Arsenal 1 Manchester United 3

Arsène Wenger had made a bold claim in the match-day programme when he reflected on Manchester United’s previous visit to the Emirates in the Champions League semi-final last May. “We are not the same team now,” he said. “We are a different animal because we have improved.”

Arsenal, of course, were beaten 3-1 by United in that Champions League match last season and, with little sign of any discernible difference in the gap between the two clubs, they duly lost by an identically emphatic margin today.

Even without Cristiano Ronaldo, United’s ability to stifle Arsenal in central midfield and then punish them with quick counter-attacking bursts represented another masterclass in how to deal with Arsène Wenger’s team.

Nani and Wayne Rooney effectively settled the match in United’s favour after just 37 minutes before Ji-Sung Park and Thomas Vermaelen traded second-half goals.

It is a result which again suggests that the winner of the Premier League will be either United or Chelsea for the sixth consecutive season. It also means Arsenal may now realistically have to beat Chelsea next week in a match that will provide further questions about their quality at the very highest level.

The fact that their record this season against Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City now reads played five, lost five cannot be ignored.

The first surprise was the presence of Vermaelen at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. Kidology from Wenger? Having expressed his fears that the Belgium had broken his leg against Aston Villa, he did, in fairness, say there was a small chance of recovery in time for today’s match.

Even with Vermaelen, Arsenal looked immediately vulnerable in defence, particularly at left-back, where Gael Clichy was given plenty of problems by Nani.

For Arsenal, the early threat came almost exclusively from Andrei Arshavin, who shot just inches wide after switching to the left and brilliantly turning inside Wes Brown.

With Nemanja Vidic suffering a setback to the injury on a nerve in his leg and Rio Ferdinand beginning his four-match suspension, United’s defence again had a slightly makeshift feel as Brown was shuffled to central defence and Rafael da Silva continued at right-back.

Arsenal, though, were struggling to pass their way through a three man central of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes. Fletcher was at his destructive best in restricting the intricate exchanges between Cesc Fabregas and Arshavin while Carrick was influential with the range and scope of his passing.

When Manchester United struck the first blow, it was, therefore, unsurprising that the move should begin with Carrick. He sprayed the ball out wide to Nani, who again found space on Arsenal’s left to brilliantly surge into the penalty area and then float an inviting cross into the Arsenal six-yard box.

With Park and Patrice Evra queuing up on the back post, Manuel Almunia turned the ball into his own goal as he desperately back-pedalled and tried to scoop the ball over the crossbar.

While Arsenal were struggling to turn possession into clear chances, Manchester United were utterly clinical on the counter-attack.

Their second was a phenomenal team goal. Rooney had collected the ball deep inside his own half, but showed wonderful vision to set Nani clear down the right. It looked as if Nani may have held onto the ball for just too long but, in truth, he delayed his pass perfectly as Rooney surged into the Arsenal penalty area. The chance was still far from easy but Rooney duly drilled the ball beyond Almunia to double United’s lead.

The two goal cushion ensured United had Wenger’s team exactly where they wanted them. Arsenal tried to push forward but were clearly at risk of leaving themselves hopelessly exposed on the counter. This was evident within minutes of the start of the second-half as Carrick hooked the ball into the path of Park to leave Clichy again exposed at left-back.

The Frenchman backed off and tried to block Park’s angles for the pass inside but the United winger simply surged into the space in front of him and slid the ball beyond Almunia.

To their credit, Arsenal never gave up and were rewarded when Vermaelen’s shot deflected off Evans and beyond Edwin van der Sar. It ensured a frantic finish but, ultimately, it was too little and much too late for Arsenal as boos rang out around the Emirates on the final whistle.

telegraph.co.uk