Unfortunate early slip gifts United place in Rome.

Arsenal went into the second leg of their Champions League Semi Final against Man United with every chance of overturning the 1-0 deficit they picked up at Old Trafford a week earlier. But, within 11 minutes of the kick off, United went 2-0 up, 3-0 on aggregate. With 2 away goals, Arsenal would need 4 goals to book their place in Rome. And if Arsenal could have got one back before half time, you never know. But unforunately for the Gunners, it was not to be. United got a 3rd on 65 minutes before a Van Persie penalty got Arsenal a consolation 13 minutes from time. The controversial penalty decision saw United’s Darren Fletcher get sent off, which rules him out of the final on 27th May.

United’s first goal came from an devastating and unfortunate slip from Gunners rookie left-back Kieran Gibbs. A through ball set Cristiano Ronaldo off down the left hand side, before a low cross went across the face of goal, missing everyone, and heading for Ji Sung Park. But just before it reached Park, Gibbs dashed back to try to clear. Unluckily, he judged the ball’s direction wrong, and as he was running towards his own goal, the ball was behind him. He tried to re-adjust his body to clear the body, but lost his balance and slipped, allowing Park to nip in and get an early away goal on 6 minutes. Then, just 5 minutes later, Arsenal gave away a needless free kick. Replays showed it was the wrong decision. Ronaldo stepped up for the free kick, and smashed it towards Manuel Almunia’s goal. It was hit hard, and with speed, and the speed fooled Almunia and the ball sneaked past the Spanish ‘keeper. Then United’s 3rd goal came, amazingly, from an Arsenal corner. The ball came across from Fabregas’ corner, and Vidic headed it away towards Ronaldo, who backheeled it for Park to run on to. He chargedn forward with the ball and played a neat pass to the on rushing Rooney, who move forward, just to see Ronaldo continue his run down the other side of the field. Rooney played the ball for Ronaldo who put the ball in the back of the net. It took just 13 seconds for the ball to get from Vidic’s head to the back of Arsenal’s net. But that wasn’t the end of the drama. On 77 minutes the ball looped over the United defence for Fabregas, who was in on goal. Fletcher followed the run, and brought Fabregas down. Being the last man the ref had no choice but to send off the United midfielder. Replays later proved however that Fletcher got the ball, and the decision was wrong. Van Persie slotted home the penalty to get a consolation for Arsenal. Man United have since appealed the sending off, and a decision is to be made by UEFA on Monday.