Man United leave Arsenal trailing in their wake

By Mike Collett - Analysis

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United did on Tuesday what they failed to do at Old Trafford last week, killing off Arsenal's dreams of European glory by converting their chances in an outstanding display.

Arsenal could have gone into the Champions League second leg three or four goals behind if the European champions had taken their opportunities before halftime in the first leg.

Instead, United came to the Emirates protecting a slender 1-0 lead but they did not let Arsenal dodge the noose a second time.

Although the home side, boosted by more than 50,000 fans, started brightly, the deafening atmosphere was silenced after just 11 minutes after United scored twice to take a stranglehold on the game they never relinquished.

Mistakes by teenage defender Kieran Gibbs and Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia allowed Park Ji-sung and Cristiano Ronaldo to put United 2-0 ahead.

Arsenal's young side then simply ran out of ideas against a superbly organised and hard-working United team who did not face a serious threat on their goal until the 63rd minute.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's team selection and tactics were widely questioned last week when he played Samir Nasri as a holding midfielder and Fabregas in an advanced position.

But he was convinced that Arsenal would make up for their poor display at Old Trafford and score the goals that would take them to the final in Rome.