Wayne Rooney: We were incredible
Manchester United scored an incredible eight goals against Arsenal at Old Trafford to go top of the Premier League.
Danny Welbeck started the rout before goals from Ashley Young (two), Wayne Rooney (three), Nani and Ji-sung Park piled on the misery for the Gunners.
It was not all one way traffic, with David de Gea saving Robin van Persie's penalty with the score at 1-0, while Theo Walcott and Van Persie did find the target for the visitors.
Carl Jenkinson was sent off late on for a second yellow card. The only negative on the day was Welbeck's early withdrawal with what looked like a hamstring strain.
Revamped
Sir Alex Ferguson's revamped Champions were afforded a second run out after the 3-0 swamping of Spurs last Monday.
The real measure of the new-look Reds was on the bench where the strength of the seven was far superior to that of Arsenal and of Fergie’s subs five of them started the Champions League at Wembley against Barcelona.
But why would you alter this side unless you are forced to?
They repaid the faith with a first 45 minute performance, barring a couple of blips, that shouted, ‘Don’t even consider resting us.’
Welbeck’s impressive start to the season sadly turned from triumph to tragedy when he was forced off with a hamstring injury after 34 minutes.
But not before the Mancunian, who opened the scoring last Monday against Tottenham, had shown the value of giving your own products their heads.
Arsenal’s defence is the root of much of the Wenger critics ire and their decidedly hesitant efforts to clear Anderson cheeky dink over the top was seized upon by the lively Welbeck. The striker was more pro-active than Laurent Koscielny as he got his head in to guide the ball over keeper Szczesny.
De Gea might finally want to have the English papers translated for him as the Spaniard brilliantly halted a possible Arsenal comeback.
The new Reds number one has invited some stick with an uncomfortable start to his Old Trafford career for those waiting to pounce. A successful central role in a pivotal moment was just what the 20-year-old needed to lift his spirits.
A clumsy Jonny Evans challenge on Theo Walcott presented de Gea with his opportunity for redemption.
Turning point
His spot kick save from Van Persie should be a turning point for him.
It certainly effectively shut the door on any hopes this fragile Arsenal side had of making a contest of this showpiece.
A minute later it was another of United’s close season investments Young who further emphasised the worth of spending some cash.
His superb curling shot poured salt in the Gunner’s penalty miss wounds.
Rooney continued his goal-a-game start to the campaign with a wonderful free kick after 41 minutes before United allowed their concentration to drift and Walcott the chance to drill in some compensation.
Would the pre-interval injury time goal rock the Reds? Not a bit of it. They were even more supreme in the second period.
Maybe they realised that it was going to take a goal avalanche to ensure neighbours City wouldn’t steal all the national headlines.
The country was set to slaver over the Blues’ White Hart Lane demolition but this was total annihilation that demanded the spotlight.
It was the first time Arsenal had conceded eight goals since 1896 when Loughborough thumped them in the Second Division. United could have inflicted their heaviest ever loss they were so rampant.
Apart from Van Persie slamming in a 74th minute goal it was marvellous one-way traffic and more than one match ball could have been needed to recognise individual achievements.
Rooney got it on his own after a carbon copy second free kick beat Szczesny even though he knew exactly what was coming in the 64thn minute.
Nani cheekily chipped in a fifth, substitute Ji-Sung Park crashed in a sixth and then as the Gunner’s reached desperation point Jenkinson was red carded for a second yellow and Rooney slammed in his hat trick. Young produced another sensational curling shot to complete the riot as United’s players vied for best goal of the game competition.
And from the noisy neighbors
Four-goal hero Edin Dzeko believes there is much more to come from Manchester City after the Blues hammered Tottenham 5-1 at White Hart Lane.
The former Wolfsburg striker was rampant as he and debutant Samir Nasri helped put Spurs to the sword with a ruthless display of attacking football.
Nasri supplied the crosses for Dzeko to score his first two goals and he also played his part in the run up to Sergio Aguero's strike, which made it 4-0 with half an hour to go.
Younes Kaboul headed home a consolation goal for Tottenham, but the afternoon belonged to Dzeko, who clinched his hat-trick with the last kick of the match.
"I think the last time I scored four was for Wolfsburg in Germany," the Bosnia-Herzegovina international said on ESPN.
"Today was something special for me, to score four goals in the Premier League is fantastic.
"I think we're getting better and better. I hope we can improve in the next game and try to win every game."
Nasri added: "This is a tough place to win. I had a good game but the most important thing is we won 5-1 and sent out a signal to other clubs.
"This is just start of the season, it's important to keep our confidence, but I'm convinced we have a great team here and can win things."
