..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus' Barzagli wary of Milito matchup

Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has admitted that he is not looking forward prospect of trying to keep Inter Milan striker Diego Milito quiet when the in-form squads meet on Saturday.

Andrea Stramaccioni's men have won their last eight games, with the Argentine finding the net on five occasions in 10 games this season, and the Italy international defender is aware of the task at hand.

"I am afraid of Diego Milito," Barzagli told Sky Sport Italia. "He is a complete striker, one of the strongest in Europe. He does not miss a thing."

Inter has climbed all the way to second place in Serie A and trails Juventus by just four points in the race for the Scudetto through 10 matches. Juventus' unbeaten streak in league play stands at 49 and will face perhaps its toughest threat in Turin this weekend, despite Barzagli playing down the significance of the match.

"Inter are a worthy threat," Barzagli said. "Stramaccioni is a good coach, and I think it is right that a young trainer with good ideas is getting a chance. I don't think the match can be considered a crucial one at this stage of the season. The Nerazzurrican definitely challenge for the title, but we are a group that believes in ourselves.

"We always try to keep our feet on the ground and for a lot of us it has been a tough start, what with the Champions League as well. Saying that, I hope that we can go on and dominate."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Zabaleta return set to ease Manchester City's injury crisis in defence

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has confirmed that he is fit and will be ready to be involved during this weekend's trip to West Ham.

Manager Roberto Mancini faced a defensive injury crisis ahead of the game at Upton Park, with Micah Richards, Maicon and Aleksandar Kolarov all confined to the treatment table, so the Argentina international's return will serve as a timely boost for the Italian manager's preparations.

"I feel good, I've been training with the team and I think I should be fine to play on Saturday," Zabaleta told the club's official website. "We have some problems in defense at the moment. We've had three fullbacks injured over the past few months, so it is great to be back with the team."

After Richards was ruled out for up to four months with a meniscus tear in his right knee, following his recovery from a hamstring injury of his own, Zabaleta had nothing but sympathy for his teammate.

"It's very disappointing for Micah. He's been injured from the start of the season, then he came back and was playing well, but now he has this knee injury," Zabaleta said. "This is a time when he has to be extra strong. Obviously it is difficult physically, but also mentally it is very tough when you are injured, you have to stay very strong."

When it comes to the team's title chances, though, Zabaleta remained positive that the side could defend their Premier League crown this season, despite strong competition from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United.

"It was important to win at the weekend against Swansea and to get three points," Zabaleta said. "We are only in November, I think it is too early to say who is going to win the league or to say what teams will fight for the title.

"Chelsea are doing well, so are Manchester United as well as Tottenham and ourselves, but there is a long way to go yet and everything is very tight at the top of the table. That is why we have to work very hard. There is a good feeling among the team about defending the title."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Messi: My teammates know I am not a little dictator

Lionel Messi has laughed off suggestions that his Barcelona teammates think he is too dominant on and off the pitch.

The 25-year-old has become embroiled in heated debates with Cristian Tello, Isaac Cuenca and David Villa over the past two seasons, but Messi has stressed there are no problems between him and the rest of the dressing room.


"A little dictator? I don't care what people say. My teammates all know that I'm not like that," Messi was quoted as saying by Sport. "It is a privilege to be part of the best Barcelona ever. Not just for what we have achieved, but also because of the way we play."

The Argentina international then went on to stress he is not affected by rival fans' attempts to upset him by chanting Cristiano Ronaldo's name.

"I do not care about those chants. It's only normal that rival fans are trying to distract you."

Messi also had his say on Real Madrid, and had nothing but praise for the Catalans' arch rival.

"Madrid are one of the best teams in the world and games against them are always nice to play," the forward told El Mundo Deportivo. "Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best, and Pepe is a great defender."

Barcelona currently holds an eight-point lead over Los Blancos in the Liga table.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Berbatov: I want to play until I am 40

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov has insisted he plans to carry on playing until he is 40-years-old, after an impressive start to the season at Craven Cottage.

The 31-year-old has scored three league goals in five appearances for Martin Jol's side this season, including one last time out in the 3-3 draw against Reading.

The west London club is the third Premier League side Berbatov has represented after Tottenham and Manchester United, and the Bulgarian has not ruled out joining another English team when his time at Craven Cottage comes to an end.

