Arsenal's defence of their Premiership crown exploded into life after a lacklustre start to the
campaign as they stormed into a 2-0 half-time lead against Manchester United at Highbury.

Skipper Tony Adams underlined his enormous value to
the Gunners when he headed the champions into the lead
before Nicolas Anelka made up for his misses in
midweek when he scored their second at the second
attempt just before the break.

Arsenal were good value for their lead, although David
Beckham almost scored for United with a drive which hit
the inside of the post.

Peter Schmeichel and Jaap Stam gifted Arsenal an early chance when they
dallied over the ball and allowed Marc Overmars to charge down the
Dutchman's clearance but when the rebound fell to
Dennis Bergkamp be blazed over.

Beckham then lined up a free-kick a couple of yards further out than from
where he scored against Barcelona in midweek but this time his effort
was straight at David Seaman, who saved comfortably.

Lee Dixon was raiding forward at every opportunity and on nine minutes
he unleashed a snap shot from just outside the area, which Schmeichel saved.

Hughes, who was continuing in the absence of the injured Emmanuel Petit,
played Overmars in behind the United defence but the winger shot at Seaman instead of
trying to pull the ball back.

The Gunners converted their pressure into only their fourth Premiership
goal of the season in the 14th minute after Jesper Blomqvist conceded a
free-kick near the right touchline.

Hughes swung the ball over and Adams beat Stam and Schmeichel to head
home from six yards.

Arsenal's tails were up and Schmeichel saved a Bergkamp header but
Arsene Wenger's men were cutting through the United defence with ease and midway through the half
Anelka flicked the ball up for the off balance Bergkamp to hook the ball wide.

United, who deployed Ryan Giggs alongside Dwight Yorke with
Blomqvist operating on the left, were struggling up front against the
towering presence of Adams and Martin Keown.

Beckham went within millimetres of equalising with a tremendous
25-yard shot from Yorke's short pass, which hit the inside of the
post and then bounced agonisingly across the Arsenal goal.

Arsenal responded and Ray Parlour went close with an effort from 20 yards out.

Four minutes from the interval, Arsenal nearly scored a second when
Anelka spun off Henning Berg and raced through only for
Schmeichel to palm his shot away for a corner.

Anelka was not to be denied and in the 44th minute he raced through on  to
Overmars' delightful ball from the halfway line and although Schmeichel
blocked his first shot he scored from the rebound.
 
 
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Adams, Anelka (Ljungberg,
79), Bergkamp,Overmars, Keown, Parlour, Hughes.
Subs not used: Bould, Wreh, Manninger, Garde.
Booked: Hughes, Ljungberg.

Man United: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Stam, Beckham, Butt, Giggs,
Blomqvist, Keane,Yorke, Berg.

Subs not used: P. Neville, Cruyff, Van Der Gouw, Scholes, Solskjaer.
Booked: Keane.
Sentoff: Butt 51.
Attendance: 38,142.
Referee: G Barber (Pyrford).