Arsenal run over

The two Premier League heavyweights had slugged it out toe to toe in pouring rain in Front of a passionate crowd of almost 68,000 without creating any clear chances until Rooney tripped over the trailing leg of his England team mate Sol Campbell with 17 minutes remaining.

Van Nistelrooy, who hit the bar with a penalty in the goalless draw in last season’s corresponding fixture, found the target in the 73rd minute by sending goalkeeper Jens Lehmann the wrong way with a low shot to his left.

Rooney completed the win — and capped a memorable 19th birthday — with a breakaway goal three minutes into injury time created by substitutes Louis Saha and Alan Smith. The England forward scored with ease from close-range to send Old Trafford into ecstasy.

Rooney, coincidentally, had helped end a previous Arsenal unbeaten run when, as an Everton player, he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in October 2002 which halted the Gunners’ 30-match streak without defeat.

Arsenal still lead the league on 25 points from 10 matches, two clear of Chelsea, but United are back in contention on 17 — and have not lost in 13 league and cup matches since being beaten 1-0 at Chelsea on the first day of the season. This epic tussle, prematurely hyped as the league championship decider as well as the match of the decade, was certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Tackles flew in, the play flowed from end to end and referee Mike Riley worked overtime to keep temperatures under control. He did well to keep the bookings down to five. (Reuters)