"I'm not a keeper, Ryan Giggs or Paolo Maldini, but I want to play until I am 40," Berbatov told reporters. "I want to play in England for several more years. I like England as a place. I like the mentality, culture and its football."

When asked if Fulham would be his last club, the former Tottenham player replied: "I really don’t know."

However, one thing Berbatov is sure about is that he will not return to international football with Bulgaria, insisting that his time has passed.

"I'm standing by the decision I made more than two years ago," he said. "My time has passed."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Totti: Juventus out of Roma's reach

Francesco Totti believes that Serie A leader Juventus is already out of Roma's reach, but is confident his side can still finish third in the table and qualify for next year's edition of the Champions League.

The Giallorossi currently sit seventh in the standings with 14 points from 10 games, trailing third-placed Napoli by eight points, but Totti has not given up hope of making it to European club football's elite competition just yet.

"It's now our objective to finish third in the table. Leaders Juventus are already out of their reach, but qualifying for the Champions League is still a realistic goal," Totti told reporters. "We cannot afford to have another transitional season. Admittedly, there are teams out there that have done better so far, but we have enough quality to do well.

"We are always trying to do our utmost and achieve good results, but we have to get out of this negative moment."

Roma will be looking to return to winning ways on Sunday when it hosts Palermo.<

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Villas-Boas stands by Lloris after Capital One Cup exit

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has avoided criticizing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after his error saw Spurs dumped out of the Capital One Cup with a defeat at Norwich City.

After electing to hand a start to the French international ahead of veteran American Brad Friedel for the game at Carrow Road -- Friedel rarely plays in cup matches -- Lloris failed to deal with a Grant Holt header, leading to Simeon Jackson's winner near the end of the match - but the Portuguese boss refrained from blaming the 25-year-old for the mistake.

"He did extremely well in the game. He had a good solid performance. It is difficult for goalkeepers in situations like these," Villas-Boas told reporters.

On the topic of the team's shaky defense, though, Villas-Boas sounded more worried about the lack of form from his back four, insisting that the unit has to improve.

"It is obviously something that is in our mind at the moment," Villas-Boas said. "It is obviously difficult, but the further you train these situations sometimes the worse it becomes. You cannot match the emotion and concentration players face during the game. We obviously have to do better and try to improve things for the next game. It's a pity to see the game slip from our hands. We had a good performance."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League 2012.11.03 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2012.11.03 Fixtures

Manchester United Vs Arsenal

Swansea Vs Chelsea

Tottenham Vs Wigan

Fulham Vs Everton

Sunderland Vs Aston Villa

Norwich City Vs Stroke City

West Ham United Vs Manchester City

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga 2012.11.03 Fixtures

La Liga 2012.11.03 Fixtures

Malaga Vs Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona Vs Celta Vigo

Real Madrid Vs Real Zaragoza

Valencia Vs Atletico Madid​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A 2012.11.03 Fixtures

Serie A 2012.11.03 Fixtures

AC Milan Vs Chievo

Juventus Vs Inter​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Messi becomes a father,son named Thiago

Messi becomes a father,son named Thiago

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has become a father for the first time after girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo gave birth to a baby boy whom they named Thiago.

Messi, 25, was excused from training on Friday morning ahead of the match against Celta Vigo on Saturday to attend his son's birth at a hospital in Barcelona.
"Today I am the happiest man in the world, my son was born and thanks to God for this gift!" Messi wrote on Facebook. "Thanks to my family for the support! A hug to everyone."

Argentine team-mate Sergio Aguero, who Messi said would get his vote for the FIFA Ballon d'Or behind Xavi and Andres Iniesta, wrote on Twitter: "Welcome, Thiago!! Just one thing: I'll get you the shirt of the Argentinean national team. Congrats, Leo!!!"

Iniesta added: "Many congratulations to Leo and Antonella! Congrats... I'm very happy everything turned out fine!!"While Barca president Sandro Rosell said: "Best wishes to Leo, Antonella and Thiago. Many congratulations!"

Messi scored his 300th career goal last weekend - the second of his brace against Rayo Vallecano - and is favourite to once again claim the FIFA Ballon d'Or prize for 2012.​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Messi!

Congratulations Messi!​

 

[charitha chandi]

Chelsea 5-4 Manchester United (aet): Sturridge and Ramires send Blues through in Halloween thriller

yeahaahhhhaa......!!! took the revange...!

