Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0:John O'Shea doesn't do goals. He does most other things, in a variety of positions, but rarely goals. When he does hit the net, however, they usually count for something and his third for his club in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Arsenal could prove invaluable after the usual suspects fluffed their lines.

O’Shea’s previous were a last-minute winner at Anfield and a strike against Everton in what was a title-winning victory, and he expertly swept home another in the 17th minute tonight to give United a slight advantage ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

The could have been travelling to London with a bigger cushion after an opening half-hour of almost complete dominance resulted in a string of top class saves from Gunners goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

The Spaniard denied Ronaldo on two occasions and Carlos Tevez from point-blank range before O’Shea finished with aplomb when Michael Carrick’s cross fell at his feet following a corner.

Tevez had started instead of Dimitar Berbatov and his enthusiasm coupled with that of Wayne Rooney ensured a lively opening from United.

A game of pure football had been expected after the sterile affair in Catalonia last night but it was another one-sided affair.

With screening midfielders Alexandre Song and Abou Diaby failing completely to quell the tide of onrushing home players, Wenger’s team were almost submerged before they had managed so much as a shot.

United would have been in front with only a minute on the clock had Almunia not managed to claw away a looping Wayne Rooney header that seemed destined to drop in.

The Spaniard then expertly parried a Ronaldo header from Tevez cross and diverted the Portugal international’s curling shot moments later.

A close-range effort from Tevez then proved to be the prelude to the opener.

Anderson’s corner fell kindly for Carrick at the far post and the midfielder elected for a firmly driven cross into the six-yard box.

Against his former club, Mikael Silvestre was eager to make a positive impression but that did not include deflecting the ball to O’Shea for the Irishman to crash his shot into the roof of Almunia’s net.

If Arsenal thought the second half at least gave them an opportunity to enjoy a more even share of possession and chances, they were mistaken.

A rocket shot from Ronaldo cannoned away for a corner off Silvestre, the same player also sliding in to clear a low Evra cross bound for Tevez.

Having given so much, Tevez was not amused to be replaced by Berbatov midway through the second-half. Not that a capacity crowd had much time to consider his reaction after a loud rendition of ‘Argentina’ that followed ‘sign him up’, a cry seemingly destined to go unheeded.

Attention was diverted by the thunderous 25-yard effort from Ronaldo that smacked into the crossbar as United strained every sinew in their search for a second.

In response, Cesc Fabregas was off target with a couple of half-chances, Emmanuel Adebayor’s volley flew over and substitute Nicolas Bendtner might well have equalised with a header from the free-kick that caused the collision which forced Rio Ferdinand off with what seemed like a rib injury.

Eduardo was introduced for Arsenal but there was no way through for Arsene Wenger’s team, though the manager will be thankful his side still have something to play for back in London.