Wayne Rooney knows a thing or two about beating Arsenal and he was memorably part of the Man United team who demolished the Gunners 8-2.
Going back to the 2011/12 season, Sir Alex Ferguson saw his United side run out rampant winners against Arsenal in one of the more memorable defeats for the club.
Arsenal were simply never at the races that day and even though United’s own XI was cobbled together somewhat, a hat-trick and all-round stellar performance from Wayne Rooney ensured a huge day.
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Still, just because Rooney was such a killer in front of goal and had the will to win that all Ferguson sides had, doesn’t mean he isn’t human.
In fact, speaking on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, he admitted to feeling sorry for one Arsenal player.
Wayne Rooney says he felt sorry for one Arsenal player
That day at Old Trafford lives long in the memory for all the wrong reasons for us Arsenal fans.
Being hammered 8-2 by one of your biggest league rivals is no laughing matter and it was very much a day of embarrassment.
Indeed, Rooney has admitted he did in fact feel for Arsenal youngster Carl Jenkinson.
“Did you know that Carl Jenkinson was sent off? I think that was his debut as well. So even like things like that, where I felt for him as well on his debut,” Rooney commented.
Arsenal’s XI when Man United beat them 8-2
Rooney has a good memory of this game but he is in fact wrong about it being Carl Jenkinson’s debut.
The youngster had played before and while it was still very early in his Arsenal career, he had experienced action already.
Looking at the Arsenal XI that day, there were some big and well-known names involved.
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Wojciech Szczęsny started in goal, behind a back four of Jenkinson, Armand Traore, Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny.
Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky flanked either side of Francis Coquelin in midfield, while an impressive front line of Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin led the attack.
Nevertheless, United’s quartet of Ashley Young, Rooney, Nani and Danny Welbeck ran riot and ultimately, punished Arsenal in a way no other Premier League side ever has.
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