Robin resurrects United
Man United have not lost the last eight encounters winning six and drawing two. Arsenal have scored in every one of their ten Premier League games and are the only Club to achieve this.
Man United make 4 changes to the team that drew away in Spain as Robin Van Persie starts against his former Club as Javier Hernandez drops to the bench. Phil Jones, Michael Carrick and Johnny Evans all come into the side.
Man United X11: De Gea,Evra,Evans,Vidic,Smalling,Valencia,Carrick,Jones,Kagawa,Rooney and Van Persie
Arsenal make just 2 changes from their historic win against Bourssia Dortmund in mid week. Mathieu Flamini who is no stranger to this derby starts in place of Tomas Rosicky. The only other change is Thomas Vermaelen coming in place of the the big German Per Mertesacker who has a late bug causing him to pull out.
Arsenal X11: Szczesny,Gibbs,Vermaelen,Koscienlny,Sagna,Arteta,Flamini,Ramsey,Cazorla,Ozil and Giroud.
10 minutes into the match as Wayne Rooney had found the ball 30 yards from goal and had shaped up to shoot. The shot had taken a deflection and bounced comfortably into the hands of the Polish keeper Wojcieh Szczesny.
Half way through the first half when Man United had won a corner on the right with the Old Trafford faithful hoping for a goal as Rooney had whipped the ball into the box. Van Persie had made a near post run and had been unmarked to get a head to the ball. The header had looped over Kieran Gibbs at the back post and into the top right hand corner. Man United fans go crazy as Van Persie shows no remorse and celebrates. That was the Flying Dutchman's 7th league goal of the season.
Into injury time when a collision between De Gea and the Serbian Nemanja Vidic had forced Vidic to the ground. After staying on the floor for a while the big rock lifted himself up and walked down the tunnel in an awkward way he will need 15 minutes to recover.
At half time and Man United go into the break one goal up through who else but former Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie. A Rooney corner found the Dutchman darting in at the near post to head into the top right hand corner.
Man United have played well with the ball and slightly harder as the Gunners defence are very compact. United will need a second goal if they want the points.
Arsenal have yet to really to get going with very few chances and will need to push and have more attempts on target.
Just before the restart as captain Nemanja Vidic is not able to continue as Tom Cleverly replaces him.
12 minutes after the restart as the ball had been crossed in from the right as it had rolled out to Mesut Ozil who had been in a really good position. Ozil had been closed down by Rooney as the German international shot had hit the side netting.
2 minutes later when a flick on from Kagawa had been partly cleared by Vermaelen on the edge of the box as it had bounced across to Rooney. The England international had Bacary Sagna in front of him as the United number 10 side stepped him to set up a one on one with the keeper on his line. Rooney had drilled his shot just wide of the right hand post as United had threaten again.
10 minutes left as Man United had won a free kick on the left hand side of the area which Dutchman Van Persie would take. United who had been on the back foot for most of the game had seen the ball crossed into Chris Smalling who had fluffed the chance as it went rolling away.
6 minutes left when Arsenal had the ball in Man United's box. Ramsey had the ball in the area with 4 or 5 red shirts around him. Ramsey had rolled the ball into Oliver Giroud. The Frenchman had got his shot away as a deflection had taken it just wide of the right hand post.
Into injury time when Sagna had the ball on the right and had whipped a ball into the box. The ball had been fantastic and Bentdner had been a inch away as the ball went rolling away.
At full time as Man United get the three points and move up to fifth in the table. A one nil win settles them just five points away from Arsenal at the top. Arsenal had more possession in second half and had chances to get back into it as Man United hold on after an average second half display.
Man United now go away to Cardiff City after the international break.