After being treated to a feast of goals in the past week, we’re hoping for more of the same from Old Trafford. Manchester United, having come back to beat Chelsea 3-2 last weekend only to go down to the same opposition in a nine-goal thriller on Wednesday, host sixth-place Arsenal in the early kick-off.

The big story was always going to be Robin van Persie facing the club he scored 96 goals for in 194 games. Since joining rivals United in the summer, the Dutchman has proved just as influential for the Red Devils – his goal against Chelsea was his tenth this season.

RVP starts today so it is sure to be a feisty one. Kick-off is 30 minutes away.

Here are the teams:

Manchester United: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Rooney, van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Anderson, Hernandez, Nani, Scholes, Powell, Wootton.

Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud. Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Walcott, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Chamakh.

So the home side are unchanged from the team that beat Chelsea last Sunday, meaning Wayne Rooney will continue behind Van Persie, with Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley in midfield.

Arsene Wenger, who has just spoken glowingly about his former striker on Sky Sports, has also picked the same XI which began in the 1-0 win over QPR. Jack Wilshere continues in midfield with Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Lukas Podolski. Olivier Giroud, signed from Montpellier to replace Van Persie, will  be looking to add to his solitary Premier League goal.

Andre Santos versus Valencia definitely looks a mismatch to me. Could be a long afternoon for the Brazilian.

Gary Neville on Jack Wilshere: “He’s a tenacious little horrible thing”. And it was actually meant as a compliment.

Van Persie hugs his former team-mates in the tunnel and we’re a couple of minutes away from starting.

For those wondering, Mike Dean is today’s referee. Fingers crossed we’re talking about the football and not him at the final whistle.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal (Robin van Persie)

Speechless. The match is just three minutes old and the man of the moment has pounced. Rafael da Silva’s cross from the right is woefully cleared by Thomas Vermaelen as far as Van Persie. He takes the shot on first time and strikes beautifully into the bottom corner with his right foot.

You couldn’t write the script etc

Jamie Redknapp spoke before the game about his annoyance at players who don’t celebrate scoring against their old teams. RVP’s was fairly muted after his strike.

Jack Wilshere puts in a crunching tackle on fellow England midfielder Tom Cleverley and picks up a yellow card for his efforts.

United are well on top at the moment and Van Persie wasn’t far away from putting them two-up moments ago. Rooney threaded through the ball but Mannone stands tall to bad his shot away.

Aaron Ramsey creates a decent opening for the visitors – holding off Evra on a run down the right, then firing a ball across goal which David de Gea palms out before the danger is cleared.

Ashley Young receiving treatment for a head injury, meanwhile.

As expected, Valencia is giving Santos a torrid time. The Ecuadoran international skips by his marker and, after his cross, Rooney gets a shot off at the back post. Mannone saves but the ball is recycled and Van Persie’s header is on target but straight into the arms of the Italian.

Not bad, eh?

More joy for United down Arsenal’s left. Cleverley and Rafael break but the former’s cross to the back post doesn’t reach its intended destination.

Michael Carrick has caught Wilshere on the heel just now but avoids a booking.

Cleverley takes down Cazorla, who has been quiet so far, and becomes the latest player to see yellow.

Some pretty tasteless, but clearly audible chants from both sets of fans in the last couple of minutes.

United still dominating but have been unable to find the final killer ball. Rooney crosses to a central position and it’s cleared behind for a corner.

PENALTY TO UNITED

And’s it’s missed!! Young’s cross catches the raised arm of Cazorla and Dean points to the spot. Wayne Rooney steps up… and blasts wide from 12 yards.

Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal

Strange scenes at the break. After patting Wenger on the back, Van Persie hands Santos his jersey before disappearing down the tunnel with the rest of the players. “I’m not havin’ that,” says a disgusted Jamie Redknapp. The Arsenal defender would be better off worrying about his own performance.

Here’s the goal which separates the teams:

YouTube credit: LeagueCupHD

Teams are back out so we’re about to restart…

Just like at the start of the first half, Vermaelen has gifted United an excellent chance to double their lead. The Belgian gets the balls caught under his feet allowing Van Persie to dispossess him. His pass picks out Valencia in front of goal but he fails to make proper contact.

They continue to pour forward and Carrick’s effort from the edge of the box sails high and wide.

Santos has been awful in defence but is trying to make up by attacking freely. He reaches the end-line and puts in a ball which goes through the legs of Rio Ferdinand but with no Arsenal team-mates in sight.

Here’s Theo. The Arsenal fans had been calling for him from early and they have got their wish – the winger is on for Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal with their best chance of a goal so far. Giroud swivels in the area and gets a shot off, striking the bottom of De Gea’s near post.

Here’s that Santos shirt-swapping incident from half-time, courtesy of James Dart:

YouTube credit: JustJosh2591

Said player has wasted the opportunity to put in a good delivery from a wide position.

Already yellow-carded, Cleverley and Wilshere are both walking a tight-rope and one more badly-timed challenge might result in them an early shower for either.

Realising the risk, Ferguson whips Cleverley off for Anderson. The Brazilian was superb against Chelsea in midweek and needs to show similar performances on a more regular basis if he ever wants to fulfil his potential. He’s got a half-hour to impress here.

Good start from the former Porto man. Shows vision to pick out Young but he has strayed just offside. Arsenal get a ball into United’s box but no one gets the vital touch.

GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal (Patrice Evra)

Mannone gets a fingertip to RVP’s goalbound effort after he seemingly beats the offside trap. Young plays the corner short to Rooney and the French defender heads home for his second goal of the season.

RED CARD FOR ARSENAL (Jack Wilshere)

It was coming. Having already been warned, Wilshere stamps down on Evra and is given his marching orders. After 17 months out, the midfielder will now spend a bit longer in the stands over the next couple of weeks.

Anderson picks up a yellow for a foul on Arteta.

Watch Evra’s goal:

YouTube credit: ahmed nasr

United have put the ball into the net twice in the last few minutes but both have been ruled for offside. First, Van Persie finishes coolly, then Evans plays the Dutchman, who in turn feeds Anderson. Should really make their superiority count with a third before full-time.

Rooney booked, Podolski withdrawn for Andrei Arshavin and Nani is on in place of Valencia.

The Russian doesn’t take long to catch the eye of Mike Dean and gets booked for fouling Rafael.

Still in full voice…

Van Persie booked, meanwhile.

Goal! Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal (Santi Cazorla)

It’s too little too late but the Spaniard has just lashed a strike past his compatriot before Dean blows up.

Full-time: Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal

Not quite the 8-2 of last season but it’s another demoralising defeat for the Gunners, who are now nine points off top spot just nine games into the campaign. United go ahead of Chelsea for the time being but the Pensioners are about to kick off against Swansea. You can keep up-to-date on that and the rest of the 3pm matches here.