A football match is often, though not always, summed up by it's goals. Yesterday's game at the Emirates was the rule rather than the exception.

Nani has been in incandescent form and his ability to continue at this level will give Manchester United whole new dimension in attack, to offset the more athletic but less skillful Valencia.

After some initial Arsenal pressure punctuated by a few dangerous looking United raids, the ball came to Nani on the right via Carrick. The Portuguse winger started a run down the right but looked to be in a cul-de-sac as he was being tightly shadowed by Clichy and Samir Nasri. But executing a "Ronaldo chop" to perfection he managed to change direction slip between the two without dropping his pace and raced into the penalty box from the right. Denilson came racing in but it took just a shimmy of the shoulders for Nani to wrongfoot him and dance into the 6 yard box. The angle was tight but Rooney and Park were both rushing in and Nani had the presence of mind to execute the gentlest of chips over the advancing Almunia, causing the Spaniard to backpedal and attempt to push the ball over the bar, succeeding only in pushing it into his own goal.

The great injustice here was only that the goal would now stand as an own goal and be attributed to a mistake, rather than mesmerizing ball control demonstrated by the suddenly unstoppable Nani.

It took just 2 minutes for Man United to repeat the goal from the Champions League semifinal that Sky now use for their HD ads. The ball was in the United penalty box, and Arsenal were probing for a way through when Park managed to kick it out 20 yards to Rooney. Rooney held off his marker and found Nani as the latter was racing out of defence. Nani had the space and form to carry the ball another 30 yards, but all 60,000 people in the Emirates stadium, most of them in horror, could see Rooney charging through the middle unshadowed, and without a defender on his shoulder as he outpaced the retreating defenders, reached Nani's perfectly timed through-ball and lashed it into the corner of the net to put Manchester United out of reach in the game.

Again, 3 defenders running back with Rooney were all yards from him and mostly watching the ball.

The third goal came early in the second half. Arsenal had just missed a good chance as Gallas managed to get between the Manchester United defence and Van Der Saar and headed the ball, but not on target. However, he was only sauntering back when the ball was chipped to park by Carrick. The South Korean has been industrious rather than brilliant in the past year, but he was half given the length of the field to run - which he duly did, bursting into the box from the left, again, being chased rather than tackled by Arsenal's rearguard. Clichy, the only defender positioned deep enough to tackle Park, spent too much time worrying about Nani running in behind him and by the time he advanced to make a tackle, he was too late, as Park had enough time to pick his spot and slot the ball home past Almunia. Game over. And William Gallas not in sight.

From here on, it was just looking for scraps of consolation for Arsenal. Vermaelen pulled a goal back with 15 minutes to go and it was a well struck volley from the top of the penalty box as the ball bounced around the Man United area. But the deflection it took on its way from Carrick, left Van Der Saar stranded.

It's true Arsenal could have scored another in the final few minutes with Walcott's speed getting the better of Evans and Evra, which would have set up a frantic final few minutes. But in fairness, so could United, first when a horrible miscued clearance from Almunia rolled to Nani just outside the penalty box, and then a late to Rooney from yet another United counter-attack.

Arsenal's problems were apparent event to the layest of lay people at the ground.

1. Arshavin as a lone front man enjoyed little joy and though he could have done better with a couple of early half chances, he faded out. And long balls out of defence aimed at Arshavin were never ever going to get past Wes Brown.

2. Arsenal's starting 11 had not a single player looking to run into the box seeking that final through ball. As a result they resorted to 5 people playing just outside the penalty box and allowing the United defence to keep the play in front of them most of the time.

3. Denilson and Clichy had nightmarish games, and both need time to recuperate mentally and physically. Denilson was non-existent as a defensive shield and Clichy has now repeatedly been targeted by opposition teams.

4. Almunia does not inspire confidence, and he obviously does not organize the defence as he needs to.

5. Rosicky, Nasri, Arshavin, Denilson and Fabregas are all far too similar as players. Mostly skillful, with good footwork, but not much physical presence, not great in the air, not great at ball-winning, and Arsenal's attacking (without RVP) very quickly acquires an aura of sameness.

With games to come against Chelsea and Liverpool, Arsenal have much bouncing back to do. Man United just need to wrap Rooney in cotton wool, and make sure Nani is given a season long supply of whatever he's smoking nowadays! This was a title-worthy performance.