Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM.

Rooney (pen 59 mins), Diaby (own goal) (64 mins).

Arshavin (40 mins).

fa premiership, Matchday 04

Old Trafford, Manchester, 17.15pm GMT, Saturday 29th August 2009.

 Match Review

Before we begin, your reporter had what can only be described as a perfect day at Old Trafford on Saturday, meeting up with friends, a great result and a few surprises as the night got better after the phenomenal news I was going to visit the players lounge after the game.  A full report with some great pictures will follow ASAP.

United defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the late Saturday kick off slot after an opening goal from Andrey Arshavin was cancelled out by a Wayne Rooney penalty & a Chuckle Brothers moment by Abou Diaby proved to be the winner for the home side.

With perhaps the missing Csec Fabregas, and a stifling job of a 5 man United midfield in mind, SAF chose a 4-5-1 with Ryan Giggs trying (but mostly failing) to support a isolated figure of Wayne Rooney alone up front.

Starting sports were given to Nani & Antonio Valencia out wide with the once again excellent Darren Fletcher & Michael Carrick in central midfield.

Wes Brown partnered Vidic in central defence with JOS & Patrice Evra the full backs.

Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen were left on the bench with Neville, Scholes, Anderson &  keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

For much of the game SAF's tactical brainchild seemed inept & fruitless as Arsenal seemed to cope easily.

Rooney alone and forced into holding the ball & linking play in a thankless task managed to get the Reds going when Darren Fletcher was provided a chance inside the first 5 minutes, but the Scot missed from close range.

The 1st half was largely ordinary and Arsenal the most deserving as Arshavin shone when others failed to spark.

the Russians strike partner Robin Van Persie seeing his shot blocked by Patrice Evra as Arsenal continued to look the better side in the 1st half, The Gunners continued to cause problems when Van Persie corner caused havoc & Arshavin was unlucky not to score as he saw his shot drag wide off the post.

Arsneal can count themselves unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty after Darren Fletcher clearly appeared to flatten Arshavin in the penalty area, but referee Mike Dean waved play on.

The Visitors soon however got their goal that their play deserved when Denilson threaded a decent ball to Arshavin who in space (this despite United tactics), saw the midget Russian belt a 25 yard shot goal bound which Ben Foster, brilliant one minute & a rookie the next, palmed the shot into the roof of the net as United fell behind 1-0.

As mentioned previous Foster redeemed himself somewhat when shortly after the restart of the second half made a quite remarkable save with his leg when Robin Van Persie ceased upon great play from Arsenals MOTM Arshavin.

The turning point of the game came when United drew level when the North London clubs goalkeeper Manuel Almunia cut Wayne Rooney down in the box, when maybe more though would have told him he was running away from goal.

Up stepped what looks like United new penalty taker making it 1-1 after sending the Spaniard the wrong way.

After a kick at Abou Diaby, Rooney saw himself enter the referee note book shortly before Arsenal came knocking again when Van Persie smacked the cross bar with a free kick as Ben Foster looked a beaten man.

After a poor 1st half of bad decision making Ryan Giggs became with a slice of fortune a major factor in both his sides goals when after Rooney's penalty United were awarded a free kick which he curled in his set piece failing to find a team mate & only remarkably to find the head of Abou Diaby who ridiculously headed into his own net, an action which sent Arsen Wenger into fits on the touch line & befuddled his keeper Almunia to put United in the lead.

Wenger then rolled his dice when he introduced the Croatian diving acrobat Eduardo for Denilson, a substitution which saw Old Trafford remind the Croatian Striker about his punishment he has to receive from the game governing body after his cheating dive.

It was all going wrong for the Gunners next when Arshavin had to be subbed due to a muscle injury after straining when chasing a pass from his strike partner.

At 2-1 Arsenal pushed to try to restore the game in their favour and leaving gaps, United were shocking in their finishing as both Substitute Dimitar Berbatov sliced a chance & Nani blazed an even better chance over the bar.

A tense finale ensued when all in the space of 5 minutes Van Persie scored but the goal was disallowed, Arsen Wenger was sent off for kicking a drinks bottle & United held on to scratch off with maximum points a hard an most unwelcome fixture.

Very Special Thanks to Mr Ron Snellen & Jeanette for the excellent pictures and a massive hello to...........

 Milestones

 MUFCINFO's MAN OF THE MATCH

Another great day at the office for Mr Fletcher. What is about playing well against Arsenal.

Mr Wenger must hate you!!!

United's Next Match

Saturday 12th September 2009 v Tottenham Hotspur (A) in the Premiership, Matchday 5 with a 17.30pm K.O. G.M.T.

Player Ratings

foster

6.5

o'shea

6

brown

6.5

VIDIC

6

evra

6.5

Valencia

4.5

carrick

5.5

fletcher

7.5

GIGGS

6

nani

6

rooney

6.5

Subs Used

park

6.5

for Valencia

(63 mins)

Berbatov

5.5

for Giggs

(85 mins)

 Subs not used

KUSZCZAK

NEVILLE

OWEN

anderson

scholeS