United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have been frustrated by his side's wastefulness, with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo guilty of throwing away obvious openings.

It was United who had the first opportunity when Arsenal keeper Almunia inexplicably picked up a backpass from Mikael Silvestre inside the first two minutes. Arsenal were relieved when Anderson's free-kick was half-cleared and Michael Carrick turned the loose ball wide.

Rooney missed an even better chance for United after 17 minutes, carelessly lofting an inviting ball from Ronaldo over the top when it seemed certain he would score.

Arsenal took full advantage of the reprieve to take the lead five minutes later, when Nasri's shot took a crucial deflection off Neville and wrong-footed Edwin van der Sar. It was a wonderfully open game but Arsenal were playing like a team stung by recent criticism and the sight of old rivals United had only inspired them further.

Fabregas had a shot deflected just wide but United were threatening themselves and Almunia needed to save well from Ji-Sung Park.

If there was a frustration for Arsenal, it would have been that the crucial second goal had eluded them, despite their dominance. They did not have to wait long to get it as Nasri doubled their advantage three minutes after the restart. Fabregas was at the centre of affairs again, punishing United for failing to pick up Nasri when he threaded through a perfect pass for the France midfield man to beat Van der Sar with an emphatic finish.

United, uncharacteristically, were lacking a cutting edge and wasted a perfect opportunity to grasp at a lifeline immediately after Arsenal's goal. Park found Ronaldo unmarked at the far post but he dragged his shot across the face of goal with only Almunia to beat.

Almunia then required lengthy treatment after an accidental clash with Carrick as United refused to give up on the belief that they could get back into an enthralling encounter. He carried on but was clearly in discomfort and was replaced by Lukasz Fabianski with 12 minutes left.

United also replaced Rooney with Carlos Tevez and Anderson with Ryan Giggs in what was clearly a last throw of the dice by Ferguson as time ran out. Rafael, who had replaced Neville in the 63rd minute, pulled one back in the final minute with a spectacular left-foot volley from the edge of the box after Arsenal failed to clear a Giggs cross.

Nemanja Vidic says the Reds will learn valuable lessons from Saturday’s 4-3 win over Hull City.

United claimed all three points but the visitors became the first side to score three times at Old Trafford in 92 games (Chelsea beat United 3-1 in May 2005).

“The most important thing is that we took the three points,” Vidic conceded, “but we made a few mistakes and lost a few goals, which is not good for us, especially the defenders. We can learn from the game. We made small mistakes that cost us three goals, so I hope we can improve on that so it doesn't happen again.”

Hull’s third came via the penalty spot in the 82nd minute. It lifted the visitors even further and although the Reds didn’t quite enter panic mode, there were certainly a few nervy moments before the final whistle. Vidic conceded United were “under a little pressure” in the closing moments but insisted the players wouldn’t dwell on the match.

“We need to forget this game but not how we conceded the goals. That way we can make sure it doesn’t happen again. We have a few days to work on that [before Celtic] and to improve.

“The first goal was from a set-piece and the third came after we had a corner and we were out of position, so they were able to counter-attack. These are small mistakes that don’t usually happen with us. We need to learn from our mistakes but we don’t need to be too worried.”

Ronaldo might be benched against Celtic as Carlos Tevez and Anderson are back in contention after missing Saturday's 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick miss out of course and they are joined in the stands by Patrice Evra who was taken off with a hamstring injury against West Brom and won't be risked tomorrow night.

He should be OK for Saturday,' Fergie said, referring to Saturday's trip to Goodison Park. The manager also confirmed that he was considering relegating Ronaldo to the bench as he's still not at full fitness and has played a lot of games in recent weeks.

If he won't start then Nani is likely to take his place in the side. Anderson and Carlos Tevez are likely to be handed starts after missing Saturday's win because they arrived back very late from international duty.

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ONE day he will be a regular Manchester United centre-half". That's the view of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on Newtownabbey lad Jonny Evans.

Evans, a Northern Ireland international, impressed the Old Trafford boss with steady performances in defence against Villarreal in a Champion's League clash and in Sunday's Premier League showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

In Tuesday's match programme Sir Alex wrote: "I take several positives from our form, including the performance of Jonny Evans."

