I'd 8-2 be an Arsenal fan right now.

Will this be the moment Arsenal
get the cheque book out

It was dubbed the week from hell. They were nothing like the Arsenal we know against a resurgent Liverpool, they played brilliantly away in Italy after looking shaky. It looked as if they may had found some retribution with that performance to save £26m and their status among Europe's elite. Some Arsenal fans must have dream't late on Saturday that they could somehow find the performance that would inspire their season. Then they woke up. Nobody could have guessed what was to happen from 4pm to approximately 5.49pm. Most fans, pundits, managers everybody in the footballing world could see nothing but a Manchester United win, but not like this. Just saying the scoreline makes even neutrals think they were at a Rugby match.


8-2? This was nothing but a demolition of sadly, being a Liverpool fan, of the highest quality. From the word go Man Utd tore into the fragile and vulnerable Arsenal line up, who consisted of barely any players that would even make the reserves in Manchester's finest club. Even for Arsenal, who had sold the heart of their midfield and their team for the past 3 seasons with Fabregas' inevitable departure to his beloved Barcelona, and Nasri's money motivated move to Manchester City, they wouldn't have even been able to achieve this score on FIFA. They had so many injuries and suspensions with Wilshere, Gervinho, Vermaelen, Squillaci, Sagna, Song, Frimpong and many more it was unlikely they were going to roll over Man United, but they were put to the sword and it cant be helped but think of Fabregas and Nasri thinking they couldnt have left at a better time.





The game started off pretty much as usual with Arsenal having slightly more possesion with Arshavin looking like a lost sheep and Walcott tripping over himself while running at 200mph. Then after 20 minutes, United took control and when the greatest teams take control they often score and Man United did, but only thanks to some of the worst defending I have seen in my entire life, you are taught from young as a defender to not let the ball bounce, but Djorou obviously heard that the wrong way round and let Welbeck in to poke home his second in as many games. Arsenals hope for a reprieve was reject when Ashley Young, who made Jenkinson wish he had still been in the conference, turned inside with a lovely two touch move and curled a magnificent effort around Szczesny into the far corner.


To be honest all the people who tuned in to watch the game will forget what was definitely a turning point, the penalty Arsenal got not long after Man Utd went 2-0 ahead, Walcott actually used his pace to good effect to get a run inside Evans, who barely touched the winger but it was enough to bring Walcott down. This was the moment Arsenal fans had waited for, to show what they were made of thicker stuff. But Van Persie who has one of the best left pegs in the world barely connected with it and De Gea did what he had to do. That was the game over and done with, from the 26th minute. If that penalty had gone in it would have been game on no matter how weak Arsenal were.  

The match ball is going home
with Rooney

From then on it was all about damage limitation as Rooney who had been full of energy, swung a delightful free kick over the wall from 25 yards, with Szczesny getting a weak glove to it. To end the half, the smallest glimmer of hope came about as poor positioning from Evra allowed Walcott to be slipped in, although his shot went straight towards De Gea, his leg actually lifted above the ball to make it 3-1 just before the break. What Arsene Wenger said at half time was obviously nothing comparable to Alex Ferguson's half time talk as the home side started where they left off. Once again Wayne Rooney struck and it was virtually a carbon copy of the free kick he had scored in the first half as he played it to young who teed it up for him, albeit going across the goal this time, Szczesny barely moved. So by now it was 4-1 and it turned from here on in, into an exhibition match. Goals followed again 3 minutes later with Nani scoring the most audacious of chips after great interplay which involved a lovely threaded ball by Rooney. The audacity of the finish would have drove Wenger to drink. 

Park adds a 6th

3 Minutes later, Park who always seems to pop up against Arsenal, was given 5 yards of space, played it out to young, who in turn played it square with ease, for Park to turn home a 6th, yes 6th and there was still 20 minutes to go, records looking to be broken. Van Persies finish 4 minutes later did nothing but highlight Jenkinsons work ethic, and even he felt the strain of the Premier league when he brought down Hernandez and was lucky not to be given a straight red. It looked as though Man United had shown Arsenal Mercy but a decent run by Evra was thwarted by a timid Walcott shove, and Rooney chalked up the hat trick. If your wondering if it has finished yet, well sadly no because Ashley Young again struck a jaw dropping strike, similar to his first to the far corner yet again. That finally ended the rout. The report took so long because rarely are there 10 goals in a game to comment upon.

Ashley Young finishes of the rout
with an exquisite finish

Dont be fooled, Arsenal are a lot stronger than this, and showed it out in Italy and they will be up and around the top 4 in May, but for this to happen and not be a wake up call for Wenger will be beyond me and just about everybody. Although those calling for his head are out of their minds because he has created what Arsenal are as a team and a brand. He just needs to freshen it up, with more co-operation from the board and some defenders who know how to defend. Furthermore, dont be fooled by Manchester United, if that was Barcelona, they would have not even got anywhere near what the Catalans are capable of. They have not had a real challenge yet, and they can still be found out. They can only be measured after playing Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.


By the way. I'd 8-2 be an Arsenal fan right now.