Arsenal 4 Man Utd 0
A hat-trick from French international striker Sylvain Wiltord inspired Arsenal to a 4-0 crushing of a second-string Manchester United side in the third round of the Worthington Cup at Highbury tonight.
Wiltord's first-half hat-trick, which was added to by Nwankwo Kanu's penalty in the second-half, restored some morale to the Gunners following their 4-2 home defeat by Charlton yesterday.
United were left to contemplate their second defeat in two days leaving them with just one victory in their last seven matches and while the youngsters strove manfully to hold back their more experienced opponents they were not helped by a lacklustre performance from veteran striker Dwight Yorke.
In the 14th minute, Wiltord, testing the offside rule to the limit, got himself on the scoresheet. A precise through ball from Kanu set up Wiltord, who, running at full speed into the box, fired left-footed past United keeper Roy Carroll.
Arsenal doubled their lead in the 29th minute when Wiltord made no mistake from the penalty spot after Carroll brought down Kanu in the box.
Wiltord completed his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time. Ray Parlour flighted the ball into the box and Wiltord, first guiding the ball upwards with his head, poked the ball past Carroll on the volley.
Wiltord was denied a fourth early in the second-half by a superb save from Raimond van de Gouw, who had come on at half-time for Carroll, while United had their best chance just after the hour mark when a deflection from a freekick forced Wright into a superb touch onto the bar.
Kanu then added a fourth for the Gunners from the penalty spot after Wiltord was sent sprawling in the box by Ronnie Wallwork.
Defender John Halls sullied Arsenal's night with his sending-off but apart from some determined runs by Luke Chadwick United never threatened to breach the opponents goal.