Player Ratings: Manchester United - Arsenal

MANCHESTER UNITED

Van Der Sar 6.0: Pipe and slippers evening for the Dutch keeper. Not tested at all by the misfiring Gunners.

Wes Brown 7.5: Set down a marker for the 12 April clash by keeping Hleb quiet all evening, and making some good contribution to the attack as well.

Rio Ferdinand 6.5: Snuffed out the disappointing Arsenal attack with ease.

Nemanja Vidic 7.0: Improved performance from the big Serb. Made life difficult for Arsenal from corners.

Patrice Evra 7.0: Locked down the left flank and supported the attacks with his usual effervescence.

Darren Fletcher 8: A rare appearance for the Scottish midfielder but he was really in the mood. Got forward, tackled robustly and took his goal well.

Anderson 8.5: In an impressive midfield unit, Anderson stood out as the brightest talent on show. Fizzed throughout the game and is fast becoming undroppable. If only he had a Brazilian goal scorer’s touch.

Michael Carrick 7.0: Ably supported by Anderson and Fletcher fizzing alongside, Carrick’s unsung performance should not belie his contribution to United thoroughly dominating a stronger Arsenal midfield. His pass for Nani’s goal was a peach.

Nani 8.0: At last, the Portuguese winger delivered a performance worthy of his reputation. Excellent display of wingcraft. His goal was a beauty.

Ji Sung Park 6.5: Game and willing but still struggling to impose himself after a long injury lay-off.

Wayne Rooney 8.0: Thundered back after sitting out the derby. Shone as United adopted the England model of the lone front man and set United on their way with a crucial first goal. Terrorised Gallas and Toure all evening and might be disappointed to have scored only once.

Substitutes

Paul Scholes 6.0: Slotted in easily.

Louis Saha 6.0: Looked rusty on his return to the first team. Should have scored late on.

ARSENAL

Jens Lehmann 7.0: Some smart saves alternated with some poor goal kicks, but kept the scoreline from looking like 7-0 or 8-0.

Justin Hoyte 4.0: Troubled by United attackers all evening. The young defender couldn’t make his efforts meaningful.

William Gallas 4.0 : Might now heed the proverb: He who talks big may soon look small. A disappointing evening’s work in the Manchester spotlight. Was at sixes and sevens against Rooney, and his second half kick at Nani deserved a booking too. Perhaps his worst display of the season.

Kolo Toure 5.5: Looked like he was still suffering from jet lag after his exertions in the African Cup of Nations. Lacked his usual authority and positional excellence. Clearly still jaded from his African sojourn.

Armand Traore 4.0: The youngster had a night to forget and was made dizzy by United’s movement and trickery.

Emmanuel Eboue 3.0: Dismissed early in the second half for an ugly challenge on Evra. It was his only contribution to the game.

Francesc Fabregas 5.0: The Premiership’s most improved midfielder didn’t live up to his reputation. Off the pace completely until his substitution. Failed to pick his passes, failed to win the ball, and was simply outplayed on the evening.

Gilberto Silva 5.0: Another talent to leave his better form in the locker room. No impact on the match.

Alexander Hleb 6.5: Didn’t offer his usual menace. A subdued display, but had a little more energy to give to the match than some of his teammates.

Da Silva Eduardo 5.0: His flat display mirrored that of the team.

Nicklas Bendtner 5.0: Got no change out of the United defence and little support from the Arsenal midfield.

Substitutes

Mathieu Flamini 5.0: Lost Fletcher for United’s fourth goal. So much for coming on to limit the damage.

Philippe Senderos 6.0: Should probably have started looking at all that went on at the back.

Emmanuel Adebayor 5.0: Booked for diving seconds after entering the match as a substitute, and that was just about the only thing you remember about him.

Player Ratings: Manchester United - Manchester City

Party poopers Manchester City claimed all three points and a rare double over neighbours United in an emotionally charged derby. Nigel Smith offers his player-ratings from the game.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Van Der Sar - 6: Had no chance with either of City’s goals and will feel let down by the ragged performance of the defenders in front.

Brown - 5.5: Offered little going forward. Had his hands full coping with the dangerous Petrov.

Ferdinand 5.5: Surprisingly off-colour display from the normally authoratative centre half. Nearly gifted City a third goal when needlessly giving away possession in the second half.

Vidic - 5: Made one or two heroic interventions but his current dip in form mirrors that of the whole team. Played the last 10 minutes as a centre forward and was hardly more impressive.

O'Shea - 5.5: Disappointing performance from the Irishman. Lacked the pace and imagination to support United’s attacking thrusts and looked vulnerable whenever City attacked down the flank.

Giggs - 5: Poor and peripheral performance from the winger. Seldom found himself in synch with the rhythm of the match and contributed little to the few United attacks. Substitution would have been merciful.

Anderson - 7: The pick of United’s players. The young Brazilian was inexplicably substituted when he alone demonstrated the drive and urgency that the occasion warranted.

Scholes - 5.5: Another below-par performance from the usually reliable midfield general. Sat too deep for much of the game and all too often his passes were horizontal. When he did move further forward, Scholes contributed to United’s goal. Lucky to be starting on current form.

Nani - 5: Another United forward player to be missing in action for most of the game. Failed to make any worthwhile impression in a game he will want to forget.

Ronaldo - 5.5: Looks to be running on empty. The manager complained that he the winger had been overused on midweek international duty and it showed. Heavy-legged, the Portuguese star couldn’t get past the City defenders nor offer his usual spark and invention.

Tevez - 6.5: Showed the usual willing and energy. An acrobatic first half shot was well saved. Thereafter, the Argentine was marshalled effectively by City’s defenders.

Substitutes:

Ji Sung Park - 5.5: Had little impact on the game.

Hargreaves - 5.5: Couldn’t improve on United’s disappointing midfield performance.

Carrick - 6: A good goal, but too little too late. Finally, a United midfielder on the score sheet other than Ronaldo.


MANCHESTER CITY

Hart - 7: Excellent save from Tevez in first half. Relatively untroubled by United’s toothless attack.

Ball - 6.5: Kept Nani quiet and contributed to a disciplined defensive performance.

Dunne - 8: Towering performance in defence. When City needed a last man his name was Dunne

Richards - 7: Athletic, spirited but occasionally clumsy performance from the England man who might have conceded a penalty in the first half.

Onuoha - 6.5: Understated display. Didn’t push forward as much as City might have liked but was not found wanting when United attacked.

Fernandes - 6: Showed some neat touches and used the ball with intelligence before fading in the second half.

Hamann - 7: Used all the means leagally available, and a few more, to keep Manchester United in check. Howard Webb was perhaps a touch lenient with him, and he made the most of that to stamp his authority.

Ireland - 7: Effective midfield display. Got forward well and was instrumental in City’s first goal.

Petrov - 8.5: Tormented United in an excellent first half performance. The Bulgarian was at the heart of City’s dominance and was the creator of both goals.

Benjani - 6.5: Will enjoy the tape of his first derby performance. Showed willing as the lone raider and was rewarded with his goal.

Vassell - 7: Played his part in a famous victory. Worked hard for the team, and took his goal well.

Substitutes:

Caicedo 5: No impact on the proceedings.

Sun Jihai 5: Didn’t touch the ball in the eight minutes he was on the field.