Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal 🤩 | 2011/12 | Classics

The first heavyweight clash of the season at Old Trafford, United-Arsenal, one of the great fixtures in the Premier League, but scarcely can the clubs have had such differing starts to a campaign. It's all been positive for the champions, two wins, praise galore, nothing but problems for Arsenal, key players leaving, injuries and suspensions, one point and no goals scored from their opening couple of fixtures. It's amazing to think of Arsenal doing that, a goal that you're very, very fortunate you're in at the start. Danny Will back then there on top of the goalkeeper, he's never made a mess of it. It's chilly, it's flustery, quite difficult out there actually. Here's Mane for United. Takes on a punch from Kokeland, good ball as well to Smalling. Smalling beats Traore, back to Cleverley. Oh, that wasn't far away, he's been exceptionally well there, Smalling to get that ball across. It's not a nice lot of ball for him from Mane. On the side and through, he's beaten Koscielny, Will Beck! Oh, Danny, Danny, Danny. What a chance, what a chance, but they had it too soon. Maybe, maybe just had that a bit too early. Walcott and Jenkinson were both missing there on the flank, and now here's Young. Eberer again, that's a nice ball in towards Rooney, flicked away, Anderson first to it. Lovely little ball in, looking for... Will Beck! Story continues, what a week he's had. Scores against Tottenham, now he's scored against Arsenal. 1-0. That is bad play by Arsenal and bad defence, and it's a lovely little ball from Anderson. But you think the goalie's got to make a decision, Newcombe, why are you winning this and I have to get it? The two of them left it at one another. Jenkinson. In the centre. Walcott, oh, goes down. No, there's nothing there. I can't believe that, I cannot believe that he's given a penalty. Linesman on this side, down comes Young. Percy. Looking well, Beck, will it fall for Nanex? Guided away to Young. Can he shoot from there? Look at what he's doing, Stuart, LeBend and Everton, perfect. That's a terrific goal. That's a good save, Van Persie, another good save from De Gea. And this fixture last season was a lot tighter than this one minute was. It's Rooney who takes it. Rooney! Swept aside by the champions, 3-0. The next three checked out, wasn't it? Brzezinski. Walcott, through the goalkeeper and gives Arsenal hope right at the very end of the first half. Walcott makes it United 3, Arsenal 1. And Percy's onside and that's a great save. Oh, that's a terrific save, Rooney's picking them up. There was some crying and on-run there in the United backfield, who was picking him up? Anderson, cleverly. Great chance, oh! Saved by the excellent, great move, that'll finish the game. Anderson, hit by Szczesny. Nani, shoot! I love Stuart. Denkinson. Percy waiting for it and he scores. Chicharito, those woes continue. Denkinson sent off. Emergency right back at the moment. Rooney steps up. Hat-trick at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney does Hat-trick. A glorious afternoon for the champions. What a strike, his strike. I feel sorry for that. Oh, you do. He will be shown no mercy. That's it. We've witnessed something quite extraordinary at Old Trafford this afternoon. Arsenal, humbled and humiliated. Conceding eight goals at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney bagging a Hat-trick with two glorious free-kicks. Two tremendous goals from Young as well. Also scoring Welbeck, Park and Nani. But it's Rooney who leaves with the match ball. This has been United's day, and a day that anyone who was lucky enough to be here will remember for a long, long time. Fantastic performance from the champions. Let's hear now from a delighted dressing room. Let's start with Sir Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex, an extraordinary afternoon. What's your reaction to the scoreline? Well, I mean, when you play Arsenal, you don't expect that. But we've had some good results against them in the past, you know. But when you see Arsenal's weakened team like that, you know, we do expect to score goals. And that was what I felt. All their quality was in the forward positions for Arsenal. And they were a big threat at times. They could have scored more than two goals. So it was a funny game. Strange result. But, you know, well, you can only do your job. And I think the players kept it professional that way. And they did their best. I mean, they obviously had a lot of players missing through injury and suspension. But to score eight against one of your so-called title rivals is an extraordinary achievement, isn't it? Well, it's unusual because you don't expect that. But we've scored six against them twice in the past, you know. So maybe when we hit a form like that, someone suffers, you know. And today it was Arsenal who unfortunately suffered. Wayne, a lot of people thought United were big favourites going into this game. But can you believe you scored eight? No, we didn't expect to score eight goals. But, you know, we attacked them really well. And, you know, I think once the game opened up a bit more, we took our chances. And I think we deserved the victory. But as I say, we didn't expect to score eight. But we're grateful that we did today. A hat-trick for you today. You sailed past 150 goals for the club. Is it a special day for you? Yeah, of course. It's always a great feeling to score. And to score, you know, now over 150 goals for a club like United, it's a great feeling. And, yeah, hopefully there's many more to come. Ashley, well done. Have you ever experienced anything quite like that in a Premier League game? No, I haven't, to be honest. You know, we went about our job from the first minute all the way to the final whistle. And, you know, we were terrific today. And, you know, we found an Arsenal team that weren't so good on the day. And, you know, we've punished them. I know you wanted to claim the goal at West Brom. But let's say you don't get it. It's not a bad way to open your account at Old Trafford today. Of course not. Obviously, I'm not going to get the ones at West Brom. So, you know, I'll definitely take these two today. And, you know, I'm obviously happy with the finishes. But it was a great team performance. And everyone was fantastic today. That result will send shockwaves around the league, won't it? It's difficult to say. You know, it's so early in the season. You know, we're showing great energy at the moment. And great enjoyment in the game. And that's important. And, you know, you obviously want to keep the squad as strong as you can. We've got an injury to Danny Welbeck. We've got an injury to Vidic. An injury to Rafa. And we're only starting. The season's only started. Fortunately, we've got a strong squad. And we need that. Defend Arsene Wenger in your programme notes today. There's obviously going to be some inquest into this. Do you feel a little bit of sympathy for him? Of course, because he's a great football man. He's done an incredible job for Arsenal for 15 years. He's given them a quality of football that they've never experienced. He's brought some exciting players to his club. You know, he deserves respect for that. And, you know, particularly for myself.