Man United 1 Arsenal 0

JOHN O’SHEA’S thunderbolt handed Manchester United a vital Champions League advantage over Arsenal.

The home side dominated the game and the Irish full-back put them ahead when he smashed the ball home from close range after 16 minutes.

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia had an inspired night between the posts and kept the Gunners in it but United will feel they should have killed off the tie with the amount of opportunities they had.

Asked if they should have scored more, O’Shea said: “Possibly with the chances we had. Their keeper has made a couple of great saves.

"On our first-half display we could have been a couple more goals up.

“But we have the goal, we kept a clean sheet and we know we’re capable of scoring an away goal at the Emirates.

“But it’s definitely not over. We tried to squeeze play up the pitch as much as we could, to keep the pressure on Arsenal.

“It worked very well, especially in the first half. Arsenal are a good team, they kept the ball well at times and it’s hard to get it back from them.

“At the Emirates, we need to improve on retaining possession.

“But overall we have to be happy.”

Spanish stopper Almunia clawed Wayne Rooney’s looping header away from the far post in the opening minute of the game and blocked Carlos Tevez’s close-range effort 15 minutes later.

But the Gunners failed to trouble Edwin van Der Sar in the United goal during the opening exchanges, despite a continued spell of possession towards the end of the first period.

Rooney flashed a curling shot just wide from 20 yards as United looked to finish the half on top.

A short backpass from rookie left-back Kieran Gibbs almost allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to nip in but Almunia once again made a sliding block to make the save.

The second half started brightly for the home side, with Brazilian midfielder Anderson trying his luck from 20 yards out, only to see his shot blaze over.

The visitors pushed forward but Emmanuel Adebayor was deprived of service from the Arsenal midfield and cut a frustrated figure up front.

However, 10 minutes into the second half, the Togo hitman made space for a half-volley after chesting the ball down 18 yards out, but fired his effort over.

United then brought on Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov for the final 24 minutes, as Anderson and Tevez made way.

The Red Devils continued to dictate the play and Ronaldo’s speculative 30-yard effort on 68 minutes rattled Almunia’s crossbar.

Arsenal made a change when Nicklas Bendtner replaced the ineffective Theo Walcott on 71 minutes.

Michael Carrick fired wide from 30 yards as United stepped up a gear in search of a second goal.

Ronaldo threatened to make it two when he got on the end of Rooney’s cross but the World Player of the Year headed over from six yards out.

Giggs had the ball in the back of the net after latching on to Rooney’s throughball before rounding Almunia but his effort was ruled offside.

Arsene Wenger hauled Adebayor off with seven minutes remaining, the African forward being replaced by Eduardo.

But the Croatian's introduction failed to spark a comeback from the away side and O'Shea's early strike means United will take a vital advantage into next Tuesday's second leg at the Emirates Stadium.