Sport 09-08-2004 Arsenal Start As They Mean To Go On who: Arsenal what: Beat Manchester United 3-1 in Community Shield where: Millennium Stadium, CARDIFF when: Yesterday snippet: "Jose Antonio Reyes inspired Arsenal to victory over Manchester United in the Community Shield curtain-raiser in the Millennium Stadium," reports the BBC. "The mercurial Spaniard was a thorn in United`s side and set up Gilberto Silva to tap home the opening goal." "It was the least Arsenal deserved," says The Independent, "after going close through Thierry Henry and Jermaine Pennant before the break." In the 55th minute, United`s Alan Smith "struck an outstanding goal" from 25 yeard out, says Henry Winter in The Telegraph, "exploiting defensive mistakes by Pascal Cygan and Kolo Toure to break through and despatch a dipping volley in over Jens Lehmann." "It was the first and last favourable omen for United," says The Guardian. "Four minutes later Bergkamp picked out Gilberto on the left of the box and, with United slow to hamper him, the Brazilian rolled a cross that, after a faint contact from Jermaine Pennant, was converted by Reyes." Ashley Cole was denied credit for the rout after his 79th minute strike was deflected off Mikael Silvestre for an own goal. Meanwhile, the saga over the transfer of Patrick Vieira to Real Madrid drags on. Arsène Wenger says he`ll let his skipper go if he wants to, but has indicated his optimism that he`ll hang on his fellow Frenchman. "Real have offered £23million for Vieira," reckons The Sun, "but the Gunners are holding out for £30m." [... more]

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