Arsenal Crush Manchester United With 2 Goals in Opening 7 Minutes

Alexis Sanchez scored twice and Mesut Ozil rifled one in from 12 metres in the Gunners’ 3-0 victory at home.

Arsenal scored twice in the opening seven minutes and ended the match as a contest with a third in the 19th as they crushed Manchester United 3-0 to move above them into second place in the Premier League at the Emirates on Sunday.

The Gunners demolished United with some brilliant passing football, taking the lead when Alexis Sanchez scored with a clever near-post flick after six minutes.

They doubled their lead a minute later when Mesut Ozil rifled in from 12 metres and completed the rout when Sanchez blasted in an unstoppable shot for his sixth goal in his last three games after 19 minutes.

United, who were top of the table at the start of the weekend, rarely got going against the home side who were always in control and never looked like slipping up with Petr Cech only seriously troubled once.

The victory was Arsenal’s biggest against United for 17 years and lifted them to 16 points, two behind new leaders Manchester City, and just ahead of United on goal difference.

To win in a big game is always a statement as far as the title race is concerned. We are in it. We are two points off the leaders Manchester City so I hope that result today gives us the belief and ambition we need.
– Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s Manager

United’s Van Gaal ‘Amazed’

United manager Louis van Gaal, whose team started the weekend in first place and ended it third, said he was “amazed” by what he witnessed.

I did not expect that, we did not have the will to win. We were top of the league so I was surprised, maybe amazed is a better word. When you give a team like Arsenal so much space, you know that you shall lose. It was amazing for me and very disappointing.
– Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United’s Manager

He was also candid enough to say he had no idea why the first 20 minutes of the match unfolded in the way they did.

It is difficult for me to answer and also for the players as they are all in an emotional moment. We have lost in a way you cannot lose when you are top of the league.
– Louis Van Gaal, Manchester United’s Manager