Player Ratings: Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal

Manchester United defeated Arsenal 1-0 in their Champions League semi-final first leg at Old Trafford. Goal.com rates the participants.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Van der Sar -6.0: An easy evening for the Dutch veteran, who did not have a single save of note to make. Did all the simple things with minimal fuss.

O'Shea -8.0: The Irishman rarely grabs the headlines, but he will tonight. Apart from scoring the winner, O'Shea's all-round play was exemplary. He created Tevez's gilt-edged chance on 15 minutes.

Vidic -7.0: You barely noticed Vidic this evening, but that was mainly because Arsenal made so few in-roads into his territory. Very comfortable.

Ferdinand -8.5: Marked Adebayor, and barely gave the Togolese hitman a kick. Anticipated Arsenal's forward passes, and made the game look very simple.

Evra -7.0: Has been in really poor form recently, but was back to something approaching his normal self tonight. Not troubled at all defensively, he also supported the attack well.

Fletcher -6.5: Did the dirty work in midfield without really making too much of an impact.

Carrick -7.5: Showed his opposite number Song how you should play the midfield holding role. Also proved useful in advanced areas, providing the assist for O'Shea, and shooting just wide.

Anderson -8.5: Dictated the tempo in midfield, particularly in the opening period, and bossed the likes of Song and Diaby. Somewhat surprisingly subbed on 66 minutes.

Ronaldo -8.0: Has occasionally been accused of not performing in the big games, but he was a livewire throughout today. Hit the crossbar with a thunderbolt, but may be disappointed with his first half headed miss.

Tevez -8.0: The best player on the park in the opening 45 minutes. Arsenal could not cope with his movement. Created a great chance for Ronaldo, but should have scored himself on 15 minutes.

Rooney -7.0: Almost scored within 60 seconds, and put in a shift for the team. Not a trademark outing, and not as effective as Tevez and Ronaldo, but still a good showing.

Subs

Giggs 6.5: A few tricks and flicks, but nothing to get excited about.

Berbatov 6.0: Did not make the same impact that Tevez did.

Evans N/V: Only played the last few minutes.


ARSENAL

Almunia -9.0: At least two world class saves, among countless other stops in the first half, to keep Arsenal in the game. Almunia's denial of Tevez was miraculous. Man-of-the-match

Sagna -6.5: Perhaps the best of a shaky Arsenal backline, and did not disgrace himself against Rooney. Made very little headway as an attacking force though.

Toure -6.5: Positionally all over the shop in the first half, and lost Ronaldo for his headed chance. Improved considerably after the break.

Silvestre -5.0: Horrible in the first 45 minutes, he was at fault for the goal, and was sleeping on two other opportunities. After nine years at the club, Silvestre gave Manchester United yet more good service tonight.

Gibbs -4.5: A horror-show by the Arsenal left back. He may be young, but he was exposed time and time again down his left-hand side. What was Sky Sports' Andy Gray watching when he said the youngster had been "fantastic"?

Diaby -5.0 Very disappointing. Offered Gibbs no defensive support, and carelessly lost possession on numerous occasions.

Song -4.5: Was supposed to protect the Arsenal defence, but failed miserably. Song was a tactical disaster, pushing up when he should have held, and vice-versa. Constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Walcott -6.0: A few bursts of pace, but did not get enough of the ball to run at Evra. A shame because Evra has been shaky of late.

Fabregas -6.0: The only Arsenal player to put his foot on the ball in the first half, Fabregas created little, and still failed to supply Adebayor.

Nasri -5.0: Never really got in the game did the Frenchman. In fact, you would have been forgiven for thinking that he was not even on the pitch.

Adebayor -4.0: One of those nights for Adebayor, who lost almost every ball that was played up to him. How he lasted until the 83rd minute is a mystery.

Subs

Bendtner -6.0: Missed Arsenal's best chance of the match, as he headed wide.

Eduardo -N/V: Did not have a chance to get into the game.

Carlo Garganese, Goal.com