Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United: Barclays Premier League as it happened

Full time: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United

A game settled in the first 22 minutes. Alexis Sanchez scores twice, either side of Mesut Ozil's sweeping finish, to give the Gunners a much-needed win over a top four rival. United were limp for long periods and that is a blow to claims they can contest for the title this season.

Well that is all we have time for on this live blog. We've back with coverage of the international break this week but until then goodbye.

Olivier Giroud should put the cherry on the icing on the cake of this Arsenal performance but he finds De Gea with an effort from 12 yards.

James Wilson on for his first league appearance of the season. United throwing everything at Arsenal but they look like coming up way short.

No doubt this game is slipping towards a comfortable Arsenal win, with United running out of ideas and the hosts happy to sit back and have Van Gaal's side play in front of them. Sanchez off and Gibbs on with less than 10 minutes less.

Arsenal's best chance of the second half. Monreal comes inside in the box finds Ozil, who in an almost identical manner to the first half, sweeps the ball goalwards but De Gea makes the low save.

Lots of possession for United but Mata can't find the target with a curling effort from a central position. Into the last 20 minutes and the game looks done and dusted.

Petr Cech makes another crucial save. Schweinsteiger sees a Carrick pass come all the way to him but when he miss-controls the Gunners 'keeper smothers the ball.

Cech keeps out Wayne Rooney from 20 yards as United ratchet up the pressure. If Van Gaal's side can find a goal you wouldn't put a comeback past them.

Half a shout for a penalty for United on the hour mark as Martial goes down after losing the ball to Mertesacker, but Anthony Taylor isn't interested.

Another chance for Gomis, who twists and turns but instead of shooting across Lloris he aims for the near post and misses the target.

Yellow card for Wayne Rooney, the third United booked, for pushing Cazorla. Not been a great afternoon for the skipper, nor his team.

Michael Carrick cynically takes out Aaron Ramsey but escapes without a yellow card as the Welshman bared down on goal. Ozil takes aim with the free-kick and after the first effort comes back to the German, who drives an effort which is deflected wide.

Ashley Young comes off the left, where he has reverted after Valencia replaced Darmian, but his shot is saved well by Cech.

Under way in the second half at the Emirates Stadium. Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay off with Marouane Fellaini and Antonio Valencia coming on.

Half time: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United

Arsenal produce the perfect repost from their Champions League troubles and storm into an almost unassailable lead at the break. Alexis Sanchez has scored twice while Mesut Ozil netted in between to give the Gunners a healthy lead. United have been wretched but the save from Petr Cech after Anthony Martial's shot could prove to be crucial.

United on top in the dying embers of the first half and they should be back in the game. Martial shakes off Mertesacker and turns but Cech saves with his legs. Big moment potentially.

Social media is awash with questions of why Morgan Schneiderlin was overlooked for this game. United have look hopelessly exposed at times with just two midfielders protecting the back four, and they have been overrun by a rampant Arsenal.

Arsenal should be out of sight and they could have had a fourth as Sanchez chips the ball to the back post where Ramsey arrives but his cushion volley is over.

Santi Cazorla attempts to hit one range, and you would with everything flying in for Arsenal, but his shot evades De Gea but is also wide of the left-hand post.

Gaol: Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United (Alexis Sanchez)

Arsenal are three up inside 22 minutes and this is the pick of the bunch, and a second for Alexis Sanchez. Theo Walcott curls a pass out to the left and after Sanchez escapes Darmian he lashes the ball into the top corner. Fabulous. Wenger forgiven for the mid-week selection mess up.

Arsenal almost make it three. Ozil's plays a terrific pass to Sanchez, whose ball in behind needs Blind to clear the ball away to deny Walcott.

Goal: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United (Mesut Ozil)

Two goals separated by 33 seconds and they have almost blown Manchester United away before the game has barely begun. Theo Walcott springs free of Darmian and when he is allowed to cut inside he tees up Ozil, who places the ball wide of the motionless De Gea.

Goal: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United (Alexis Sanchez)

Arsenal have not given Manchester United a kick in these opening minutes and Sanchez flicks home brilliantly from Ozil's cross. The Gunners lead after five minutes.

First half chance for Arsenal as Cazorla swings in a free-kick from the left and De Ga punches it clear to avert the danger.

Under way at The Emirates Stadium.

Players out in both of our 4pm kick-offs. We have live blogs running for both games so feel free to toggle between the two or leave both commentaries open. We're nearly ready to go.

Listening to Arsene Wenger's pre-game interview, it sounds like he has entrusted his team to enforce a high press on United in an attempt to disrupt their passing game, which has been key to their recent form.

No doubt it has been a difficult week for Arsene Wenger. First he leaves out David Ospina from his team to face Olympiakos, where defeat leaves the club facing a group stage exit. On Friday, he went to war with journalists in his pre-match press conference which he threatened to walk out of. The Frenchman has recalled Petr Cech today but the damage has very much been done.

Full time at Goodison Park and Everton and Liverpool have drawn for the sixth time in seven meetings. Attention now turns to our 4pm kick-offs as Swansea host Tottenham and Arsenal take on Manchester United. Updates on the way.

No real surprises in the Arsenal team which sees Petr Cech return in goal. Per Mertesacker is back after Laurent Koscielny's hamstring injury in the Champions League. Olivier Giroud is back on the bench after serving his European suspension.

United make two changes after beating Sunderland. Ashley Young starts at right-back instead of the injured Antonio Valencia, while Bastian Schweinsteiger comes in for Michael Carrick.

Teams:

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez; Walcott

Manchester United: De Gea, Young, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Rooney, Memphis, Martial

Arsenal may be on the precipice of exiting the Champions League, but defeat to Manchester United would be another setback to their Premier League title ambitions. Manager Arsene Wenger threatened to leave his press conference after being questioned regarding his decision to drop Petr Cech as the Frenchman raged at the media scrutiny over his selection policy. United arrive having topped the table last weekend for the first time for two years after beating Sunderland and with Louis van Gaal's side being tipped for an unlikely title bid. Team news and updates on the way.