We’ve come a long way since the impromptu sparring sessions put on by Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.
We were never going to see Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla slugging it out in the centre of the park and the football similarly lacked the passion of United/Arsenal games gone by.
It was a composed finish that put the hosts ahead after Ashley Young found Ander Herrera who volleyed home.
Fifty minutes passed before the next goal which saw differing fortunes of opposing substitutes. Theo Walcott fired goalwards before a lazy Tyler Blackett challenge sent the ball over Victor Valdes.
Manchester United
David de Gea: Injury
Antonio Valencia: Winger
Phil Jones: Headless
Chris Smalling: Skipper
Marcos Rojo: Positioned
Juan Mata: 20/20
Daley Blind: Usual
Ander Herrera: Tidy
Ashley Young: Everywhere
Marouane Fellaini: Irritant
Radamel Falcao: Adios
Subs
Robin van Persie: Over
Victor Valdes: Unprepared
Tyler Blackett: Sloppy
Arsenal
David Ospina: Meh
Hector Bellerin: Loose
Per Mertesacker: Rigid
Laurent Koscielny: Convincing
Nacho Monreal: Lazy
Francis Coquelin: Unsettled
Santi Cazorla: Bottled
Aaron Ramsey: Alonso
Mesut Ozil: Indecisive
Alexis Sanchez: Sprinter
Olivier Giroud: Solitaire
Subs:
Theo Walcott: Spark
Jack Wilshere: Late
Mathieu Flamini: Token
