Alexis Sánchez’s explosive start fires Arsenal above Manchester United
If we are going to be picky and try to find one lingering complaint about the way Arsenal handed Manchester United this sobering reality check, it can be only that Arsène Wenger’s team should remind us of their brilliance more often. They chose a good time to produce their most exhilarating football this season and when Arsenal play this stylishly it just makes it all the more bewildering that they can exasperate so often and that considerable numbers of their supporters think the manager should be cut free.
A team that were on their knees after the ordeal against Olympiakos last week delivered what Gary Neville once described as a “put-your-pens-down” kind of performance. At the same time, Arsenal turned down the volume on the fans who have been making the most noise about Wenger. In the Premier League years, no side has ever taken a 3-0 lead against United with such devastating speed. Arsenal managed it in a 20-minute blur of one-touch speed, penetration and movement when Alexis Sánchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Özil seemed to take turns tormenting their opponents.
Those three played in a way that made it feel as though they were immune to the pressures of the past week and Wenger must be congratulated for the way his players seemed free of any self-doubt. Sánchez’s improvisational brilliance to open the scoring was reminiscent of the airborne flick with which Gianfranco Zola once famously scored for Chelsea, darting to the far post and connecting with the instep of his trailing boot.
His flick in the build-up to Arsenal’s second goal was not too shabby either and the ovation for Walcott and Özil when they were substituted late in the match told its own story. Sánchez followed shortly afterwards and in those moments Wenger stood on the touchline and joined in the applause.
Louis van Gaal, in stark contrast, was so disturbed by his team’s inaction he removed two of his summer signings, Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian, at half-time. United’s manager also shunted Wayne Rooney out to the left for the second half in what could easily be perceived as the first clear sign of dissatisfaction with his captain’s diminished form. Marouane Fellaini was brought on to take the attacking role just behind Anthony Martial and, though there was an improvement, it never left even a remote sense a comeback might be plausible.
Instead, Arsenal had enough of a lead to operate with restraint and try to pick off their opponents on the counterattack. They had set off like a team in a hurry and when they attack with this kind of fluency it is a reminder of everything that is attractive about Wenger’s ethos. Van Gaal’s oft-mentioned philosophy was made to look bland and colourless in comparison. No team can expect to defend this generously and get away with it. They were outworked as well as outpassed and the impression it left was United’s recent ascent to the peaks of the Premier League was deceptive in the extreme.
This was the first time they had encountered a top-four team and Van Gaal was as critical afterwards as any time as United manager, complaining there was “no aggression” and “no will to win”. The third goal was a case in point. Sánchez beat Darmian far too easily and the punishment for Juan Mata and Michael Carrick standing off was considerable. It needs something special to beat David de Gea from 25 yards and Sánchez, United’s tormentor-in-chief, duly provided it with a shot that was still rising as it flew into the top corner.
United’s lethargy was almost bewildering given the potential early on for exploring whether their opponents might be of fragile mind. At one point Walcott chased back into midfield, dispossessing Bastian Schweinsteiger with a sliding tackle, and was then quickest to his feet to win the second challenge. Schweinsteiger might have a quick football brain but these are the occasions when his legs cannot keep up. Later, Walcott did something similar to the maladroit Rooney. Arsenal were quicker and sharper in everything.
Even before scoring, they should have been awarded a penalty for Schweinsteiger grappling Gabriel to the floor and, before half-time, Sánchez’s perfectly weighted cross deserved a better finish than Aaron Ramsey managed when the Welshman had the chance to make it four. Martial’s neat spin and shot was thwarted by a sprawling Petr Cech save just before the interval but Rooney’s decline was evident again, Ashley Young was just as vulnerable as Darmian in defence and Depay can have few complaints about his early withdrawal.
Sánchez’s first goal arrived after four minutes via Özil’s cutback and the replays on the big screen sent a second wave of appreciation around the stadium from those supporters who had not quite fathomed the fancy footwork on the first viewing. Sánchez pulled it off with the expertise of a man at the peak of his profession and it was another delicate touch that caught out United three minutes later. Sánchez’s flick left Walcott running at Darmian and Özil was waiting for the pass, side-footing a precise shot past De Gea from close to the penalty spot.
United had not been three goals down this quickly since the opening day of the 1995-96 season at Aston Villa, when the goals all came in the first 37 minutes and Alan Hansen came out with his immortal line that you win nothing with kids. Twenty years on, it was almost a surprise Arsenal did not add more goals, the substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming the closest in stoppage time with a shot off the crossbar.
Arsenal had shown all their best traits and, just as pleasingly for Wenger, withheld all the worst ones.
Man of the match Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
Arsenal stunned Manchester United with three goals in the opening 20 minutes as the Gunners moved up to second in the Premier League table.
United had no answer to Arsenal's opening burst as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil scored twice in 74 seconds.
Sanchez added a third from 18 yards as the Gunners beat United for just the second time in 14 league meetings.
United improved after the break but Arsenal substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the crossbar late on.
Defeat leaves Louis van Gaal's side in third place, behind Arsenal on goal difference.
Wenger relieves the pressure
Arsenal's Champions League defeat at home to Olympiakos in midweek left them in danger of failing to reach the last 16 and manager Arsene Wenger in the face of heavy criticism.
Wenger was forced to defend his selection of goalkeeper David Ospina, describing recent criticism as "not analysis of football". He also called the press "boring".
But his side were anything but in an opening half which saw them tear Manchester United apart, almost at will.
With their first real attack Sanchez back-heeled in at the near post after good work from Aaron Ramsey and Ozil, and the Germany playmaker then added the second a minute later after Walcott ran at a struggling defence.
Sanchez shrugged Matteo Darmian aside to add his second with a brilliant 18-yard strike which brought up an unwanted record for the visitors, as they conceded three goals in the opening 20 minutes of a Premier League game for the first time.
And it should have been four just after the half-hour mark as Ramsey volleyed wide from close range when completely unmarked.
With the game won, Arsenal failed to repeat their attacking display in the second half until substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain chipped David de Gea and hit the crossbar in injury time.
The Gunners are now just two points behind leaders Manchester City going into a two-week international break which had the potential to be uncomfortable for their fans and for Wenger.
Did Van Gaal get team selection wrong?
Louis van Gaal may have spent over £250m since taking charge at Old Trafford, but he still appears to have glaring holes in his squad.
The decision to play winger Ashley Young at left-back, and the continuing selection of Daley Blind at centre-back, were both exposed by Arsenal's electric start.
Blind played most of his first season at United in a deep midfield role and a lack of pace and strength were both in evidence against Walcott and Sanchez.
Even Chris Smalling - who has been lauded for his early season form - was too slow to close down Sanchez as he bent in the third goal after easily outwitting Darmian.
In front of United's ragged back four, partnering Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield also proved an error.
Carrick, 34, and Schweinsteiger, 31, are both masters at keeping possession but in an opening 15 minutes in which Arsenal totally dominated the ball, their lack of pace against the counter-attack was exposed all too easily.
Morgan Schneiderlin - left on the bench - may have been a better option to break up play as Arsenal's Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin bossed the midfield.
The anonymous Memphis Depay and Darmian were hauled off at the break as Marouane Fellaini belatedly stiffened the centre and Wayne Rooney was moved out to the left wing.
The changes worked - as United had 72.5% of second-half possession - but they came far too late to affect the result.
The recalled Petr Cech - who made a good save to deny Anthony Martial just before half-time - saved well from Schweinsteiger late on, but United rarely threatened.
What a weekend for City
Manchester City started the weekend a point behind leaders United, and level on goal difference.
But Arsenal's opening burst, coupled with City's 6-1 thrashing of Newcastle, saw the men in blue open up a two-point lead at the top of the table, eight goals better off than United.
Man of the match: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
Manager reaction
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"We did not give them any chances to score and that was vital. We surprised them with our start.
"From Petr Cech to Theo Walcott we only had superb performances. I have managed many strong teams and never had one that played 60 games at the same level. You have to accept that we are human beings.
"I've been at the club for 19 years and I know what you want is a strong response in a big game when you have a big disappointment.
"We are in it, we are two points off the league leaders, Manchester City, so I hope that result today will give us belief to fight for it."
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal:
"It was a very bad start, without aggression and the will to win. That is the first time I have seen that from my team. I did not expect that.
"We have won our last four matches - I gave the players a day off because they were tired. On Saturday the training was normal, I was very amazed to see that.
"When you give a team like Arsenal so much space to play football, then you know that you shall lose.
"But all teams will have a dip."
What next?
Both sides have a fortnight off thanks to the upcoming international break. Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign at Watford on 17 October, while United face Everton at Goodison Park on the same date.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (4) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Arsenal
- 33 Cech
- 24 Bellerín
- 04 Mertesacker
- 05 Gabriel
- 18 Monreal
- 34 Coquelin Booked
- 19 Cazorla
- 16 Ramsey
- 11 Özil (Oxlade-Chamberlain - 75' )
- 17 Sánchez (Gibbs - 81' )
- 14 Walcott (Giroud - 75' )
Substitutes
- 02 Debuchy
- 03 Gibbs
- 12 Giroud
- 13 Ospina
- 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 21 Chambers
- 28 Campbell
Manchester United
- 01 de Gea
- 36 Darmian Booked (A Valencia - 45' )
- 12 Smalling
- 17 Blind
- 18 Young Booked
- 16 Carrick
- 31 Schweinsteiger
- 08 Mata (Wilson - 82' )
- 10 Rooney Booked
- 07 Depay (Fellaini - 45' )
- 09 Martial
Substitutes
- 04 Jones
- 19 Wilson
- 20 Romero
- 25 A Valencia
- 27 Fellaini
- 28 Schneiderlin
- 33 McNair
Ref: Anthony Taylor
Att: 60,084
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