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Premier League: Counter-attacking Manchester United punish wasteful Arsenal

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Wayne Rooney was on the score sheet for Manchester United as they beat Arsenal 2-1.

Manchester United hit Arsenal on the break at the Emirates to earn a 2-1 win - their first away victory of the season.

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Louis van Gaal was delighted that his side were able to take all three points away at Arsenal.

Best of the match

  • Man of the match: David de Gea made a string of important saves that proved to be the platform on which United built their victory.
  • Goal of the match: Olivier Giroud’s left-foot strike into the top corner was superb.
  • Save of the match: De Gea's quick reaction stop that denied Jack Wilshere in the first half.
  • Moment of the match: United’s second goal from Wayne Rooney killed-off Arsenal’s fight-back late-on and caused jubilant scenes in the away end.
  • Talking points: Can Louis van Gaal’s side keep improving and solidify their top-four position? How long will Arsenal’s defensive problems go on for?

Arsenal dominated for the majority of the game but fell behind in the second half thanks to an unfortunate own goal from Kieran Gibbs.

Wayne Rooney seemed to have put the game beyond the hosts when he capped off a swift breakaway to score late on.

Substitute Olivier Giroud set up a tense few moments when he pulled a goal back in stoppage time but United held out to claim a second successive Premier League win.

Louis van Gaal admitted prior to kick-off he had been forced into playing a back-three, with the inexperienced Paddy McNair joining Tyler Blackett and Chris Smalling, and United were fortunate to keep the score goalless at half-time as the trio faltered.

Left wing-back Luke Shaw was also forced off with a knock in the opening 30 minutes, as Arsenal rained shots at David de Gea, and the Spaniard turned out to be the away side's man-of-the-match.

Jack Wilshere, who was also forced off later with a possible ankle injury, missed a glorious chance from 10 yards that De Gea palmed away and Danny Welbeck, playing against his former club for the first time, also had chances to beat him

But left-back Gibbs collided with goalkeeper Wojcech Szczesny in the build up to the opener, allowing Antonio Valencia to drill a shot that found the far corner off Gibbs’ outstretched leg on the floor.

Arsenal poured bodies forward in search of an equaliser and the inevitable space left at the back allowed Angel di Maria to break quickly and set up Rooney to chip Damian Martinez, who had replaced the injured Szczesny, from close-range.

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Arsene Wenger was left frustrated after seeing his Arsenal side “play with quality”, but lose 2-1.

Giroud came off the bench to make a long-awaited return from injury and his superb strike into the top corner set up a tense period in eight minutes of added time.

But United moved into the top four with a fifth Premier League victory in nine games.

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