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona 3-1 Celta Vigo: Adriano, Villa and Jordi Alba on target as hosts maintain unbeaten league record

Barcelona made it 10 wins out of 11 to start the La Liga season with a 3-1 victory over Celta Vigo at Camp Nou on Saturday night, but the result was marred by an injury suffered by Lionel Messi.

A whirlwind five-minute spell in the first half saw Adriano and David Villa hit the back of the net, either side of a Bermejo goal for the visitors on the break.

Jordi Alba scored a controversial third in the second half from an offside position, but the Blaugrana's joy turned to worry late on as Messi was forced off the pitch with a suspected knee complaint.

Nevertheless, Barca recorded another three points to maintain its lead at the top of the table, with nearest challenger Atletico Madrid in action at Valencia later in the day.

With Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique remaining sidelined, Sergio Busquets was called upon once again to fill in at the back for the Blaugrana, while Villa made his third consecutive start on his road back from injury.

Barcelona began relentlessly. Messi teed up Iniesta for a shot that flashed just over, and he himself was thrice thwarted, as a pair of attempted lobs over Javi Varas failed to find the target, before the Celta keeper stood tall to deny the Argentine from close range.It was only a matter of time before the pressure would tell, and when a scintillating passing sequence freed Pedro to race clear down the right and drill dangerously across the face of goal, Adriano’s straightforward tap-in was inevitable with 21 minutes gone.

Celta, though, was not without a threat of its own. Iago Aspas had earlier exposed the hosts’ defense when he broke clear to force the best out of Victor Valdes, and when a similar run from Alex Lopez was thwarted by Valdez again, this time, Bermejo was there to slot home the rebound, only three minutes after the visitors had gone behind.

But as fast as Celta responded with the equalizer, Barcelona was even quicker to surge back in front. A fantastic backheel from Villa released Iniesta towards the byline, who did equally well to return the ball to the Spain forward for the simplest of tap-ins in the 26th minute.Messi nearly added a third when he sprung the offside trap to face a one-on-one with Varas, but the Argentine tried too hard to round the keeper and instead lost the ball when the rest of Celta’s defense had caught up.

There were more defensive woes for Tito Villanova minutes before halftime though, as Adriano trudged off with a suspected groin injury, forcing Dani Alves to come on in his stead.Within seconds of the restart, Aspas came close again, flashing a shot inches wide of the far post after breaching the Barca backline once more.

The Blaugrana were lacking the cutthroat intensity of the first half, but managed to find a third goal, though it came in controversial circumstances. Villa’s heel flick found Alba at least yard offside, but no call was forthcoming, and the full back rounded Varas to slot home just past the hour mark.The injustice seemed to deflate what was left of Celta’s spirit, as its ability on the break, so threatening in the first half, slowly tailed off as the match entered the closing stages.

There was tension around Camp Nou late on though, as Messi went down clutching his knee, eventually walking off the pitch to sit out the rest of the game after a few minutes of treatment.
Barcelona played out the remainder of the match in control to record yet another three points, but it will no doubt hope that the win did not come at a cost, as it waits to hear news on the condition of the Argentine superstar.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

David Villa dan Form 1ke inne

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Tottenham 0-1 Wigan: Friedel clanger presents Watson with precious winner

LONDON -- Tottenham’s home woes continued as Wigan grabbed a second 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane in three years.

Wigan opened the scoring through Ben Watson after Brad Friedel’s weak punch landed at his feet, enabling him to tuck the ball past the American.

The loss incensed the home support, and increased calls for Andre Villas-Boas to replace his ageing goalkeeper with Hugo Lloris.

The Spurs’ Portuguese manager named an unchanged lineup from the side that beat Southampton in the team's last Premier League fixture, with Lloris returning to the bench and Emmanuel Adebayor left in limbo. He has yet to make a first start under Villas-Boas.

Roberto Martinez made eight changes to the team that lost to Bradford on Wednesday, restoring the XI that beat West Ham last weekend barring the enforced inclusion of Watson for the injured James McArthur.

Both sides were looking to bounce back from mid-week Capital One Cup exits, but it was Tottenham which started the brighter as Clint Dempsey raced through on goal, smashing his shot into the side-netting.

Both sides pressed high, disturbing each other’s ability to build from the back resulting in a scrappy opening exchange, though it was the home side, through Tom Huddlestone especially, which began to exert greater control.

Tottenham was dealt a blow in the 22nd minute when Sandro, intimating that there was a problem with his thigh, was forced out of the game to be replaced by Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Wigan sensed weakness immediately, with Shaun Maloney exploiting Spurs new-found immobility and ponderousness in midfield.

Drifting inside, the Scottish playmaker set up Arouna Kone, who should have put the Latics ahead before latching onto Franco Di Santo’s through-ball and firing his shot straight at an onrushing Friedel.

After a bland first half, both sides started the second with more purpose. Dempsey tested Ali Al-Habsi once more but it was Wigan which would finally end the deadlock.

Maloney’s corner fell on top of Friedel and the American weakly patted the ball towards the penalty spot and a waiting Watson, who struck his shot first time towards goal. The veteran keeper looked to have scrambled across his line and clawed the ball away, but it was adjudged to have crossed the line.

Villas-Boas responded by introducing Adebayor in place of an often isolated and ineffective Jermain Defoe and, encouraged vigorously by the home crowd and assistant manager Steffen Freund, Spurs began to attack with greater intent.

The Lilywhites went more direct, switching Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, launching balls into the box towards Adebayor and Dempsey, but that rather played to the strengths of Wigan and Gary Caldwell especially.

Spurs’ half-hearted onslaught was to little avail, and they rarely tested Al-Habsi barring several speculative efforts from outside the box.

Back-to-back wins propel Wigan up the table, echoing the incredible end-of-season form that saved the club from certain relegation last year, while Spurs’ home form will continue to worry Villas-Boas.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sunderland 0-1 Aston Villa: Agbonlahor goal piles the pressure on beleagured O'Neill

Gabriel Agonbonlahor was the match winner for Aston Villa as it heaped further pressure on former manager Martin O’Neill with a 1-0 narrow away victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

It was a deserved win for the West Midland’s club as it held on to the slender advantage, handed to it by Agbonlahor in the 56th minute. For the home side it was another worrying afternoon as it produced another toothless performance in front of goal.

O’Neill brought Stephane Sessegnon back into the fold at the expense of James McClean, while Phil Bardsley also returned with Danny Rose dropping to the substitutes bench.

Villa boss Paul Lambert surprisingly left former Black Cats frontman Darren Bent out of the Villa squad as he made four changes to the team that drew with Norwich, which included handing a top-flight debut to summer signing Ashley Westwood.

Coming into the game as the two lowest scorers in the division, both sides knew they needed to start finding the net if it was to secure the win that would provide the kickstart its respective seasons desperately required.

And the hosts thought they’d snatched the lead in the fourth minute, but top scorer Steven Fletcher was flagged offside after latching on to Stephane Sessegnon’s lofted through ball.

However, the visitors soon settled into their stride and Christian Benteke set up Gabriel Agbonlahor, but his snap shot was deflected over by a superb Bardsley block.

Weinmann then stung the palms of Simon Mignolet after spinning away from two red and white shirts just before half time, but it was a different story 10 minutes into the second half as Agobonlahor broke the deadlock.

The terrific Benteke leaped to meet a deep cross from the right and his header across goal fell straight to the Villa forward, who made no mistake from close range.

Sunderland responded with vigor and had a penalty appeal turned down in the 64th minute after Johnson’s cross appeared to strike Benteke on the arm in the penalty area.

But again Sunderland was severely lacking invention in the final third with Fletcher and Sessegnon barely offered a whiff of a clear-cut opportunity all afternoon.

And despite some relentless pressure from Sunderland in the dying embers, Villa held on to secure a priceless three points and their first away win since January.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Norwich City 1-0 Stoke City: Johnson header moves hosts above Potters

Norwich City picked up its second Premier League home win in a row on Saturday with a battling 1-0 win over Stoke City at Carrow Road.

In an even match the only goal came in the first half as Bradley Johnson headed in a free-kick from the right, but Stoke had more than its share of the chances, particularly after the break.
Jonathan Walters and Kenwyne Jones both could have at least levelled the scores for the visitors, but on the whole their finishing was not up to standard on the day.

