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John O'Shea celebrates with Rio Ferdinand after scoring against Arsenal - Source: Reuters -
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Manchester United hold all the cards going into the Champions League semi-final second leg at the Emirates after beating Arsenal 1-0 at Old Trafford.
It was a John O'Shea goal in the 17th minute that gave United the edge after a convincing display from the current European Champions.
After Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had talked up his side's 'attacking' mentality, it was Untied who went for the Londoners jugular from the first whistle.
This hungry attacking threat from Alex Ferguson's men, showed no signs of the stumbling United that has appeared on football pitches around the UK in recent weeks, and left Arsenal on the back foot as they scrambled to defend the United assault on goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed straight at Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia from a perfect cross by Carlos Tevez, who was handed a surprise start ahead of Dimitar Berbatov.
United forward Wayne Rooney also went close after cutting in from the left flank and sending a curling shot just wide of Almunia's goal.
While Arsenal's only real opportunity of the opening period was a shot from Cesc Fabregas which was sliced well wide of goal.
And it was left to O'Shea to put United ahead after 17 minutes - the goal coming from a Michael Carrick pass - gifting the midfielder just his second goal in 60 appearances in the tournament.
Arsenal brighten
Arsenal brightened in the second half, A rare opening for the visitors saw striker Emmanuel Adebayor shoot too high after he was picked out by a clever pass from Alex Song, but United never quite let them get into the game, nor did they quite recover from the early United siege.
United went close to doubling their lead when Ryan Giggs sent Ronaldo into space and the Portuguese's thumping shot from more than 25 yards bounced away off the crossbar.
But the hosts were nearly made to pay for their failure to add a second goal when Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner headed wide from Fabregas's free kick but Arsenal rarely threatened to get a potentially vital away goal.
There was also concern for United in the closing stages when England defender Rio Ferdinand left the field clutching his ribs but Alex Ferguson's team held firm to stay on course to reach the final in Rome.
"From our first-half display we maybe should have had a couple more goals, but we have a lead and kept a clean sheet and we know we are capable of scoring a goal at the Emirates," O'Shea said after the clash.
"But it's definitely not over."
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