The party's finally started in earnest at Old Trafford. Tomas Rosicky's come off. Jack Wilshire is out. In for the Gunners? Oh, just a couple of guys named Cesc Fàbregas and Robin van Persie. After 64 minutes, Arsene Wenger has finally made his move, and you could almost hear the bass pick up and the elevator's muzak fade out.
Manchester United Vs. Arsenal: Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie Come On, DJ Turns Off The Muzak
In the first few minutes after the players came on the pitch, it looks as if Fàbregas and van Persie will both be playing centrally. Fàbregas is playing deeper, nearly at the same level as Alex Song in Arsenal's 4-2-1-3. Van Persie is behind Marouane Chamakh, playing in a support role while Samir Nasri has gone back out right.
Within moments of the substitutions, Arsenal had generated a half-chance, van Persie nearly getting on the scoresheet with his first touch. But despite the infusion of talent for Arsenal, the dynamic remains the same. The Gunners are still trying to break through a deep and compact United defense, with Anderson, Fletcher and Carrick trying to dispossess at the edge of the area. United is still trying to find insurance through counterattacks with a left-footed chance from Anderson in the 68th minutes coming two feet from doing so.
Not approaching the 70th minute, Manchester United is holding on to their 1-0 lead.
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