Match Report(P): Arsenal 2 - 2 United
GOALS: Fabregas; Gallas / Gallas (o.g); Ronaldo
A fiercely contested and thrilling 2-2 draw left Arsenal celebrating a great escape and United cursing their defensive frailties.
A draw between the Premiership’s top two was a fair result but that will only satisfy Sir Alex once his anger at United’s sloppiness subsides.
United took the lead again after 82 minutes. Neat work by the substitute Saha enabled Evra to cut in from the left and deliver the perfect ball across goal for Cristiano Ronaldo to shoot home with ease.
That should have sealed a famous victory. United, having been calm, constructive and mostly disciplined throughout, should have shown the professionalism to snuff out any further Arsenal challenge. But Arsene Wenger’s team, staring into the abyss, raised the tempo. In injury time, a last Gunner offensive provoked panic in United’s ranks. Amid a defensive melée, captain Gallas scored from close range to the relief of the home support.
The equaliser took the shine off a display which underlined United’s improvement this season. Given Arsenal’s undoubted midfield power, the manager’s decision to send out the same team which had broken hearts at home and abroad in the previous four matches looked bold. He was rewarded in the main by excellent performances. In particular, the Brazilian summer recruit Anderson caught the eye for his industry and commitment and came of age as a United player of immense promise.
The match was played at a furious tempo throughout, with Arsenal particularly sprightly during the opening exchanges. Sir Alex had probably counselled his players to expect a Gunner onslaught and they replied with a controlled ‘away team’ performance. There were however some heart-stopping moments. On 15 minutes Hleb thought he had gained a penalty when complaining of Vidic’s shirt pulling as he raced into the United penalty area. Referee Howard Webb thought otherwise.
Arsenal continued to probe but United weathered the storm and grew in confidence. In particular, Giggs would have been annoyed to have miscued an excellent Ronaldo cross past the far post on 16 minutes.
Arsenal too had reason to look heavenwards in frustration when Gallas’ header from an inch perfect Fabregas free-kick in the 35th minute was well saved low at his near post by Edwin van der Sar.
Arsenal might have claimed more of the possession in the first half but it was United which took the lead a few seconds before half time. To loud Arsenal protests, Brown out-muscled Hleb on the right and released Ronaldo. The winger delivered another pinpoint cross which this time found Wayne Rooney. The En,gland striker connected but it took a deflection off Gallas to see the ball hit the net.
United’s brief for the second half should have been to calm the crowd and prevent any immediate Gunner reply. Both missions were unsuccessful. With just two minutes on the clock, a clever lob into the box forced Edwin van Der Sar to deal with the threat of the advancing Adebayor. In so doing, the Dutch keeper saved United but could not stop the ball reaching the supporting fullback Sagna. He cut the ball back across the box to the unmarked Fabregas, who picked his spot at the far post with consummate ease.
Both manager’s freshened their teams as the game moved into its closing stages, determined to emerge victorious from this wonderful advert for the Premiership. The 75th minute introduction of Saha for the ineffectual Tevez proved to have greater effect but to Ferguson’s utter disappointment, it wasn’t to be decisive.
Arsenal’s strong finish left much of the 60,000-plus crowd in the Emirates Stadium delirious. For the second time in two years however, United players left the field feeling the gods in this corner of north London were against them.
TEAM: Van Der Sar; Brown (O’Shea 70) Vidic; Ferdinand; Evra; Ronaldo; Anderson (Carrick 76) Hargreaves; Giggs; Tevez (Saha 75); Rooney
Subs: Kuszczak; Nani,
POST SCRIPT
Sir Alex: “We thought we had done enough to win it, but that’s football and I cannot believe that we threw it away at the end. It was a lack of concentration on both goals. On their first one we should have cleared the ball away for a corner but didn’t. We lost our bearings.
“I think we played well, had lots of good possession and had the better chances. We controlled the game but at the end for their second goal, the cross got the faintest of touches and they scored.”
Arsene Wenger: “Our character was tested twice. We were down and came back against a very good Manchester United side. They looked as if they could always take advantage of any mistake we made.
“They have clinical players and they did that well but they didn’t create a lot. Overall it was a fair result.”
