Manchester United v Arsenal - in pictures

After City tanked Spurs 5-1 in the early kick-off, United's young charges will be keen to steal the headlines and claim top spot in the league. To do that, they'll need to win by six goals. Even against a side as depleted as Arsenal's, that's some task Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

United look sharp from the opening whistle and in the 22nd minute Danny Wellbeck capitalises on woeful Arsenal defending to head a bouncing ball over Wojciech Szczesny. 1-0 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

But moments later, Jonny Evans tangles with Theo Walcott and concedes a cheap penalty. Robin van Persie takes the resulting kick, but his effort is weak and easy for the keeper David de Gea to parry Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Punishment is both swift and severe ... Ashley Young curls a sumptuous shot into the top corner of Arsenal's net having fashioned the opportunity for himself on the edge of the box. It could be 1-1 now, but instead it's 2-0 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

United are relentless in attack and Arsenal's inexperienced defence concedes a dangerously positioned free-kick. Anderson tries to distract Szczesny before Wayne Rooney pitches a sublime effort over the wall and into the top corner. 3-0 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

But another bout of negligent goalkeeping from De Gea allows Theo Walcott to pull one back. Walcott's strike spurted straight through the keeper's legs. It's 3-1 at half-time Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Not that Arsène Wenger is happy. As his players trudge off for the interval, the Frenchman gives them a piece of his mind Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

That didn't do much good; Arsenal are a damn sight worse in the second half and when Rooney curls another pristine set-piece beyond Szczesny, United go 4-1 up Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Now this is getting silly. Arsenal's defenders look hopeless against an attack as trenchant and ruthless as United's. Nani adds his name to the scoresheet with a delicate lob from close range making it 5-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Anything City can do, United can do too, it seems Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

And now they've gone one better! The United substitute Park Ji-sung finds the corner of the net with a low drive from the edge of the box. 6-1 Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Even a goal for Robin van Persie, who lashes in a volley at the far post in the 74th minute, can't temper Wenger's humiliation Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

To compound a desperate afternoon, Arsenal's young Finnish defender Carl Jenkinson has earned himself a second yellow card and, therefore, a red card for bringing down Javier Hernández when the Mexican was through on goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Five minutes later, Walcott clips Patrice Evra's foot and gifts United a penalty. Rooney grabs the ball off Ryan Giggs and sends the keeper the wrong way to complete his hat-trick Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The coup de grace is supplied by Young, who arcs another pin-point strike into the far corner of Arsenal's net in injury time ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

8-2 ... Who'd have thought it? Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Thankfully for the visitors, the final whistle has been blown. Rooney is all smiles as he walks off with the match ball after an extraordinary game Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Despite what is surely the most dispiriting league result of Wenger's tenure, these Arsenal fans are keen to show they still trust him. Yet, from the faces of those around them, it's hard to know whether all Gunners fans still feel the same Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian