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The Gunners blitzed through the opening minutes leaving the United backline stunned with three quick-fire goals. Sanchez capped off a sublime flick in the 6th minute to give Arsenal the lead. Ozil added a second just a minute later after his side-footed effort found the bottom corner.
While United were finding it difficult to put a string of passes together, Arsenal were rampant on the break, terrorizing the United fullbacks. And inside twenty minutes, the final nail on the coffin was hammered on by Sanchez after his sensational strike from distance comprehensively beat David de Gea, taking the roof off the Emirates.
United enjoyed the majority of the possession but couldn’t find consistency with the rhythm of their play, often resorting to pallid pragmatism rather than scintillating flair.
Here are the player ratings from the game:
Arsenal
Petr Cech – 7
Assured and composed, it was an excellent outing from the former Chelsea man after missing the midweek fixture against Olympiacos. Made a wonderful save with his left leg to deny Anthony Martial just before half-time. Did well to deny Bastian Schweinsteiger in the second half. The Czech’s return made a perceptible change in the Arsenal back-line.
Hector Bellerin - 7
Kept Memphis Depay in his pocket throughout the Dutchman’s time on the pitch, forcing United manager Louis van Gaal to take his charge off the pitch at the stroke of half-time. Worked hard to help in attack. Good game from the young Spaniard.
Per Mertesacker – 6.5
Cultured and solid at the back, the big German made a happy return to the Arsenal back line. Looked nervous coming up against Martial’s pace and footwork on a couple of occasions but did well to ensure a clean sheet.
Gabriel – 7
One of the first names on the Arsenal team sheets these days, Gabriel played yet another aggressive, yet assured performance game at the back. Made a few crucial headed clearances out of the d-box and together with Mertesacker, kept a hungry Martial in check.
Nacho Monreal – 6.5
Fantastic positional play from the Spaniard. Frustrated his compatriot Juan Mata with his tactical awareness and stopped Matteo Darmian from making overlapping runs.
Francis Coquelin – 7
The 24-year-old protected the Arsenal back line admirably. Up against a not so mobile United midfield, the Frenchman played a much more disciplined game. Did well to deny Wayne Rooney or Juan Mata any space to channel their attack from the middle.
Santi Cazorla – 7
Worked hard and tirelessly alongside Coquelin to deny Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger any space in the middle. Controlled the tempo of the game very well and always looked to play quick forward passes. Read the game well.
Aaron Ramsey – 6
The Welshman appears to be recuperating his lost form after producing a good performance full of energy and enthusiasm. Missed a great opportunity to get on the score sheet after volleying the ball over the crossbar from close range.
Mesut Ozil – 8.5
Ozil quite possibly played one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt. Supplied the assist for Sanchez to open the scoring. Got on the scoresheet himself after side-footing the ball towards the bottom corner of the goal.
Alexis Sanchez – 9
Man of the match performance from the Chilean. Was instrumental in each and every one of Arsenal’s attacks in the first half. Opened the scoring with a sublime flick. Added a second with a thunderous strike past De Gea. Forced Darmian to be benched.
Theo Walcott – 7
Easily one of the best players on the pitch in the first half. Stretched the United back line with his pace and looked all the more dangerous running at them. Provided the assist for Ozil’s goal. Was deservedly given a standing ovation by the Emirates crowd.
Substitutes
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6
Came on for Mesut Ozil in the 74th minute. Had too little time to significantly affect the course of the game.
Olivier Giroud – 5.5
Like Oxlade-Chamberlain, he had too little time on the pitch. Missed a decent opportunity to make it 4-0 to Arsenal after his weak effort was straight at De Gea.
Kieran Gibbs – N/A
Came on for Alexis Sanchez in the 81st minute.
Manchester United
David de Gea – 6
Could have done better to cover his near post for Sanchez’s opener but the Spaniard could not have possibly done anything to prevent Arsenal from adding an additional two.
Matteo Darmian – 4
After making a bright start to his life in English football, the Italian faced a reality check against a rampant Alexis Sanchez who torn him to pieces in the first half. Was replaced by Antonio Valencia for the second half.
Chris Smalling – 6
Not United’s worst player but struggled to cope with the pace and swiftness of Arsenal’s attacks.
Daley Blind – 5
Poor positional play from the versatile Dutchman after a string of consistent runs at the centre back position. Was not able to take command at the back and struggled to cope with Walcott’s pace.
Ashley Young – 5.5
Deserves credit for trying but he is no full-back. Like Blind, he lacked positional sense at times. But did well to keep Aaron Ramsey quiet for most parts of the game.
Michael Carrick - 5
Was overrun by Arsenal’s midfield. Struggled with the movements of Cazorla, Coquelin and Ozil.
Bastian Schweinsteiger – 5
Looked haggard, unfit and terribly off the pace. Along with Carrick, formed a very stagnant and limited United midfield that failed to register its dominance on the pitch, often getting overrun by their opposite numbers.
Juan Mata – 5.5
The Spaniard’s run of consistently good performances finally came to an end as he failed to get the better of Monreal and struggled to find any room to breathe with Arsenal’s intense pressing game.
Memphis Depay – 4
Mere pedestrian as the game passed him by. Failed to outsmart Bellerin. Did nothing to track back and help in defence. Quite possibly United’s worst player on the pitch. Was benched for the second half.
Wayne Rooney – 5
Sloppy passing, dodgy positioning and unimaginative vision – the poor run continues for United’s captain who failed to impact the game in any capacity.
Anthony Martial – 6
The young Frenchman showed glimpses of what he is capable of. His immaculate twist, turn and shot was saved wonderfully by Cech in the first half. Unfortunately, that was the closest United came to scoring all game.
Substitutes
Antonio Valencia – 5.5
Came on for Matteo Darmian for the second half. Did not do worse than the Italian but offered little to nothing in attack.
Marouane Fellaini – 5.5
Came on for Memphis Depay for the second half. Added a presence in midfield for United but could not do anything to turn the game around.
James Wilson – N/A
Came on for Juan Mata in the 82nd minute.
