Arsenal 2-0 Man United

Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

Emirates Stadium (60,422)

Goal Scorers:

Messi (11) (35 Pen)

MOTM: Messi (2 Goals)

Arsenal were firing from all cannons tonight tasked with a difficult home tie against top quality opponents in Manchester United. Arsenal and Man United are two of the biggest heavy weights in English football and have had many great encounters in the past. Arsenal headed into this fixture with 2 wins out of 3 against United from the previous season. Ben Clifford v Kev Wright II promised to deliver and with such a fixture so early on in the season many will draw opinions on the out come.

The pressure was on both managers in the build up to the game a slow start to the season deemed unacceptable in the eyes of many, arguably more pressure was placed at the feet of the United boss who suffered from a slow start last season. Both sides have improved since there last encounter. Arsenal signing Messi, Kroos and Mbappe to name a few, while United signed the likes of VERRATTI and RABIOT.

First Half

Such as big game so early on in the season was bound to bring with it nerves, both United and Arsenal feeling each other out for the first few minutes of the game. To the surprise of many United went in 4-3-3 yet looked to have a defensive mentality, backwards and side wards passing failing to produced anything of note.

The first 10 minutes passed with little to offer, fans perhaps thinking this would be a classic 0-0 stalemate quickly proved wrong. Arsenal worked a nice attack leading out to a corner, playmaker Eriksen, praised for his recent form, whipped in a delightful ball into the box. The stage was set for none other then Lionel Messi. Messi, catching the ball just before it would touch the ground, the laces on his left boot striking through the ball leaving Spanish keeper De Gea grasping at thin air. 1-0

Alex Sandro, a former Gunner let go, was making his return to Arsenal and impressed, threading a lovely through ball into the path of Harry Kane. New Arsenal shot stopper Lloris making the save. The first of many chances missed by the man United are dependent on.

United's defensive display looked sloppy at times, the combination of Eriksen, Mbappe and Messi proving a handful. 10 minutes before half time Arsenal doubled their lead. A foul in the box leading to a penalty, step up Messi who made no mistake form 12 yards, a short run up sending De Gea the wrong way the crowed already in love with the Argentinian magician. 2-0.

Arsenal looked relaxed at this point and needed to go into half time with little to no errors being made. However the stadium was left holding its breath in the 44th as a blatant shirt pull in the box from Azpilicueta lead to a penalty for United. Kane, United's main man, stepped up but unlike counterpart Messi hit the ball high sailing over the bar. A big chance missed and a huge let of for Arsenal.

Second half

The second half started as the first had finished, Eriksen dictating the play, Mbappe who has impressed new manager Clifford, failing to get the right power on the resulting shot De Gea happy to have his hands not picking the ball out the net.

Aurier starting at right back for the rumoured departing Kyle Walker, lived up to his bad boy reputation. Needlessly elbowing Paul Pogba whilst challenging for the ball, replays later showing the elbow to look deliberate. Arsenal down to 10 with little less then 30 minutes to play United now in with a sniff.

United, to there credit, attacked more as the game entered the later stages but it always looked unlikely they would score the 3 goals needed for the 3 points. Harry Kane missing a host of chances, manager Kev Wright growing frustrated from the side lines. Arsenal by now had adopted a aggressive defensive style of football happy with the lead they had. A couple of yellow cards followed.,

Paul Pogba was given a chance of clawing one back be it late on in the 89th minute. Club

captain Toni Kroos, who was cheered with every touch of the ball, giving away a cheap free kick just on the 18 yard line. Pogba's swerving effort had the wall beat and looked to have Lloris beat with a fantastic strike, the French goalkeeper preventing his international team mate however with a equally impressive save.

Full Time 2-0

Manchester United manager Kev Wright -

"I'm very disappointed with the result, obviously. We came here with a plan to catch them on the counter attack and managed to do that if the first half, but Messi was the difference.

"Being 2 down at half time we went at Arsenal and also managed to limit their attacking opportunities. Our creative play was excellent, but unfortunately our attackers seemed to be having a competition to see who could miss the biggest sitter. We missed a penalty too. It's not good enough and our forwards have all been asked to come in to training early tomorrow morning. There will be a big change soon if they don't learn how to hit a barn door with a banjo"

On Kane's shocking performance in front of goal - "That was our chance to get back in the game and get up shoulders lifted and the momentum with us. He needs to be converting that, as well as several other chances. It's not good enough as it stands"

Arsenal manager Ben Clifford -

"A excellent win tonight and more importantly a good team effort. For sure Messi impressed and will grab the headlines, but the service to him at times tonight was fantastic. Eriksen has really stepped up this season in the friendly's and now in the season proper. Mbappe we thought may need time adjusting to our style coming from West Ham but his settled in well, currently keeping Sane and Asensio out the side.

"Messi was brought in to score the goals as I said in his unveiling, he delivered, this team feels much different to the one I started last season with. The environment, the will to win everything with everyone seems to be pulling us all in the right direction. We face a strong Newcastle side next who have beaten United and tonight gotten a excellent result to Chelsea, they're new boys in Division 1 but we'll treat them with the respect they have earned so far."