"Jonny showed why one day he will be a regular Manchester United centre-half. A number of clubs have bid substantial amounts for him, but we have turned them all down because his future is with us.

"We have the strong partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic, of course, but he will get sufficient games to keep him in the first team scene and he will realise that he is at the right club, just as Ronaldo came to accept that at this stage of his career, United is the place for him."

Evans, who made his competitive United debut in last season's Carling Cup has enjoyed loan spells with Roy Keane's Sunderland and Royal Antwerp in Belgium.

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed his Manchester United side to bounce back from their Premier League defeat at Liverpool.

The Red Devils only have a few days to lick their wounds following the Anfield reverse before they begin the defence of their UEFA Champions League crown. Villarreal are the visitors to Old Trafford on Wednesday night in the first match of a group phase which also features Celtic and Danish side Aalborg.

The Scot laid into his players in the wake of their weekend setback, when defensive blunders handed Liverpool both of their goals in a 2-1 triumph for Rafa Benitez's men.

But Ferguson expects his team will have already moved on by Wednesday night and has already set his sights on qualifying for the knockout phase.

"You have to recover, that's the name of the game," Ferguson said.

"It's the Champions League and I think we are in a good group and I think we have a good chance of qualifying. The way I look at the Champions League is to get to 10 points. If you get that you know you have qualified and you can look forward to February when it really starts to kick in."

Manchester United have named their former midfielder Mike Phelan as assistant manager, while Rene Meulensteen becomes first team coach.

Phelan, 45, replaces Carlos Queiroz, who left his position to take over as Portugal's coach in July.

Dutchman Meulensteen is promoted from technical skills development officer.

"Mick knows Manchester United inside out, having been associated with the club for the best part of 20 years," manager Sir Alex Ferguson said.

"I am delighted that Mick and Rene have agreed to fill these important positions.

Manchester United failed to become the ninth British winners of the Uefa Super Cup when they lost narrowly 2-1 to an impressive Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco.

For the first 60 minutes Zenit were comfortably two goals ahead through a fist half header from Pogrebnyak then a wonderful solo effort from Portuguese star Danny on 58 minutes.

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson had been insistent this was a cup he wanted to win and only after the Russians were two goals clear did his team make any attempt to get a result.

Suddenly it was United who looked the stronger side and their dominance was rewarded on 72 minutes when defender Nemenja Vidic forced the ball home from close range.

John O'Shea and Carlos Tevez had opportunities to equalise but United's misery was complete in the final minute when Paul Scholes was dismissed for a second yellow card after a blatant hand ball.

The United chief acknowledged his side only came to life once they were behind. He told ITV1,"We probably played our best football when we were two goals down and then we created one or two chances, but it was a very warm night, an open game and their were some tired players out there at the end.

"Tevez was outstanding, he was fantastic. We had some of the best chances in the match, but that happens.

Sir Alex has taken a 19-man squad to Monaco for Friday night’s Super Cup clash with Zenit St Petersburg.

The Reds left Manchester Airport on Thursday morning at 09:00 BST and will train at Stade de Louis II later in the day. Kick-off on Friday night is at 19:45 BST.

Cristiano Ronaldo has travelled with the team, although he’s still recovering from injury and won’t feature in Sir Alex’s playing plans.

United squad: Kuszczak, Van der Sar; Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Neville, O’Shea, Vidic; Anderson, Fletcher, Gibson, Hargreaves, Nani, Park, Possebon, Scholes; Campbell, Rooney, Tevez

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic claims to have been misquoted in an interview with Russian football magazine Football Weekly in which he was critical of the Manchester weather and the English lifestyle.

Vidic has admitted that he did talk about the difficulties he had settling in England after his move to Old Trafford from Spartak Moscow in January 2006 but says his remarks were taken out of context.

He told United's official website: "I'd like to clarify that I did not make these particular remarks. I spoke about the difficulty I had settling in to life in Manchester, but that does not reflect how I feel now.

"I enjoy my life very much as a footballer at Manchester United and I'm very happy to be a part of this great club. I think I show that in the way I play every week. I also have far too much respect for the people of Manchester, and England, to criticise them in this way."