Tempo and technique

The panel were impressed by the pace and the technique displayed by United and Arsenal.

The panel were impressed by the pace and the technique displayed by United and Arsenal. Samir Nasri handed Arsenal a much-needed shot in the arm as the Frenchman struck twice to secure a 2-1 win over rivals Manchester United in a gripping encounter at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners headed into the fixture having suffered their third Premier League defeat of the season at Stoke City and took advantage of a wasteful Red Devils side to down the champions. "It was a tremendous match to watch," said Joe Lovejoy of the Sunday Times. "I am not sure it was like a playground match that I ever played in, although I did defend as badly as Gary Neville. "The thing about it was the high technique - yes there were some mistakes - but the technique was fantastic. We often argue that the high tempo we play at militates against accuracy and technique but somehow they played at a fantastic pace yesterday and the technique was still excellent. There was much to admire and a fantastic advertisement for Premier League football." Arsene Wenger was feeling the strain as his troops had already lost three matches - the most recent of defeats coming last weekend at Stoke City. However Rob Beasley of the News of the World says people have overreacted. "Cesc Fabregas summed it up for me," explained Beasley. "He said this win does not change anything. We were not a bad team last week; we are not a great team now just because we beat United. We have always been good. People have overreacted to a defeat to Stoke, so don't overreact now that we have beaten Manchester United. "I think that was very clever thing to say." Lovejoy agrees: "I would not go as far as saying it was Arsene's redemption but I don't think he needed redemption really. "I never though Arsenal were going to win the title, it is still to early for them. I thought all along that Chelsea would win it. "They seem to be able to respond against high quality opposition but for some reason they struggle against Stoke, Hull and Fenerbahce. Those teams are not in the same league as Manchester United. For Alan Oliver of the Newcastle Chronicle, the game between United and Arsenal highlighted how far Newcastle still had to go. "I watched yesterday's game and I was depressed by it," admitted Oliver. "It just goes to show me, who has got Newcastle's interests at heart, just how far they have got to go to catch them up."