Louis van Gaal was in no mood to celebrate his first away win as Manchester United boss Saturday evening after an old-fashioned smash-and-grab raid on an Arsenal side who’d dominated throughout.

Making it clear his players are still well below the standards he expects at Old Trafford, the Dutchman said he “was not pleased with the way we played in the first half” of Saturday’s tea-time kick-off, adding that in “the first 35 minutes we gave the ball away so easily.”

Even David de Gea, who kept United in the game with a string of saves, wasn’t exempt from criticism.

“We have a very good goalkeeper and after the first 25 minutes you saw already that we are coming back into the game” he said. “I’m used to his quality but he has to improve also in other aspects of the game.”

The result leaves the Gunners with their worst start to a season in more than 30 years. However, Arsene Wenger felt his men had been well on top but had only themselves to blame with a “defensively naive” display.

“We had a lot of possession in the final third. We have not been efficient enough though,” said Wenger. “We have to be a bit more calm and patient.”

Not something which could be levelled at Wayne Rooney who, having scored twice for England in midweek, got United’s decisive second.

With five minutes left Angel Di Maria sent Rooney clear to score with a dink over substitute Emiliano Martinez. This sublime sucker-punch — also United’s first effort on target — had always looked possible with the home side chasing the game.

The opening goal, on 56 minutes, had been a product of calamity rather than beauty.

Kieran Gibbs and Wojciech Szczesny went for the same ball only to clatter into one another. In the aftermath, Gibbs contrived to deflect Antonio Valencia’s shot into his own net.

To compound matters, Arsenal’s Polish keeper then departed injured. If that were not enough, the influential Jack Wilshere was also forced off with an ankle knock.

The good news for Wenger was the sight of Olivier Giroud returning from a three-month injury lay-off to thrash home a half-volley in stoppage time.

Too little cutting edge, and certainly too late, for this Arsenal side who now face an even sterner test against Borussia Dortmund at the same venue on Wednesday night.