5.35 PM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Man Utd pay heavy price for Arsenal win

Arsenal's Theo Walcott (left) looks on as Phil Jones of Manchester United is given treatment during the Barclays Premier League match at Emirates Stadium on Sunday in London, England. (GETTY)

Published
By Agencies

Manchester United's victory against Arsenal seems to have come at a cost with Sir Alex Ferguson revealing defender Phil Jones will be out for "a few weeks" after suffering ankle ligament damage.

The teenage stopper was stretchered off just 15 minutes into United's 2-1 triumph at Emirates Stadium after suffering the knock.

Jones had only just returned after missing last weekend's win over Bolton due to injury.

This comes on top of injuries to Nani, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick who all picked up knocks.

Nani boarded the team bus wearing a protective boot on his right foot, Rooney also limped his way out of the stadium and Carrick played through the pain of a hamstring strain.

Ferguson, who was already without Rio Ferdinand, Anderson, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young, Michael Owen and long-term absentees Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic, said: "It's not good news for us.

"I think Jones will be out for a few weeks - it's ankle ligaments.

"Carrick was feeling his hamstring in the second half and he just had to sit in the middle of the pitch."

The win took United back to within three points of City.

"It was important to win after City had won their game, but the manner in which we won was the more pleasing thing for me," Ferguson said, before looking ahead to even tougher trips to Chelsea, Tottenham and City.

"I said before the game that we had four massive away games to come and that's one out the way. What we need to do is stay on City's coat-tails."

Ferguson singled out match-winner Danny Welbeck for special praise after the England striker scored for the third successive game.

"Danny was fantastic. His work-rate and movement are great," he said. "He could have scored five. He was unlucky in that sense, but he's got the important goal and continued his run of scoring in the first team. For a 21-year-old, he's doing really well."

Welbeck revealed United had watched City's win over Spurs in their dressing room, telling MUTV: "It was on in the changing room but we couldn't let it affect us or the way we played - we just played our normal game.

"I'm over the moon, but the team worked tirelessly all the way through. A few people were cramping up towards the end - I was one of the victims. To get a starting berth up top with Wazza (Rooney) in behind me, we're forming a great partnership and I'm just looking forward to carrying that on."

United skipper Evra said: "We're still behind City but we have to keep winning. When we play with the United spirit, it's difficult to beat us."