Simply Astonishing

Manchester United line-up: De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Evans Y, Evra (c), Nani (Giggs, 68'), Anderson (Park, 68'), Cleverley, Young Y, Rooney, Welbeck (Hernandez, 36')
Arsenal line-up: Szczesny, Djourou Y, Koscielny, Jenkinson R, Traore, Ramsey, Coquelin (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 62'), Rosicky, Walcott, Arshavin Y, Van Perise (c)

It's not often a game involving two top teams finishes with ten goals and a complete humiliation. Arsenal have been in free fall so far this season and got battered 8-2 by a rampant Manchester United. Arsenal haven't conceded eight since the 1800s and it's their worst defeat since United beat them 6-1 in 2001.

The game started with United on top but not doing enough to alert Szczesny. Arsenal managed to get a foothold on the game after quarter of an hour but Arshavin got booked for studs in challenge on Jones, the first of many poor Arshavin touches. It took twenty-two minutes before the deadlock was broken, Anderson played a chipped ball over the top of the defence, the defenders failed to deal with it and Welbeck headed home from three yards to make it two goals in two.

Arsenal then had a great chance to level the score three minutes later when Evans brought Walcott down needlessly when the ball was going out for a goal kick. The penalty was rightly given and Evans was shown a yellow as it wasn't a goal scoring opportunity. Van Perise stepped up but De Gea came of age as he managed to save the spot kick. Just a minute later, Ashley Young curled a fantastic shot over Szczesny from twenty yards to double United's lead with twenty-eight minutes played. De Gea then kept United a 2-0 with a great double save from Arshavin and Van Perise. Unfortunately, Welbeck had to be substituted with a hamstring injury but Hernandez isn't exactly the worst sub to bring on.

Arshavin continued to have a torrid time and blazed a shot well over the United goal. Jenkinson received his first of two yellow cards five minutes before half-time with a late challenge on Young. The resulting free-kick was curled over the wall and into the net by Rooney to make it 3-0. Arsenal were given a glimmer of hope in injury time however when Walcott's shot went through the legs of De Gea, another blunder by the young Spaniard.

Arsenal started the second half a lot brighter and the next goal was crucial for the outcome of the match. United started playing ambitiously, leading to wasted chances by Nani, Hernandez and Rooney. But De Gea managed to pull off saves from Van Persie to keep the game at 3-1. United then 4-1 up after 64 minutes with Rooney curling in another brilliant free-kick past Szczesny. It was then 5-1 just three minutes later with Rooney feeding Nani in and Nani chipped the ball over the diving Szczesny to heap more humiliation onto Arsenal.

United then made the double substitution as Park and Giggs were introduced to the game. The Korean has enjoyed scoring against Arsenal in recent encounters and it took him just two minutes to make it 6-1 after Rooney had just hit the post following a chip. Park had all the freedom in the box, allowing him to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

But United were guilty of some poor defending and Van Persie managed to earn a second for Arsenal from short range, 74 minutes had been played. If anyone thought it couldn't have got any worse for Arsenal, it did; Jenkinson brought Hernandez down who was clearly through on goal and had to be shown a second yellow card, making it three reds in three games for Arsenal. It was then 7-2 with eight minutes remaining after Walcott tripped Evra in the box for a United penalty, Rooney stepped up and scored his hat-trick. It was then finished off in injury time with Young curling in another fantastic shot to make it 8-2 in this utterly astounding game.