The opening 30 minutes was very much a battle taking place in midfield, with the two teams enduring a never-ending power-struggle which neither side was particularly dominating, but the hosts really should have taken the lead around the 25 minute mark.Wes Hoolahan jinked down the left, playing a one-two with Anthony Pilkington before finding the winger again in the area, but his close-range effort was stopped well by Asmir Begovic.

The hosts had definitely been the better side and eventually took the lead just before halftime. Robert Snodgrass did well to win a free-kick down the right before delivering it himself and Bradley Johnson rose to produce an excellent back-header that looped into the top corner of the net.

After the break Stoke showed a little more urgency and nearly equalized when Peter Crouch flicked a high ball on to Jonathan Walters, but under pressure from Sebastien Bassong, the shot was parried away by John Ruddy.Stoke continued to look more interested and was pressing, but Norwich almost doubled its lead on the counter-attack, but the brilliant move ended with Pilkington hammering Grant Holt’s back post cross well over.

The visitors went close again with 15 minutes left of the match, as the more-involved Crouch headed a cross on for Kenwyne Jones, and after bringing the ball down on his chest, the forward lashed a volley just wide of the far post, with Ruddy helplessly beaten.
Stoke piled on the pressure in the dying stages, but with Norwich holding firm the hosts managed to secure the three points and the win.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Fulham 2–2 Everton: Sidwell steals late point to cancel out Fellaini double

Fulham played out a hugely entertaining 2-2 draw with Everton at Craven Cottage, securing a share of the spoils courtesy of a late Steven Sidwell equalizer.

The hosts settled the quicker of the two sides and took the lead courtesy of a fantastic free-kick from Bryan Ruiz, which Tim Howard just failed to claw away, with the the final touch coming from the Everton goalkeeper.

After the break Everton raced out of the traps and scored two goals in a quarter of an hour with Maoruane Fellaini grabbing a marvellous double, but Fulham responded with a late equalizer through Steve Sidwell.

With both sides feeling one another out after a cagey opening, the deadlock was broken in the seventh minute when Ruiz curled a beautiful free-kick into the top left-hand corner from just outside the box, with Howard turning it onto the post before it trickled over the line. The opener was marked down as an own goal.

In a half of few clear-cut chances, though, aside from a Ruiz effort which blazed over the bar, Nikica Jelavic was the main culprit for Everton, wasting two golden opportunities when he looked well placed, first nodding well wide and then clipping an effort over the bar.

The visitors began the second period a lot brighter than the first and they should have levelled the score shortly after the break, with Phil Jagielka's deft header from a Baines free-kick going narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

They didn't have to wait much longer for the equalizer, though, when after a flowing move down the right in the 54th minute, Fellaini latched on to Mirallas' cut-back to smash home unmarked from 10 yards out.

With the game opening up, Berbatov brought a smart stop out from Howard at his near post after beating the offside trap and latching on to Kacaniklic's clever pass in behind, before spinning and working the American stopper.

Everton turned the game on its head in the 71st minute when Fellaini chested down an angled long ball forward from Jagielka, before out-muscling Hughes and driving it home into the bottom right corner in an exceptional piece of individual brilliance.

By this point, Fulham threw on Mladen Petric to try and get something from the game, but it was nearly caught out again on the break when Fellaini struck the post before Steven Naismith, on as a substitute, saw his weak effort cleared off the line from Baird.

With the clock ticking down, Fellaini forced a fine save from Schwarzer with a well-struck volley, but Fulham had the final say, with Sidewell tapping home at the back post after a dangerous low cross in from the right in the final minute of the game.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Swansea City 1-1 Chelsea: Hernandez stunner sees Blues slip up in title chase

Chelsea missed its chance to return to the top of the Premier League as a late equalizer by Pablo Hernandez ensured a draw by Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

Victor Moses scored for the visiting Blues who has gone winless in its past two matches.

With Chelsea captain John Terry serving the final game of his four game ban and David Luiz not in the match day squad Cesar Azpilicueta made his first Premier League start for the Blues at right back with Branislav Ivanovic moving to the center of defense alongside Gary Cahill. Frank Lampard and Juan Mata also missed out for the visitors, who gave Oriel Romeu a rare start in place of Ramires.

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup made two changes from the side that started against Manchester City last weekend, Michel Vorm was ruled out with the groin injury he was stretchered off with at the Etihad so Gerhard Tremmel started in goal and Gary Monk replaced Chico Flores at the heart of the defense.

