Premier League round-up: Nasri stuns United

November 09, 2008 • 0 • min read

Table of Contents

Arsenal

2 - 1

Man United

Samir Nasri 22

Rafael Da Silva 90

Samir Nasri 48

Arsenal, who had a three-match winless streak in all competitions, produced their best performance of the season to see off rivals Manchester United 2-1 at Emirates Stadium.

The match was end-to-end from start to finish and it was a contest neither side deserved to lose.

The Gunners broke the deadlock after 22 minutes when Dimitar Berbatov could only clear Cesc Fàbregas free-kick out to Samir Nasrion the edge of the box and the French youngster unleashed a powerful drive deflected off Gary Neville and flew past Edwin van der Sar.

Nasri, an offseason signing from Marseille, grabbed his second three minutes after the restart as Arsenal strung together 15 passes to rip through United, and Nasri completed the move after receiving the ball from Fàbregas to shoot beyond van der Sar into the top corner.

Brazilian youngster Rafael Da Silva, who replaced Neville on 63 minutes, grabbed a late consolation for United with a terrific volley.

However, with Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo finding the target elusive, United were unable to find a leveler despite six minutes of added time.

"We could have been four up before they scored," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "You hope to do better than that in big games, but it will come. We are making chances, that is the main thing.

"It was fantasy football, it was like playground stuff - you attack, we attack - and they got the goals that mattered."

Elsewhere in Premier League on Saturday:

Wigan