Arsenal vs. Manchester United: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game

Arsenal destroyed Manchester United 3-0 on Sunday afternoon, putting on a masterful display of attacking, incisive football.

Alexis Sanchez backheeled the Gunners in front after just five minutes, then Mesut Ozil made it two just a minute later to compound the home side's fast start. Sanchez slammed a third into the top corner before the 20-minute mark, putting the game well and truly out of the Red Devils' reach.

"We had to change the mentality [of the team]," Santi Cazorla told Sky Sports' live broadcast after the game, referring to the midweek disappointment against Olympiakos. "Our team were very compact and very focused against a big team."

Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game. 

Loser: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Manchester United

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Bastian Schweinsteiger recorded what has to be one of his worst-ever performances in any shirt colour on Sunday; the German was a big factor in Manchester United's early struggles in the middle.

He started in a double-pivot with Michael Carrick but proceeded to press 30 to 40 yards up the pitch, opening huge holes in front of his defensive line in which Arsenal could find swathes of space. We praise Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez for their offensive impact, but truth be told they were given the freedom of the park.

Contrast Schweinsteiger’s utter lack of discipline to, say, James McCarthy’s effort in locking up Philippe Coutinho in the Merseyside derby earlier in the day, and the difference is quite galling.

Winner: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

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Mesut Ozil is a rather polarising player; for every fan who insists he’s world-class, there’s another who doesn’t quite sit right with his style of play. Sunday saw everybody come together in praise of the German, though, after he delivered a ruthless display against Manchester United.

It took him five minutes to start the rout, hitting the right byline and crossing low for Alexis Sanchez’s opener. A minute later, he found the net himself, curling home after great work from Theo Walcott.

He was withdrawn in the second half to a standing ovation after putting on a clinic in masterful, precision passing. Often it’s Ozil’s performances in the “big” games that are questioned; here, there will be no murmurs of discontent.

Loser: Daley Blind, Manchester United

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Daley Blind had a rough day, no two ways about it. He and Chris Smalling were left wide-open due to a complete lack of midfield cover, but even still, he failed when addressing the danger himself.

His tackles were timid or late, and with Alexis Sanchez bringing the sort of intensity and speed to the play every fan wants to see, Blind was always a step behind.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal’s experiment with Blind in central defence has delivered mixed results, with four good showings and four iffy ones from eight Premier League games. When you think of a title-challenging defensive line, you think of consistency, and right now the Dutchman isn’t providing it.

Winner: Arsene Wenger, Arsenal

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Gunners boss Arsene Wenger faces constant questioning over his ability to contest the “big” games himself, with his record against fellow top-four clubs leaving something to be desired. Indeed, the Gunners have been humbled by Manchester United several times in the recent past—most notably by an 8-2 scoreline in 2011.

But this was a wholly different day for the Frenchman, who will take a well-deserved sip of red wine later and allow himself a smirk over what’s occurred. Arsenal were snappy, aggressive and dominant from the off, banishing the fresh wounds of yet another midweek European failure and setting the tone for an impressive win.

Wenger went with the expected XI and set his team up perfectly, motivated them to start fast and watched as his creators tore United apart. He’s allowed himself room to breathe with this result.

Loser: Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United

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Louis van Gaal caused a few raised eyebrows with his initial team selection: Ashley Young at left-back, Bastian Schweinsteiger over Morgan Schneiderlin in midfield and Wayne Rooney anywhere on the pitch at all.

Leaving Schneiderlin out in particular seriously cost Manchester United—the midfield were all at sea from minute one, surrendering territory and allowing Arsenal to slice through them at will—and before anything could be done about it, the visitors were two down.

Van Gaal is to blame, first and foremost. The XI was wrong, the approach was wrong and the changes (made at half-time) were 35 minutes too late.

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