Arsenal – Manchester United

1. Afternoon all and welcome to live coverage of Arsenal versus Manchester United from the Emirates.

2. It's a huge game, as it tends to be when these two giants meet. The race is on to keep pace with Chelsea, who opened up a four point gap on United, and a five point gap on Arsenal, after their win at Burnley yesterday.

3. Let's get to the team news right away, starting with the visitors. Wes Brown is in for the suspended Rio Ferdinand, Ji-Sung Park replaces Ryan Giggs and Nani keeps his place.

4. Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Jonathan Evans, Brown, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Rooney, Park. Subs: Kuszczak, Owen, Berbatov, Giggs, Valencia, Gibson, De Laet.

5. For Arsenal, Thomas Vermaelen is fit just days after he left Villa Park on crutches. Alex Song is back from the African Nations Cup, while Samir Nasri and Tomas Rosicky both start.

6. Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas, Song Billong, Denilson, Nasri, Arshavin, Rosicky. Subs: Fabianski, Walcott, Ramsey, Silvestre, Eboue, Traore, Bendtner.

7. Nemanja Vidic was on the bench during the week for Man Utd but Fergie has confirmed he suffered a setback and training and hasn't travelled with the squad to London.

8. We're all set...

9. 1'

   Kick off..

10. 2'

    Two early half breaks from Arsenal as Song nearly finds Arshavin in behind Brown, then Fabregas looks for Rosicky but both are cut out.

11. 3'

    Nain's first glimpse of the ball is thwarted by a combination of Song and Clichy, then Fabregas releases Arshavin. He cuts inside but his shot is weak and well wide of the far post.

12. 4'

    Nasri gets down the left but his cross is poor, and there was a lack of numbers in the box anyway.

13. 5'

    United's first flulrry of the game as Rooney crosses looking for Park but Gallas is there, then Evra fouls Sagna.

14. 6'

    Neat move from Arsenal but Arshavin's first time ball wide for Clichy lacked the pace or the direction.

15. 7'

    Great break down the left from United as Fletcher drives to the byline and crosses but Gallas was in the right place to prevent Rooney getting on the end of it.

16. 8'

    Nani piches Clichy for pace and gets to the exact same spot as Fletcher was just in. His ball is better, and Gallas can only deflect the ball before Song hacks behind for a corner.

17. 9'

    Now Arsenal clear off the line! It was actually Nasri who hacked clear as Denilson misjudged a header.

18. 10'

    Having just seen a replay of that Nani cross, it was actually Rooney who got it clear rather than Gallas. He just got his feet wrong.

19. 11'

    Neat interplay from Arsenal until the final ball as Rosicky can't collect Denilson's fizzing pass.

20. 13'

    What a superb run from Arshavin. He rounds Brown easily and then cuts back inside him and goes for the far post but it's straight rather than a curler and flashes wide of the upright.

21. 14'

    Poor defending from Brown there. He initially backed off Arshavin, then got done for pace.

22. 15'

    Nasri finds a pocket of spce just outside the box but drags his effort well wide.

23. 16'

    Song goes in heavily on Nani, who immediately eats turf. Looks like he's going to get a yellow card. Very harsh that.

24. 17'

    Song did stand on Nani's foot, but won the ball before that. It was a 50/50 though, so in my opinion Chris Foy has got that one wrong.

25. 18'

    Now Brown goes in strongly, but fairly on Arshavin and the game is getting a little spicy all of a sudden.

26. 19'

    Fabregas swings in a free kick after Arshavin was fouled but Gallas can't meet it before Van der Sar claims.

27. 20'

    Great steal from Song and Arsenal break, Arshavin gets inside Brown but horribly slices his shot. It falls to Fabregas but he isn't expecting it and miscontrols it through to Van der Sar.

28. 21'

    Fabregas wins a free kick from Evra with some quick feet. Good decision. The award is wide left.

29. 22'

    Another slick Arsenal attack ends with a low ball into the box from Sagna but Nasri chooses to stepover it when there was no-one behind him.

30. 24'

    Ridiculous effort from Gallas as he got the ball 35 yards out. Nasri's dummy a minute ago was inexplicable. He was in space when the cross came to him about 14 yards out.

31. 25'

    United launch their first attack for a while but Park's cross was anticipated by Gallas. Then Scholes got into the box but Gallas was there again.