Despite a slow start Chelsea was never over powered and as the half wore on it slowly started to make an impression on the game and the half’s best two chances fell to two of its in-form forwards.

Brazilian Oscar was the first to be gifted a chance to test Tremmel but his 25 yard free kick struck the wall, and in the 19th minute Hazard found himself in acres of space but his shot flew miles over the bar much to the delight of the home fans.

Di Matteo chose to introduce Ramires at half time for the disappointing Romeu but it wasn’t the substitute who forced Tremmel into an early second half save, that was Hazard, but the German keeper was able to hold onto the Belgian’s low shot from the edge of the area.

Just after the hour mark Chelsea’s second half pressure paid off as Moses grabbed his first goal for Chelsea in the Premier League. Hazard delivered a right wing corner onto the head of Cahill, his header went towards goal and was glanced on by Moses in front of Ben Davies to take the ball over Leon Britton on the line.

Laudrup’s men worked hard in the final half hour of the game and got their reward with minutes to spare as substitute Itay Shechter found Hernandez on the edge of the area, the forward made himself some space and fired past Cech from the edge of the penalty area.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!!!

Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal: Van Persie and Evra shoot down 10-man Gunners

That Robin van Persie would score against the club where he spent eight years felt strangely inevitable. That he did it in such a comfortable 2-1 victory for Manchester United would have made it all the more painful for Arsenal supporters who watched their side finish the game with 10 men.

The Dutchman took just three minutes to open the scoring on his first appearance against Arsenal since his 24 million pound summer move before Wayne Rooney missed a glorious chance to double the lead from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime.

Patrice Evra effectively sealed the victory with a 66th minute header to take United to the top of the Premier League for at least a few hours ahead of Chelsea’s clash against Swansea.

A miserable day for Arsenal was completed when it was forced to play the final 21 minutes with 10 men following the dismissal of Jack Wilshere for a second booking before Santi Cazorla scored a consolation strike with the last kick of the game.

It may not have been pretty, but United was able to swat aside opponents once regarded as its greatest competitors. The 3,000 Gunners supporters in the stadium once again made clear their frustration, singling out chief executive Ivan Gazidis and chanting ‘we want our Arsenal back’.

Sir Alex Ferguson chose to continue with the 4-4-2 formation used in the victory at Chelsea last Sunday, with van Persie partnering Rooney in attack, while Aaron Ramsey was the only starter for Arsenal who featured in last season’s humiliating 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford.

The Arsenal fans ignored Ferguson’s plea in his program notes to treat van Persie as “a hero”, instead booing their former captain and targeting him with vile chants.

It took just three minutes, though, for van Persie to provide his answer as he took advantage of woeful Arsenal defending to score his 10th goal of the season.

United right back Rafael exploited a gaping hole in the Gunners’ left back area and when Thomas Vermaelen failed to clear, the ball fell perfectly for van Persie to shoot low into the bottom corner with his right foot.

While Arsenal saw plenty of the ball in the opening period, it failed to create any chances of note and looked vulnerable defensively, with left back Andre Santos particularly woeful.

The Gunners had goalkeeper Vito Mannone to thank for keeping them in the game as the Italian made fine stops to prevent van Persie and then Rooney from doubling United’s advantage.

Then, on the stroke of halftime referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot after Santi Cazorla raised his arms and handled Ashley Young’s cross. United failed to take advantage, Rooney shooting wide of the left post from 12 yards, meaning the striker has now missed nine out of 26 penalties in his club career.

Arsenal improved after the break, with Olivier Giroud striking against the outside of the post from a tight angle, but in truth if always felt as though United was coasting towards a comfortable victory.

In the 66th minute, United found the second goal with a well-worked corner routine seconds after van Persie had forced Mannone into another excellent save.

From the resulting corner, Rooney played a one-two with Young and whipped in a vicious cross for Evra, the shortest man in the penalty area, to head home in the absence of any semblance of marking from the Arsenal defenders.

To add to the misery, Wilshere was sent-off three minutes for a second booking. The midfielder, who was booked in the first half for a late challenge on Tom Cleverley, could have no complaints after lunging in on Evra by the touchline.

The game then meandered to its conclusion before Cazorla scored a wonderful curling goal with the last kick of the match. It was nowhere near enough.