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Played
August 28, 2011 11:00 AM EDT
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee:‬ H. Webb‎
Attendance:‬ 75448‎
 
Theo Walcott 45+3′
28′ Ashley Young
42′ Wayne Rooney
 
64′ Wayne Rooney
 
67′ Nani
 
70′ Ji-Sung Park
 
87′ (PG) Wayne Rooney
 
90+2′ Ashley Young
 
 

Player Ratings: Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal

By Greg Stobart

David de Gea
644
159
3.0

Another mixed afternoon for the young Spaniard. Excellent first-half penalty save appeared to improve his confidence but let Walcott's tame effort through his body on the stroke of half-time.

Jonny Evans
405
130
3.0

Some classy moments at the back from the defender but he switched off mentally on too many occasions, not least when he tugged back Walcott to conceded the penalty.

Phil Jones
615
35
3.5

Another mature performance from the summer signing that defied his age. Superb anticipation to read Arsenal attacks and won everything in the air.

Patrice Evra
553
50
3.5

The Frenchman was solid defensively against Walcott and provided an excellent attacking outlet in support of Young.

Chris Smalling
620
38
4.0

The England under-21 international is quickly developing as a right-back and was once again very impressive. His defending was strong and he joined United attacks with tremendous power and pace.

Anderson
619
48
4.0

Came into the game full of confidence and controlled the game in central midfield with his energy, skill and passes. The Brazilian's swagger was summed up by the glorious chipped pass to Welbeck to create the opener.

Tom Cleverley
564
46
3.5

Another of the United young guns who continued his good form. Played some lovely one and two-touch passes but sat a little deep in the first 20 minutes of the second-half. Missed great chance to score when he shot straight at Szczesny when through on goal.

Ashley Young
861
39
4.5

The England winger has looked a very astute signing for United and he showed why again with a magnificent curling effort from 25 yards to put the hosts 2-0 up. Pace and delivery were too much for the Arsenal defence and he added his second with another curler in the dying moment.

Nani
530
106
3.5

Trickery and dribbling ability caused Arsenal problems but the final ball was missing - until he produced an audacious dink over Szczesny in the 67th minute to score United's fifth of the afternoon. Immediately substituted and replaced by Park.

Wayne Rooney
Top of the Match
1029
73
4.5

Sensational performance from the United striker as he scored a fully deserved hat-trick, all from set-pieces. The first two were wonderfully struck curling free-kicks and the hat-trick goal a well-taken penalty. Also hit the crossbar with a brilliant chip from 30 yards and showed brilliant creativity to link the midfield and attack.

Danny Welbeck
614
43
3.5

Scored his second goal in a week as he shrugged off Djourou and nodded the ball over Szczesny to open the scoring. Showed some neat link-up play but his afternoon was brought to an end by a hamstring injury 10 minutes before half-time.

• Substitutions
Ji-Sung Park
542
31
3.5

Came on for Nani in the 68th minute and three minutes later put the ball in the net with a low left-footed drive across goal.

Ryan Giggs
471
43
3.5

Replaced Anderson in the 68th minute and controlled the last 20 minutes of the game with his passing in central midfield.

Chicharito
515
95
3.5

Looked sharp after replacing the injured Welbeck in the 35th minute. Excellent movement and link-up play to stretch the Arsenal defence. The only surprise was that he didn't get on the scoresheet himself.

Wojciech Szczesny
318
168
3.0

The Pole could do little as the United goals rained in and it could have been more had he not made some sharp stops to deny Young and Cleverley.

Laurent Koscielny
71
267
2.0

Made some good interceptions in the opening exchanges but could not handle United's attacking movement as Arsenal crumbled.

Johan Djourou
57
287
2.0

Out-muscled by Welbeck for the opener and the afternoon only got worse for the Swiss defender as he allowed United attackers the time and space to create - and convert - clear opportunities.

Armand Traoré
58
255
2.0

Too easily beaten by a drop of Nani's shoulder but wasn't helped by the fact he often found himself in two-against-one situations. Made some strong attacking runs in the first-half.

Carl Jenkinson
Flop of the Match
114
362
1.5

The young full-back had a nightmare afternoon even before he was sent-off in the 77th minute for a second booking. All over the place defensively and looked completely out of his depth against Young.

Aaron Ramsey
134
210
3.0

Arsenal's best midfield player of the afternoon - not that it means much. Completely overrun in the second-half but his composure and creativity on the ball was evident.

Andrey Arshavin
78
282
2.0

Should have been sent-off for fouls on Jones and Young that could have been straight red cards in their own right. Occasionally threatened and took a few pot shots at goal but the Russian seems to encapsulate the lack of winning mentality within the Gunners squad at the moment.

Tomas Rosicky
83
264
1.5

The Czech schemer was virtually anonymous throughout the game. Offered no defensive protection for the defence and didn't seem to want the ball.

Francis Coquelin
54
233
2.0

The young midfielder was handed his Premier League debut and even he could not have imagined it would be this hard. Struggled to have an influence on the game and allowed United to operate too easily between Arsenal's defence and midfield.

Theo Walcott
160
170
2.5

Could never get into the game as Arsenal failed to give him the service to isolate Evra. Scored from a tight angle on the stroke of half-time but conceded a second-half penalty for a push on Evra.

Robin van Persie
130
213
2.5

Slammed Arsenal's second goal into the roof of the net from close range but it was only his second effort of note. The Arsenal captain was isolated on his own up front and was bullied off the ball when he did gain possession.

• Substitutions
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
86
198
3.0

Replaced Coquelin in the 62nd minute and showed glimpses of his ability.

Henri Lansbury
41
204
2.5

Came on for Walcott as an 83rd minute substitute to play at right back.

Marouane Chamakh
46
219
2.5

Replaced van Persie seven minute from time. Hardly had a touch of the ball.

Results
 
Player Ratings
Tournament
Position
Ranking
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Arsenal
30 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Man United
27 6
Kun Agüero Kun Agüero
Striker
Man City
23 3
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker
Blackburn Rovers
17 4
Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker
Tottenham
17 3