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Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal
Match Reports, 19:44, August 29, 2009 ,
Manchester United fought back from a goal down to take all the points as Arsene Wenger was left annoyed by several key decisions.
Sir Alex Ferguson consigned Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen to the substitutes bench as Wayne Rooney took up the role as lone striker for United, while Arsenal named Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Eboue and Andrey Arshavin as his attacking triumvirate.
It was Arsene Wenger who seemed to have got his tactics right when, after dominating for much of the first half, his side took the lead through Russian playmaker Arshavin with a sensational strike from 25 yards that Ben Foster couldn't keep out.
The game could have been up for United just minutes after the restart when Arshavin attacked the byline to cut the ball back for Van Persie, whose goalbound poke was only denied by a superb reaction stop from Foster.
That turned out to be the defining moment of the match as the home side found renewed vigour and just before the hour mark forced themselves back onto level terms. Ryan Giggs, who had endured a poor first half, produced a moment of brilliance to release Wayne Rooney in behind and the England striker was felled by Manuel Almunia. Referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot and Rooney dusted himself down to convert the penalty.
The tide immediately turned in favour of the champions, who found another gear and within five minutes they had the lead, thanks to Abou Diaby. Giggs was the architect once again as he curled a devilish free-kick into the box and, with Rooney waiting to pounce, Diaby diverted it beyond a stranded Almunia.
With injury time ticking down the Gunners looked to have stolen themselves a deserved point, only to be denied by the linesman's flag. Aaron Ramsey floated the ball to the far post where William Gallas nodded down to Van Persie who rolled into the net but Gallas had strayed offside in the build-up. The decision was undoubtedly correct but Arsene Wenger was not impressed and his protestations forced referee Dean to send him to the stands, where he was left to stand amongst the home supporters.