Posted: 10:10, September 4, 2022 | Updated: 10:48, September 4, 2022
Wayne Rooney has admitted Manchester United’s 8-2 demolition of Arsenal in 2011 and the Old Trafford crowd’s taunting of Arsene Wenger made him “uncomfortable”. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side inflicted the Gunners’ heaviest league defeat since 1927 on a stunning afternoon at Old Trafford where Rooney scored a hat-trick. The former United striker enjoyed the battles – which often decided who would win the Premier League title – between the two sides. Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick as Manchester United beat Arsenal 8-2 to remember in 2011. But Rooney felt United ‘took the mickey’ and didn’t like Arsene Wenger’s banter But when Wenger’s side threatened, Rooney did not enjoy fans ‘taking the mickey’ out of their opponents. The two sides meet at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon with Arsenal winning all five of their games so far under Mikel Arteta. Writing in the Sunday Times, Rooney said: “Until 2009, however, the game was not the test of old. “Chelsea first and then Chelsea [Manchester] City became our closest rivals and Arsenal weren’t the Arsenal you played against – not because they didn’t have quality, but because they didn’t have the characters they had before. That was summed up when we beat them 8-2 in August 2011. Arsene Wenger part ways with Sir Alex Ferguson after 2011 team upheaval It hurt Wenger to suffer such a heavy defeat against one of Arsenal’s biggest rivals. I scored a hat-trick, but I look back on the game with mixed feelings. It was a bit awkward, really. “I love Wenger and I have a lot of respect for him and to be jeered by the fans with 8-2 on the scoreboard was not something I liked. “Even Nani’s goal, when he beat Wojciech Szczesny, felt like he was taking the mickey.” Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for United that afternoon, before Ashley Young doubled their lead. Rooney scored his first treble just before half-time, before Theo Walcott pulled one back. United ran riot in the second half, with Rooney getting the fourth, Nani the fifth and Park Ji-sung the sixth. Rooney completes his hat-trick from the penalty spot to score United’s seventh goal of 2011 Robin van Persie grabbed a consolation for the visitors before Gunners defender Carl Jenkinson picked up a second yellow card. Rooney completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Young wrapped things up with an eighth in stoppage time. United won the title from City thanks to Sergio Aguero’s dramatic winner late on the final afternoon, while Arsenal finished a distant third. A repeat of that 8-2 scoreline on Sunday looks highly unlikely after a rejuvenated Arsenal started the season in stunning form. United, however, have won their last three games as the Erik ten Haag era takes shape after defeats to Brighton and Brentford to open the season.
