layer Ratings: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United

Goal.com rates the players on show as the Gunners added a new twist to the Premier League title race

By Wayne Veysey at Emirates Stadium

65 Share

Arsenal

Wojciech Szczesny

8.0

Excellent second-half display maintained Arsenal's advantage. Had nothing to do until he athletically pawed away Rooney's free-kick straight after the break and then made a series of fine saves as United increased the pressure.

Bacary Sagna

6.5

Was a quasi-attacker for much of the match and made some strong overlaps on the right but his crossing was abysmal and rarely found a team-mate. Nearly opened the scoring with a long-range left foot shot.

Laurent Koscielny

Top of the Match

8.0

A slight desperate edge to his defending but threw himself into the task with aplomb, made some crucial interceptions and even made a couple of adventurous forward runs.

Johan Djourou

7.5

Distinguished himself with a near-faultless display before Arsenal's mysterious injury curse struck again, and he hobbled off midway through the second half.

Gael Clichy

303

40

7.0

Handled the combined threat of Nani and Valencia superbly, who got little change out of his flank. Will do his contract talks no harm.

Alexandre Song

6.5

Occasionally sloppy in possession but a font of industry and stood up well to the task of shackling Carrick and co.

Aaron Ramsey

7.0

With a leather-jacketed Fabregas out injured and watching from the stands, Ramsey was given an audition in the playmaker role. Much of the game passed him by and his touch was frequently too heavy before he stole into the box and clinically side-footed the opener.

Jack Wilshere

8.0

The most influential midfielder on the pitch. Carried the ball forward well, made a string of astute passes and hungrily threw himself into the task of winning the central battle.

Samir Nasri

6.5

Had some excellent dribbles in the opening 20 minutes and seemed hell-bent on giving the home crowd something to savour before suffering a hamstring injury that ended his participation at half-time.

Theo Walcott

7.0

On fire in the opening quarter of an hour, when he had space to run at Evra and open up United's defence. Faded after the break and was subbed late on.

Robin Van Persie

7.0

Lucky not to receive a yellow for his incessant barracking of the officials following the penalty that wasn't before showing the more attractive side of his game with a lively second-half display. Set up Ramsay's goal with some excellent footwork and a neat low cross.

• Substitutions

Sébastien Squillaci

6.5

The Emirates held its collective breath when he replaced Djourou but stood up well to the United threat.

Emmanuel Eboue

N/A

Shored up Arsenal's right flank after replacing Walcott for the last 12 minutes.

Andrey Arshavin

6.5

Always a threat on the counter-attack in the second half but did not always choose the right option and his crossing was patchy.

Man Utd.

Edwin van der Sar

6.0

Did not make any major errors but his kicking was mediocre and his handling less secure than usual.

Fabio Da Silva

7.0

Another impressive display to follow his excellent midweek performance in Germany. Defended tigerishly and influential in the final third.

Rio Ferdinand

7.0

Resolute display by United's outstanding defender of the season. Made some crucial interceptions, with head and foot.

Nemanja Vidic

5.5

Fortunate not to concede a penalty - and stay on the pitch - when the linesman failed to spot him handball a first-half Walcott cross in the box.

Patrice Evra

6.0

Did not get tight enough to Walcott in the opening 20 minutes but, aided by Park, responded to his manager's instructions and kept the wide man on a tighter leash.

Ji-Sung Park

5.5

Energetically doubled up on Walcott before being switched into central midfield following Anderson's substitution and immediately failed to track Ramsay's run for the opening goal.

Michael Carrick

51

155

5.5

Tid enough but did not follow up his midweek masterclass with another dominant display. Subbed late on.

Anderson

5.5

Struggled to get a grip of the midfield and his hit-and-miss passing offered little to United's in-form attackers. Subbed after an hour.

Nani

5.5

Struggled to break out of the Clichy-imposed shackles before having more success on the left flank.

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez

Flop of the Match

5.5

Not the Mexican's day. United's defensive style meant he had little service before his substitution midway through the second half.

Wayne Rooney

7.0

The game passed him by in the first half, when his only real contribution was to get a booking for hauling down Wilshere. But grew in aurthority as the game wore on and was pulling the strings from a deep role in the last quarter.

• Substitutions

Antonio Valencia

6.5

Brought greater precision to United's right flank with some excellent deliveries.

Michael Owen

N/A

Unfortunate not to win a penalty in the closing minutes when he was manhandled by Clichy.

Dimitar Berbatov

6.0

Had some nice touches but did not get any opportunities.