Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United: Player Ratings

Arsenal produced a stunning first-half display to comfortably beat Manchester United 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Goals from Alexis Sanchez either side of a Mesut Ozil strike inside the first 20 minutes took the Gunners above the Red Devils on goal difference in the Premier League table.

With United so desperately bad in the game, it was hard not to look beyond the mess in midfield as the root cause of the team’s problems. Morgan Schneiderlin’s non-selection was baffling, because the Frenchman does all of his best work off the ball, and United were always likely to be defending for long spells against a side like Arsenal.

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Michael Carrick and Bastian Schweinsteiger were simply overrun, while Wayne Rooney’s lack of involvement in attack and defence will once again raise questions regarding his place in the starting XI.

In truth, United were fortunate not to fall to a heavier defeat. Here are the player ratings from the game:

David De Gea – 6

The Spaniard will feel he could have done better for Arsenal’s opener, but he was left badly exposed by a porous midfield and defence. Sanchez and Ozil scored from central areas inside the penalty area, leaving De Gea with little chance to keep the ball out of the net. He made a few routine stops in the second half and kept the scoreline respectable.

Matteo Darmian – 3

The Italian endured a nightmare against Sanchez and was rightfully withdrawn at half-time. He was torn to shreds by the Chilean and simply couldn’t stop him. He was left in one-on-one situations with Sanchez far too often, got booked for pulling the winger’s shirt midway through the first half and looked a shadow of the player who started the season so well. He’s now been substituted at half-time twice in the last three Premier League games and needs to improve.

Chris Smalling – 6

Once again, Smalling was one of United’s better players on the day, not that he had too much competition in that regard. He was, however, a bystander as Arsenal blitzed United in the first 20 minutes. In the second half, he improved, winning the ball back immediately and launching attacks as quickly as he could. United cannot afford for him to pick up an injury right now.

Daley Blind – 5

Like Smalling next to him, Blind was hapless as the midfield in front of him crumbled. The pace, power and movement of Arsenal’s attack left him with little chance to impact the game as a defender and the match was lost all too quickly. This was a game in which United’s decision not to sign a left-sided centre-back in the summer looks like it could prove costly.

Ashley Young – 4

Unsurprisingly, Young looked like a midfielder playing in defence. His positioning was poor, he got booked for a reckless tackle and could have been taken off at the interval. With Jones nearing full fitness, Louis van Gaal may be tempted to move Blind to left-back after Young struggled in the role against Arsenal.

Michael Carrick – 5

Arsenal won the game by destroying United’s midfield and Carrick was powerless to stop it from happening. Santi Cazorla, Ozil and Sanchez exploited the space in midfield to great effect. When United did improve, Carrick helped retain possession with his passing, but the game was already lost by that point.

Bastian Schweinsteiger – 4

The German has put in a number of classy performances over the last few weeks, but he was one of United’s worst players against Arsenal. Schweinsteiger left far too much space in midfield, pressing the ball when he needed to sit deep and protect his defence. His positioning in the first half was puzzling, and Arsenal took full advantage. He played much better in the second period, however, and nearly scored a consolation goal. This was ultimately the type of game when he needed to play in a three-man midfield, because he struggled to contain Arsenal’s flair players.

Juan Mata – 5

The Spaniard was unable to impact the game in an attacking sense, and he was one of a few United players who failed to support Darmian in his personal battle with Sanchez. For all of his qualities on the ball, Mata’s lack of speed and strength stood in direct contrast to Arsenal’s fast-paced football. He wasn’t dreadful, but nor did he look like changing the course of the game.

Wayne Rooney – 4

United’s captain once again struggled and looked off the pace. Operating as a No. 10 in the first half, he couldn’t get to grips with Cazorla and failed to stem the tide of Arsenal’s attacks. In the second half, he moved to the left wing but the raw power and athleticism that made him such a fine player early in his career has now gone. The switch didn’t work and it’s difficult to justify Rooney’s place in the team right now.

Memphis Depay – 4

The Dutchman was substituted at half-time and looked worryingly ineffective, not for the first time this season. The hope was that his star quality would give United a lift in attack but his decision-making has been sub-par. He also failed to protect Young at left-back and was a passenger as Arsenal swept United aside. Memphis will get time to improve, but it’s reached the point now where he might be taken out of the team for a brief spell.