Barclays Premier League: Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd

Samir Nasri handed Arsenal a much-needed shot in the arm as the Frenchman struck twice to secure a 2-1 win over rivals Manchester United in a gripping encounter at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners headed into the fixture having suffered their third Premier League defeat of the season at Stoke City and took advantage of a wasteful Red Devils side to down the champions.

Sir Alex Ferguson's charges began the game the brighter but, as Arsenal overcame a nervy start, summer signing Nasri fired home a deflected effort to hand the home side the advantage.

Nasri then grabbed a decisive second three minutes after the interval as he capped a wonderful passing move to smash past the exposed Edwin van der Sar, before Rafael da Silva hit a stunning reply late on to set up a tense finale.


It was Arsenal's first test this season against their traditional top-four rivals - and Wenger's men passed with flying colours.

This clash between two heavyweights had everything - chances, yellow cards, counter-attacking and also four penalty shouts.

Referee Howard Webb, who was kept busy throughout, turned down appeals when Dimitar Berbatov was bundled over by Denilson, as well as when Gary Neville and Gael Clichy touched the ball with their arms.

Then in the second half, Nasri appeared to be bundled over by Nemanja Vidic.

Between those moments, there was absorbing end-to-end football, with United given an early opportunity following a mix-up involving one of their former players.

Mikael Silvestre clipped a backpass to Manuel Almunia and the goalkeeper picked up the ball. Anderson's free-kick was blocked by team-mate Park Ji-Sung, then Michael Carrick fired the rebound wide from the edge of the area.

Berbatov also had the ball in the net but was ruled offside when he followed up Rooney's shot.

Then it was Arsenal's turn to attack. Nicklas Bendtner headed over from Clichy's cross, before the striker was millimetres away from contact when Nasri swung a ball over.

Abou Diaby had a clear sight of goal when Van der Sar flapped, but his effort was blocked by Carrick.

United took their turn to apply pressure, with Cristiano Ronaldo raiding down the flanks and Carrick creating his angles in midfield.

Wayne Rooney was guilty of wasting their clearest opportunity of the opening period when he flashed a shot over after Ronaldo's intelligent pull-back.

First blood went to Arsenal, with Nasri's opener coming midway through the first half after Patrice Evra fouled Bacary Sagna on the right touchline.

Berbatov headed away the free-kick as far as Nasri, who fizzed a volley at goal that took a deflection off Neville to wrong-foot Van der Sar and fly in.

United almost replied when Clichy only just headed wide of his own goal as he tried to clear a free-kick. William Gallas had been booked for his trip on Evra which led to the set-piece.

Arsenal, meanwhile, tried to counter-attack and Cesc Fabregas shot just wide of the post with one effort, while Van der Sar stuck out a hand to stop Silvestre stabbing home from a corner.

The intensity, already sky-high, stepped up a level before the break and Evra and Sagna both received yellow cards from Webb.

Nasri's second came three minutes after the restart.

Fabregas wriggled around Neville and spotted Nasri unmarked on edge of the penalty area, with the France youngster given enough space to bide his time and lash past Van der Sar.

Ronaldo was presented with a chance to pull a goal back but his finish, after meeting Park's cross with a first-time volley, went just the wrong side of Almunia's post.

Clichy then clattered into Ronaldo and earned a booking, with the action almost non-stop at this stage.

Rooney had a header saved by Almunia and he was inches from getting on the end of a Ronaldo cross, while Carrick picked up a yellow when he caught Almunia with a boot to the head.

Almunia's injury forced him off and Lukasz Fabianski was required off the bench for the last 12 minutes.

Rafael, on as a substitute, pulled one back with less than a minute left - but Arsenal held on after six minutes of stoppage-time for the win they needed.

ARSENAL TEAM:
Manuel Almunia(78)
Bacary Sagna
William Gallas
Gael Clichy
Mikael Silvestre
Abou Diaby(85)
Theo Walcott(77)
Cesc Fabregas
Denilson
Samir Nasri
Nicklas Bendtner

SUBSTITUTES:
Kolo Toure(85)
Carlos Vela
Aaron Ramsey
Alexandre Song(77)
Jack Wilshere
Johan Djourou
Lukasz Fabianski(78)

oleeee........