Peter Henry
Manchester United continued their sensational form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by beating Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates tonight to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Unai Emery’s Gunners side dominated possession throughout, but United tore Arsenal’s injury-ravaged defence to shreds on the counter-attack to make it eight wins from eight for Solskjaer since taking over from Jose Mourinho just before Christmas. Let’s see how the players rated…
Arsenal
Cech 5
A true legend of the Premier League, but tonight seemed to vindicate his decision to retire at the end of the season. The 36-year-old really should have done better with two of the three goals he conceded.
Maitland-Niles 7
Did a fine job of shackling former teammate Alexis Sanchez for the most part and got forward whenever given the chance.
Sokratis 6
Forced off after 20 minutes following an awkward looking landing on his ankle.
Koscielny 6
Not the most convincing of displays from the Arsenal skipper and his night got even worse when he took the full force of Romelu Lukaku’s boot to the face – unsurprisingly the France international was unable to continue.
Kolasinac 6
Did well going forward, but in doing so he left space in behind – space which United exploited time and time again.
Torreira 6
The Uruguayan’s early season form has faded somewhat and didn’t affect the game as much as we have come to expect.
Xhaka 6
Gave a fine exhibition of safe passing. Had to fill in at centre-back after Koscielny went off where his lack of pace was inevitably exposed.
Ramsey 8
Arsenal’s best player, putting in a display packed with energy and creativity, making a mockery of Phil Neville’s pre-match claims that he is a luxury player.
Aubameyang 7
Got himself a poachers goal, but apart from that, he struggled to find much space in which to operate.
Iwobi 6
Started brightly during the opening exchanges, before fading and making way for Ozil.
Lacazette 8
Put in a huge shift in terms of work-rate, harrying and hassling throughout. However, he just wasn’t able to find the type of clear cut chance he craved.
Substitutes
Mustafi 5
Rarely convinces and tonight was no different.
Guendouzi 7
Brought some much-needed energy to the Gunners midfield and wasn’t afraid to stick his foot in.
Ozil 4
Came on and looked like he was playing a keep-ball session the day after a game, such was his lack of intensity.
Manchester United
Romero 7
No chance with Arsenal’s goal and made one crucial save from a Ramsey header just after half-time.
Young 7
Looked a bit off the pace during the opening exchanges, but fought his way back into the game and all in all another solid shift from the veteran.
Bailly 7
Restricted Aubameyang and Lacazette to barely any clear cut chances, although his casualness on the must-have worried his own fans at times.
Lindelof 7
By no means the finished article, but is growing in stature and put in another encouraging display tonight.
Shaw 7
Solid defensively and played a crucial role in United’s second goal, bursting out from the back and playing Lukaku through.
Herrera 7
Snapped at ankles and kept things ticking over in possession – exactly as his manager would have wanted.
Matic 7
Grew into the game and used his experience to slow things down at times when Arsenal seemed to be building up a head of steam.
Pogba 8 (MOTM)
Superb during the second period, with his lung-busting runs driving his side forward time and time again.
Lingard 8
Tidy finish for his goal and once again impressed in a false nine role away to a top six rival.
Lukaku 8
Enjoyed himself in an unfamiliar role on the right wing, providing two assists, with his through ball for Sanchez’s strike showing a deftness of touch that is rarely associated with the Belgian striker.
Sanchez 7
Silenced the boo boys with an excellent finish, even if he did little else.
Substitutes
Martial 7
It was his composed finish in the 82nd minute that sealed the victory for his side.
Rashford 7
His pace caused Arsenal all sorts of problems after his introduction.
Jones 7
No brain farts. Well done Phil.