Offside Reader Report: Doggedly Refusing to Lose

By: Nick | April 14th, 2008

*A Big thanks to Sheps for sending me his match report straight from the Old Trafford seats…

Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal

Both managers had gone into this game saying it was a must win match for their teams.

Throughout the season and arguably the last few years, these two teams have also been leagues above Liverpool and Chelsea, who will doubtlessly play out a third boredom-filled CL tie in due course, in terms of quality of football played. It was no surprise, then, when the first half produced some of the most frantic end to end football the premiership had ever seen.

Arsenal could count themselves unlucky going into the break. At the start of the season, I was surprised by Wenger’s decision to let Adebayor lead his line – surely, I ventured, he was just Kanu take 2?

Performances this season began to suggest otherwise, but he’s yet to prove that was quality rather than form, and his recent poor run was solely to blame for Arsenal’s failure to score in the first half.

At the other end, Rooney had the best of United’s chances, producing two saves from Lehmann in goal. Going into half time, I was worried – Ronaldo had not turned up, Evra was jumping in too early and Scholes – usually so good at shielding the ball from the opposition – was giving
it away left right and centre.

However, Arsenal’s young side had worked harder than the experience of United. Inevitably, they would tire at some point in the second half.

After the break, Arsenal picked up where they had left off. However, they failed to defy United’s constant chant at these games of “same old Arsenal – always cheating”.

A mix up between Ferdinand and VDS left Adebayor with a free header – inexplicably he decided to punch the ball in instead.

Sweet justice came for United a few minutes later though, when a Carrick ball into the box, aimed for Ronaldo, clearly hit Gallas’ arm and a penalty was awarded. Despite Park’s enthusiasm to get into the box, Ronaldo kept his head and finished not once, but twice on the retake to level scores.

Time and time again this season, Arsenal have failed to hang on to well deserved leads. They lack composure and this is ultimately what let United back into the game.

Anderson and Tevez – queued up before the goal anyway – now came on for the hapless Scholes and the average Park (despite his recent run of good form).

They had an instant impact. Arsenal’s yellow card tally reached 5 as Adebayor hacked away at Anderson who had dispossessed him with guile. Tevez was busy too, as Arsenal gave him enough space to ping a shot wide of the left post from well outside the area.

The pivotal moment came, however, with a poor foul on the edge of the box. Surely too close for Ronaldo, Hargreaves stepped up and swerved the ball home – bouncing an inch away from the post on the goal line.

Pure perfection, and it left Lehmann as much as a spectator as the rest of Old Trafford.

Arsenal brought on Walcott and pushed forward, but it was not to be their day. As space opened up United had chances for a third – most notably Ronaldo, who took on a shot rather than squaring to an open Rooney. There was time for some showboating from our number 7 before the final whistle blew, knocking the gunners out of contention.

A draw would have been a fairer result, given the chances the teams had. However, Arsenal lack the class, depth and professionalism of this United side. They may be able to play pretty football, but when you have to resort to playing a youth midfielder at centre back, you cannot have any realistic championship aspirations.

The next two games could seal it for United – however away to Blackburn and Chelsea are by far the easiest fixtures.

Meanwhile, Chelsea face a tough task on Thursday as they head to Goodison Park.