32. 26'

    Then Carrick finds a ball into the area and Rooney can only just flick it towards goal from wide of the six yard box. Almunia gets across to save.

33. 27'

    Nani collected Rafael's cross in the area and has a pop on goal but he was wide and hi shot ended up wide.

34. 28'

    It's a cracking game to watch. Choc full of quality.

35. 29'

    Carrick finds Nani again inside the box and he is about to unleash a shot before Vermaelen gets across and blocks it.

36. 30'

    Great play from Song who ghosts past Scholes and then dives in to win a 50/50 after his ball for Fabregas was blocked.

37. 31'

    Arshavin gets one-on-one with Brown again and whips in a cross but it is behind Fabregas and Rosicky. The Russian's been a bit wayward in the opening half hour.

38. 32'

    GOAL! United score!

39. 32'

    What a run from Nani! He was out wide on the right and bamboozled two players with a back heel, then drifted past Denilson and stood the ball up to the back post and it is actually Almunia who has knocked it into his own net.

40. 33'

    Excellent football from Nani. He has been playing exceptionally well of late and we are finally starting to see what he's got in his locker.

41. 34'

    Park was looming large at the back post to touch it in but Almunia's full-stretch touch actually diverted the ball towards goal rather than away from it.

42. 35'

    Arsenal cross twice when Arshavin is the only player in the box but Rafael turns the second one behind for a corner.

43. 37'

    GOAL! Rooney!

44. 37'

    What a break! United clear a corner, Rooney feeds Nani down the right, he drives on then finds Rooney charging into the area and he lashes it into the bottom corner past Almunia. Brilliant, brilliant goal.

45. 38'

    What a chance to pull one back for Arsenal. Scholes gives the ball away and Arshavin is in, he has a massive gap to aim for as Van der Sar comes out but hits it wide. The story of his half so far.

46. 39'

    The Emirates is as deathly quiet as it was back in the Champions League semi-final last year.

47. 40'

    Nani has a great chance to grab the goal that his first half performance deserves but as Rooney's cross comes over and Scholes lays-off to him he sidefoots wide.

48. 41'

    Fabregas tries to get something started on the edge of the box but the stuffing has gone out of Arsenal now. They need half time to regroup.

49. 42'

    Nasri wins a corner from Fletcher and Arsenal are desperate for a lifeline.

50. 43'

    They won't get it like that as Nasri's corner is easily claimed by Van der Sar.

51. 44'

    Van der Sar is hobbling after he was caught by Arshavin. Actually, the 'keeper kicked the striker with his follow through after clearing the ball. No card produced.

52. 45'

    Carrick has a go on the volley after Vermaelen clears Rafael's cross. Two added minutes..

53. 45'

    Neat link up between Song and Fabregas on the edge of the box and the ball breaks kindly after Rooney tries to tackle but Song's eventual effort is well wide. That's half time.

54. 46'

    We begin again...

55. 47'

    Clichy gets down the left as Arsenal look for an immediate reply but his cross is met by VDS.

56. 48'

    United respond as Scholes picks up the ball outside the box. He squeezes it through to Rooney who gets clattered on the knee by Vermaalen. He looks in pain.

57. 49'

    Wes Brown does well to dispossess Fabregas as he burst into United's half and then as Nani feeds the freshly returned Rooney he has a pop from the left of the area and nearly catches Almunia off his line.

58. 52'

    GOAL! Park!

59. 52'

    We are watching the disintegration of Arsenal's title bid here. They have been ripped apart by United. Two passes put Park clean through, he has plenty of support but doesn't need them as he slots it underneath Almunia and puts the game to bed.

60. 54'

    Fabregas is bored of waiting for inspiration from his team-mates but he lets fly from 20 yards out and watches as his effort flashes just over the bar.

61. 55'

    The United fans are lapping it up in the corner as you'd expect. Arsenal have been woeful at the back, and Clichy waited an age before he went across to deal with Park. He left it too late and Park slammed the ball home.

62. 56'

    Another half decent move from Arsenal as Gallas comes forward but Fabregas' eventual shot lacks pace and Van der Sar can grab it low down to his right.

63. 57'

    Another raft of possession ends with a shot from distance but Song's curler is right at United's 'keeper.

