Manchester United vs. Arsenal: Score, Grades and Post-Match Reaction

Manchester United grabbed a potentially crucial Premier League victory over Arsenal on Sunday evening at Old Trafford, as Robin van Persie once again punished his former employers.

Van Persie, who was otherwise quiet for much of the contest, nodded home from a Wayne Rooney corner shortly before the half-hour mark to secure an eventual 1-0 win. Arsenal once again paid the price for a lack of cutting edge against their old enemies.

United are now within five points of the Gunners (who remain league leaders) in the table, a change in circumstances that clearly delighted boss David Moyes at the final whistle.

"This is a big result for us," the Scot told Sky Sports television. "We started the game well, and in the end our determination helped us when we were under more pressure.

"This gives us some momentum, and hopefully we can take advantage of that."

Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, will have reason to be pleased with his side’s display, but not their incision in front of goal; the North London club managed just two shots on target all game as Mesut Ozil put in an unusually sub-par display.

"Overall, we conceded a goal on a set piece, and in a big game that made the difference," the Frenchman said.

"In the first half we were too nervous. Second half we played composed and our usual game, and we were very close many times. But it did not happen, and we need to digest that."

The team selections offered a few surprises, especially for Arsenal. An overnight flu bug forced the club to send home both Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky, meaning Thomas Vermaelen and Mathieu Flamini came into the starting XI.

United, meanwhile, were able to select Michael Carrick after midweek concerns about his fitness—with Shinji Kagawa played wide on the left and Phil Jones helping secure the centre of midfield. Marouane Fellaini and Adnan Januzaj were both on the bench, with Ashley Young left out of the matchday squad entirely.

The first half perhaps reflected these adjustments and tactical tweaks, with both sides struggling for fluency in the early exchanges. Arsenal particularly were frustrated in their attempts to win and keep the ball, with a strong Olivier Giroud challenge on Jonny Evans about the best moment of the early exchanges.

United, in contrast, had a lot of the ball but were unable to turn that into clear-cut opportunities, with Wayne Rooney seeing one long-range attempt saved comfortably by Wojciech Szczesny. Other than that, however, Vermaelen was proving a resolute defender.

It was from a Vermaelen clearance, however, that United broke the deadlock. The Dutchman cleared a Rooney cross from a corner, but from the resultant corner, van Persie ghosted into the space vacated by Aaron Ramsey, looping a header over Kieran Gibbs at the far post and into the net.

Player	Rating
David de Gea	7
Patrice Evra	7
Nemanja Vidic	6
Jonny Evans	7
Chris Smalling	8
Phil Jones	9
Michael Carrick	7
Antonio Valencia	6
Wayne Rooney	8
Shinji Kagawa	7
Robin van Persie	7
Substitutes
Tom Cleverley	6
Ryan Giggs	6
Marouane Fellaini	n/a

In contrast to his goal in the same fixture last season, one he declined to celebrate, van Persie looked delighted with his effort.

The goal seemed to galvanise Arsenal, who looked a lot more composed and threatening on the ball. They still struggled for penetration, though, with Giroud’s soft header from the edge of the box about the only time, a few punched clearances apart, that De Gea’s heartbeat was raised.

Towards the end of the half there were two worrying head injuries, for Szczesny and Nemanja Vidic respectively. Szczesny recovered after his clash with Phil Jones, but Vidic was not so fortunate, being replaced at half-time by Tom Cleverley after the impact with De Gea left him spitting blood.

That change—which saw Jones drop into defence and Cleverley become Carrick’s central partner—seemed to disrupt United further, and Arsenal were the dominant team after the second half.

They continued to struggle for the final ball, however, with Ozil swinging a shot narrowly of De Gea’s near post in the best opening. Rooney fired a warning shot straight back, however, dragging a shot narrowly wide after beating Bacary Sagna with a great effort.

Sagna, however, would become a key attacking threat over the remainder of the contest—putting in three great crosses that no Arsenal man could get on the end of. That was symptomatic of the difficult afternoon Giroud endured, as he struggled to get the ball under his control in dangerous areas.

Wenger brought on Jack Wilshere, Serge Gnabry and Nicklas Bendtner on in a bid to change the dynamic, but while the former pair were both influential, when Sagna’s third and final cross evaded the Dane, his side were consigned to defeat.

Player	Ratings
Wojciech Szczesny	7
Kieran Gibbs	7
Thomas Vermaelen	8
Laurent Koscielny	8
Bacary Sagna	8
Mikel Arteta	7
Mathieu Flamini	6
Aaron Ramsey	6
Santi Cazorla	7
Mesut Ozil	6
Olivier Giroud	7
Substitutes
Jack Wilshere	7
Nicklas Bendtner	6
Serge Gnabry	6

After the final whistle, Rooney noted:

"

It’s a great result, Arsenal are a good team.

We knew we had to win at all costs. I think it has been the toughest we’ve been to break down. We defended really well, and thankfully Robin got the goal for us.

We knew we couldn’t afford to lose today. We knew a victory would put us right back in there. We are now in a great position.

"

Player Ratings

What's Next?

The international break allows both sides to cool off somewhat. Manchester United return in two weeks against Cardiff in Wales, while Arsenal are in action a day sooner—November 23—at home to high-flying Southampton.

(All quotes via Sky Sports' post-match broadcast, GIFs B/R UK's own)