[Zodiac]

United 2 Arsenal 1: Player ratings

August 29, 2009, MEN

Foster: Save with his legs just after half time from Van Persie was a critical moment 7

O’Shea: When Arshavin had his best moments it was a tough time for him 5

Brown: Commadning effort at the back was key when the Reds under immense pressure 8

Vidic: Not his most dominant and didn’t shut down Arshavin for goal 6

Evra: Another prominent defensive display from the Frenchman 7

Valencia: Never saw enough of ball to get going and unable to cause any damage 5

Carrick: Never got into it in first half and only came out on top when United got into lead 5

Fletcher: Was the lone worker in engine room in first half and effort was immense 8

Nani: A couple of decent moments and should have score late on 5

Giggs: Sadly a nightmare first half but credit for rescuing it 5

Rooney: Lone front man was a lonely task but stuck penalty away to boost Reds 6

Subs:

Park (sub Valencia 63) Busy cameo 5

Berbatov (sub Giggs 85) Dreadful late miss 4

Owen, Anderson, Scholes, Neville, Kuszczak

Arsenal: Almunia, Vermaelen, Gallas, Sagna, Clichy, Arshavin (Ramsey 81), Song, Eboue (Bendtner 71), Denilson, Sagna, Van Persie

Goals:

United: Rooney (59 pen) Diaby (own goal 64)

Arsenal: Arshavin (40)

Bookings:

United: Brown (62) Rooney (62)

Arsenal: Song (23) Gallas (32) Van Persie (45) Almunia (58) Eboue (71) Sagna (75)

Battle of the Bosses:

Fergie matched Wenger’s midfield in numbers but his players struggled to match it until late on

Referee: Mike Dean - Just about kept lid on it 5

Attendance: 75,059