It was billed to be one of the finest, competitive Manchester United/Arsenal clash in Europe, as Arsenal hoped to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit in the semi-finals of the Champions league, but pundits were shocked.

Rather, Arsenal failed to live up to expectation.

They were far more bruised at the end of the game than they were at the beginning, after wonder kid Christiano Ronaldo, masterminded a 3-1 thriller at the Emirates.

The goal machine planted two brilliant goals, with the second an absolute screamer, and set up JS Park to confine Arsenal’s European dream to oblivion.

The score line may look flattering, but the game was far from that. Arsenal played, but created almost next to nothing.

United defended well and were deadly in attack. In just seven minutes, Ronaldo’s incisive cross from the left was connected by JS Park after the gunners defender, took a tumble at a bad time.

Four minutes later, Ronaldo blasted in a thirty yard free-kick for Manchester’s second, in a goal of breathtaking genius.

The gunners lacked ideas upfront and skirted the 18 yard box of United for the entire first half with no clear threat to Van der Saar.

The scenario was no different in the second as Arsenal dominated possession but had nothing to show for it.

In the 61st minute, a brilliant counter attack plotted by JS Park and Wayne Rooney reduced the gunners to tatters, after Ronaldo connected from close range.

It was all drama when referee awarded a controversial penalty kick to Arsenal in the 74th minute after what appeared to be a legitimate challenge on Cesk Fabregas.

Darren Fletcher was red carded for the challenge, and Van Persie connected from 12 yards for Arsenal.

But that was only a consolation. It ended 3-1 on the night, 4-1 on aggregate in favor of Manchester.

The defending champions have thus booked yet another final and will play either Chelsea or Bacelona in Italy later this month.

Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline