ARSENAL 3, MANCHESTER UNITED 0
Arsenal score three times in 20 minutes
Alexis Sanchez scores twice, either side of a Mesut Ozil strike
“Worst performance” under Louis van Gaal as United outplayed
Arsenal leapfrog United who fall to third in the Premier League table
Arsenal shrugged off their midweek Champions League disappointment with a demolition job against Manchester United that saw Alexis Sanchez score either side of Mesut Ozil without reply and all within the first 20 minutes.
The Gunners supplemented their early goals with renewed levels of motivation and work rate which forced Van Gaal to make changes at half time to little effect.
Louis Van Gaal accepted that this was the worst game United had played with him as boss.
He said: “It was a very bad start of us without aggression, the will to win. It was the first time I have seen it of my team, I didn’t expect it.
“Arsenal was much better, and more aggressive than we were. When you start like that you can’t win the game.
“We lost every duel, every second ball; we were not tight on their midfielders – and they can play – they are a fantastic team.
“When you give them that space, then it’s difficult and after five minutes it was already 2-0 and it’s more difficult.”
United were actually 2-0 down within seven minutes when Mesut Ozil’s cross found Alexis Sanchez who backheeled the ball past David De Gea after six minutes.
Barely 75 seconds had passed before Ozil turned goalscorer with a neat finish at the end of a flowing Gunners move following Theo Walcott’s unselfish pass.
United were still reeling when they found themselves 3-0 down inside 20 minutes for the first time in Premier League history.
Walcott was the provider again as Sanchez twisted the knife with a fine strike to beat De Gea after burning past Matteo Darmian.
Aaron Ramsey blazed over with just De Gea to beat as United’s defence were run ragged.
Anthony Martial could have reduced arrears just before half time but Cech made a great save from the French striker.
Van Gaal made changes at half time, removing Darmian for Antonio Valencia while United’s forward line was adjusted with Marouane Fellaini coming on for Depay.
United did rally in the second half but were thwarted by Cech who produced a great save to deny Wayne Rooney on the hour, while eight minutes later he smothered a chance from Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The game was long over and the Gunners could have been a deserved 4-0 to the good before the end but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s chip came back off the bar.