P: Arsenal 2 - 1 United
PREVIEW
Revenge will be on Sir Alex’s mind when United take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium later today.
Last September’s home defeat at the hands of the Gunners was a rare disappointment in a season of scintillating performances and personal milestones.
United were not just beaten, they were humiliated. Arsenal’s midfield wove patterns at Old Trafford rarely seen by a Premiership side. Surprisingly for a United team managed by Ferguson, too many United players stood off their opponents allowing them time to play, as if paralysed by fear or admiration.
It was United’s worst performance of the season and the result of Fergie’s tactical miscalculation. United win ugly against Arsenal. Fierce tackling and constant harrying have proved successful in the past. Allowing the Gunners the time to establish their rhythm and the space to play lacerating triangles, invites disaster. That mistake won’t be made at the Emirates. The manager will be mindful of the possibility of United going nine points in front of Chelsea following the champions loss to Liverpooland will be confident as his team will arrive for the game in top form.
At full strength, the sides are evenly matched. Both defences look reasonably solid, so control of the midfield will be decisive in determining the game’s outcome. Sir Alex will probably start with the now trusted midfield pairing of Scholes and Carrick and will rely on their excellence to gain the ascendancy over the home side, especially as the Gunners strength in the centre will be depleted by the absence through suspension of Gilberto Silva.
The manager will have noted media reports of the training injury suffered by Van Persie, which could put him out of action for a week. But Sir Alex will also know that dangerman Emanuel Adebayore waits in the wings for a recall. The player looked a wastrel when the teams met last autumn but defender Rio Ferdinand rates the Togo hitman as his most difficult opponent of the season.
Arsenal’s Cup demolition of Liverpool and that goal against Blackburn, showed that Arsene Wenger’s troops will test to the limit United’s title credentials. But the visitors have a score to settle and in Ronaldo, Rooney, Saha, Solskjaer and Larsson, United possess match winners capable of shooting down the Gunners.
Arsenal versus United is a Premiership classic, stirring the passions because of the rivalry of the managers and a recent history of cheek by jowl competition. A draw will suit neither team. If Ronaldo hits top form and Rooney fires like the canon of old, United should win.
PREMIERSHIP RESULTS:
Liverpool 2 - 0 Chelsea; Aston Villa 2 - 0 Watford; Fulham 1 - 1 Tottenham; Middlesbrough 5 - 1 Bolton; Newcastle U. 2 - 2 West Ham; Portsmouth 0 - 1 Charlton Athletic; Reading 3 - 1 Sheffield United; Manchester C. 0 - 3 Blackburn; Wigan Athletic 0 - 2 Everton
MATCH REPORT…
Arsenal 2 - 1 United
Van Persie (82) Henry (92) / Rooney (53)
Sir Alex will wonder how United lost this match. A draw would have been a fair result but Thierry Henry’s bullet header deep into injury time handed the points and a season’s double to Arsenal.
These games have taken on the feel of the famous Ali-Frazier fights of the 1970’s, in that the sides are so well matched and duly respectful of each other’s ability. United’s team formation certainly bore the imprint of Sir Alex’s deep regard for his opponents with Rooney deployed at left wing and Giggs given a freer central role. It is a tactic United have used in European games to little effect and it did seem to hand the advantage to the home side once they had understood the United strategy.
As on their Euro-travels, Sir Alex’s men looked timid and nothing like the surging powerhouses that have collectively overwhelmed the opposition recently. With Larsson and Ronaldo having off-days, Arsenal were encouraged to take the game to the visitors.
The early exchanges favoured United. Arsenal withstood United’s attacking charges and dragged themselves back into an absorbing contest. United fell further back and defended ever more deeply as Arsenal pressed forward. Dangerman Emmanuel Adebayor, Rosicky, Fabregas and Thierry Henry were at the heart of much of Arsenal’s better work and a clever free kick and follow-up shot on 44 minutes by the French talisman, tested keeper Van Der Sar’s concentration and reaction. Despite Arsenal’s momentum, United’s defence held firm, ably supported by Carrick and Scholes. The two sides ended the half with honours even.
The match resumed with Arsenal again in the ascendancy until a classic United counter attack gave the visitors a crucial advantage. Patrice Evra, who had been on the top of his game from the very beginning, ran half the length of the pitch to exchange passes with Ronaldo and deliver a cross from the left which deflected off Kolo Toure onto the head of Rooney. The striker, whose unproductive recent form has been at issue all week, couldn’t miss and didn’t, to the delight of manager, player and the travelling Red support.
The goal on 52 minutes stung Arsenal into action. The home side swarmed forward with shots from Rosiky and Adebayopr testing Van Der Sar. But again United withstood the firestorm until the 82nd minute. Referee Steve Bennett failed to award a foul on Ronaldo and allowed to crude tackles on Scholes and Evra to go unpunished. This enabled substitute Robin Van Persie, to ghost in on United’s far post beyond Gary Neville and convert excellently Rosciky’s left wing cross
The goal would have annoyed the manager as much as Henry’s winner ten minutes later. Again, Arsenal worked the ball to United’s left and a smart give and go enabled Eboue to get a yard in front of Evra. His cross picked out Henry with inch perfect precision and the game was lost.
TEAM
United: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo (Heinze 89), Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Rooney, Larsson (Saha 80)
Subs: Kuszczak,Brown, Fletcher
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “At the moment we are so disappointed, but when I look at it we have some important away games to come and this will be good for us - we won’t be making the same mistake. We lost two goals from a position I didn’t think we would.
“Arsenal had moments in the game when they had control of possession, particularly in the second half, and maybe we sat back a little bit whereas in the first half we controlled it. I thought we had the best player on the pitch in Michael Carrick. He was magnificent. With players of that quality we will be all right.”
Arsene Wenger: “It will open up for everybody, for us and Liverpool a little bit less, but you never know. With 10 minutes to go, United were maybe champions. But you cannot say that now. United will be strong challengers for the title, because they played well today. Of course, it will be a big disappointment for them, but I don’t expect them to crumble because of that.Everyone still has a chance, us maybe less than all the others, but we will fight to win every game now.”
