Arsenal 1-2 Man Utd - van Gaal wins away from Old Trafford

Giroud's late goal wasn't enough for Arsenal

Wayne Rooney scored what proved to be the winner as Manchester United clinched a 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Louis Van Gaal came into this game under pressure at Old Trafford after their worst ever start to a Premier League season, in which they had failed to register a victory away from home. With a deepening injury crisis threatening to derail their season before it had even begun he was forced into the 3-5-2 formation used at the start of the campaign, with Paddy McNair, Chris Smalling, Tyler Blackett and Luke Shaw the only fit defenders on the books.

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger and his side have stuttered their way through the campaign but with former United striker Danny Welbeck fit to start, they looked to capitalise on the lack of assurance in the opposing defence.

Alexis Sanchez and Welbeck continually chased and harried the United centre backs into conceding possession in advanced areas early on and Welbeck had the first chance of the night inside three minutes, but was blocked by McNair.

It soon became the David De Gea show as the Spaniard, still suffering from a dislocated finger, singlehandedly kept his side in the game with a string of fine saves. Jack Wilshere was twice denied by the in-form keeper, first with a curling effort from the edge of the box and then from point blank range after the ghosting into the box unmarked. Sanchez was next to try his luck with a rasping drive from the edge of the box, but again De Gea was there.

It had been a wretched half hour for the visitors with a defence all over the place and the midfield second best to every ball, while Robin Van Persie cut an isolated figure up front. The turning point appeared to be a clash between Wilshere and Maroune Fellaini, in which the Arsenal man was fortunate not to be dismissed for aiming a headbutt at the Belgian.

It sparked the visitors into life and Angel Di Maria curled narrowly wide from the corner of the penalty area, before Smalling wasted a glorious chance as he missed his kick with an attempted volley from six yards.

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The second half was a more even contest and the beleaguered visitors began to hold a real threat and gain a genuine foothold in the game.

The opening goal arrived in the 56th minute with Ashley Young, on for Shaw who limped off early on, curling in a cross and when Kieran Gibbs and Wojciech Szczesny collided at the far post it was panic stations. Antonio Valencia latched onto the loose ball and his driven cross was turned inside the far post by the swinging leg of a floored Gibbs for an own goal. To make it worse, Szczesny was forced off in the aftermath with concussion.

Arsenal immediately threw real caution to the wind and it went downhill from there. United had the Gunners where they wanted them by then and the visitors began to counter attack at will, with Di Maria playing as the central striker.

The eventual winner came on 85 minutes with Fellaini sliding the ball down the right for Di Maria to race onto and he slipped in Wayne Rooney, who produced a deft dink over the onrushing replacement keeper Damian Martinez.

The Emirates emptied in a flash, despite the eight minutes of stoppage time that were soon indicated. Those that did stay were treated to a stunning goal from returning striker Olivier Giroud, whose half volley from 25 yards ripped past De Gea and into the top corner with three added minutes left.

It proved to be just a consolation though as the boos rippled round the Emirates at the full-time whistle with Manchester United clinching their maiden away win of the season, and a first for Louis Van Gaal in the Premier League to lift themselves into fourth spot.