reprieve to take the lead five minutes later, when Nasri's shot took a crucial deflection off Neville and wrong-footed Edwin van der Sar.

It was a wonderfully open game, but Arsenal were playing like a team stung by recent criticism and the sight of old rivals United had only inspired them further.

Fabregas had a shot deflected just wide, but United were threatening themselves and Almunia needed to save well from Ji-Sung Park.
If there was a frustration for Arsenal, it would have been that the crucial second goal had eluded them, despite their dominance.

They did not have to wait long to get it as Nasri doubled their advantage three minutes after the re-start.

Fabregas was at the centre of affairs again, punishing United for failing to pick up Nasri when he threaded through a perfect pass for the France midfield man to beat Van der Sar with an emphatic finish.

United, uncharacteristically, were lacking a cutting edge and wasted a perfect opportunity to grasp at a lifeline immediately after Arsenal's goal.
Park found Ronaldo unmarked at the far post, but he dragged his shot across the face of goal with only Almunia to beat.

Almunia then required lengthy treatment after an accidental clash with Carrick as United refused to give up on the belief that they could get back into an enthralling encounter.

He carried on, but was clearly in discomfort and was replaced by Lukasz Fabianski with 12 minutes left.

United also replaced Rooney with Carlos Tevez and Anderson with Ryan Giggs in what was clearly a last throw of the dice by Ferguson as time ran out.

Da Silva, who had replaced Neville in the 63rd minute, pulled one back with a spectacular volley after Arsenal failed to clear a Giggs cross and the Brazilian controlled the loose ball on his chest before firing a left-foot shot past Fabianksi from the edge of the area.
Almunia's injury meant six minutes of injury time, but United could not create another chance and Arsenal's fans and players celebrated wildly at the end.

Arsenal: Almunia (Fabianski 78), Sagna, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Walcott (Song Billong 77), Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Diaby (Toure 86), Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Vela, Ramsey, Wilshere, Djourou. Booked: Gallas, Sagna, Clichy.
Goals: Nasri 22, 48.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville (Rafael Da Silva 63), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Anderson (Giggs 72), Carrick, Park, Rooney (Tevez 77), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Nani, O'Shea, Evans.
Booked: Evra, Carrick.
Goals: Rafael Da Silva 90.

Att: 60,106

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Arsenal's Samir Nasri 8.34 (on 90 minutes).

[Mosiah]

The only way is up?!? Really?!

[Karl]

The only way is up?!? Really?!

dat a mussi youthful optimism by di poster?

These YOUNG GUNNERS shall continue to turn in 'up & down' performances. On their day they can 'wap' any of the other big boys...but as sure as night follows day they shall continue to...at times...drop points to lower level teams.

The future looks great! ...and with a bit of luck, who knows...they may just snag a trophy this season!

[Hortical]

It looks like a certain guy was too lazy to comment.

[Jangle]

Since Yutie gaan turn political analyst now it seems like unuh all forget his profound statements "Championship nuh win inna November!!!"

[Dunny]

Arsenal's got the ability to win the league,they just need to be more clinical and learn to win ugly.

[Westman]

Nobody missing. We just had to go to a pub to watch Setanta. Congrats.

[Westman]

We simply helped a guy away from the ledge.

[Westman]

You only won one game. Man U will leap frog you if they win the game they have in hand.

[Gamma]

yes..by yazz...yuh nuh memba da chune deh..btw...whey di email?

[Lazie]

Simply a strategic inflection point. Now they'll go on an unbeaten run.

[Karl]

Since Yutie gaan turn political analyst now it seems like unuh all forget his profound statements "Championship nuh win inna November!!!"

Rite bout dat!