64. 58'

    Evra whips the crowd up after a good burst down the left. He wins a corner off Sagna.

65. 60'

    Good effort from Song as Arshavin hooks a cross in. He finds space enough to take the ball down on his chest and get a shot off. It was a good yard wide of the post but Van der Sar didn't move.

66. 61'

    Arsenal change: Theo Walcott on for Denilson.

67. 62'

    That change will allow Fabregas to play further up the field and that's where he gets the ball now. He tries to play Walcott in behind Evra but overhits it.

68. 63'

    Walcott gets involved down the right but is rather fortunate to win a corner, Arsenal work it to the Fab but his left-footed shot is high and wide.

69. 65'

    This game is dying a death. Us neutrals need an Arsenal goal to liven things up.

70. 67'

    Scholes shows he still hasn't mastered the art of tackling by hacking at Arshavin.

71. 69'

    Rooney gets away down the left and turns in a cross with his left foot but it sails wide of the far post.

72. 70'

    A vital challenge from Clichy as United break from Arsenal's corner. Rooney tries to find Nani but the left back slides in right at the last.

73. 71'

    Changes: Scholes off and Giggs on for United. Eboue and Bendtner for Rosicky and Sagna for Arsenal.

74. 72'

    Giggs' first touch is a horrible piece of control on the edge of the area as Rooney fed him.

75. 73'

    Fabregas sums up Arsenal's malaise with a poor corner that Evra can clear at the near post.

76. 75'

    Rooney mugs Eboue not once but twice. He puts him on his arse first with a nice change of direction, then cuts inside as the defender catches up with him but flashes his shot wide of the post.

77. 76'

    Clichy whips in a cross to the newly installed Bendtner but he tries to score with a glancing header from 16 yards out. Ambitious to say the least.

78. 77'

    Fabregas has given up here. Again he wastes possession when he had plenty of options. He must be gutted. I bet he'll instruct his agent to get onto the blower to Barcelona the second the game has finished.

79. 78'

    The game is dawdling to a conclusion. At times like this the ref should be able to end the game early, like in boxing.

80. 80'

    GOAL! Vermaelen!

81. 80'

    Vermaelen has a go with a flying volley from the edge of the area and it brushes off Brown and into the net.

82. 81'

    Another Arsenal goal in the next five minutes and I might wake up from this deep slumber.

83. 82'

    Nice run from Arshavin as he finally comes to life and wins a corner.

84. 82'

    Walcott gets a free header but his effort is far too tame.

85. 83'

    Such a weak header from Walcott. He was ten yards from goal and unmarked but he headed it like an eight-year-old school boy in the playground who is afraid of the ball.

86. 84'

    What a let off for Almunia! He spews out a ridiculous pass right to Nani and only a back-tracking Gallas prevents a fourth.

87. 85'

    Arshavin skips round Rafael but the Brazilian gets back to stop the cross and concede a corner. From it Vermaelen gets a free header but it is hacked away by Brown.

88. 86'

    Nani gets free down the right as Arsenal leave gaping holes at the back. He crosses and Giggs shoves Vermaelen in the back but amazingly, the ref awards a corner.

89. 87'

    Park goes off after a good shift and Valencia comes on.

90. 89'

    Arshavin's shot is half blocked and comes to Bendtner but he is crowded out inside the area. Here comes Berbatov, for the excellent Nani.

91. 90'

    Last chance saloon for Arsenal as Evans' header pops up to Gallas on the six yard box. Van der Sar comes out, and all it needs is a help on header but he nods wide. Five added minutes...

92. 91'

    Arshavin has had a miserable afternoon. He loses the ball and then fouled Valencia. Had the Russian taken some of the chances he had early on, or picked the right pass, this afternoon could have been very different.

93. 93'

    What has happened to Walcott? He runs on to the ball at pace and has decent space down the left but turns in a woeful cross.

94. 94'

    What a miss! United break and have three on three. Rooney feeds in Valencia, he rolls it across the face for Berbatov and as the ball spins to Rooney, he fires wide from the penalty spot.

95. 95'

    Game over. A throughly convincing performance from Manchester United and an emphatic victory. Arsenal's title chase is over again, barring some miraculous run of form. Rooney, Scholes, Nani and Park were excellent and United go one point behind the leaders Chelsea.

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