The Premiership’s biggest game of the season so far ended honours even as Arsenal and Manchester United shared two goals apiece at the Emirates on Saturday.
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The Premiership’s top two went head-to-head for the first time this season, both in excellent form. Arsenal, top of the table and unbeaten in 24 games, and United, second but level on points with Arsenal and coming into the game on the back of eight consecutive league wins.
Although Arsenal started the game the stronger and just edged the visitors possession-wise United silenced the home crowd by nicking the lead just before half-time. Some great work on the right wing by full back Wes Brown, saw him passing to Cristiano Ronaldo who swept in a great cross which Wayne Rooney managed to knock past goalkeeper Almunia, albeit thanks to a slight deflection off defender William Gallas.
Half time Arsenal 0 Manchester United 1
However, this young Arsenal side are made of strong stuff and within five minutes of the restart they were level. For once they managed to get bodies in the box, and with United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar stranded, Arsenal’s player of the season so far Cesc Fabregas was left with the relatively simple task of stroking the ball into the corner and away from the covering Rio Ferdinand on the line.
United then weathered a brief Arsenal flurry and, despite the home side’s dominance in possession, looked the stronger and more dangerous team. With less than ten minutes to go their counter-attacking was rewarded when substitute Louis Saha played an exquisite reverse pass to Evra whose cross was converted easily by Ronaldo. 2-1 United and it looked as though Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season was about to be ended by their title rivals.
Thrilling finish
But still Arsenal weren’t beaten. With the clock showing 90 minutes and with stoppage time being played William Gallas managed to squeeze in a great volley to level the scores. Despite the fact the ball was pushed out of the United net by Vidic a great spot by the linesman correctly awarded the goal and ensured both sides went home with a point.
Real winners?
Although both sides will be relatively happy with the draw, United will surely feel aggrieved at losing a late goal when the three points seemed to be theirs. Arsenal too will look at only two points out of six in their last two games against Liverpool and United and wonder if that will be enough to capture the title again. Yet the real winners have to be Chelsea. After watching their title rivals take points off one another they quietly went to Wigan and took an easy win which leaves them an ominous three points off the top; something that will not have gone unnoticed by either Arsenal or United.
Gill Clark - Gill is a writer with a wide range of interests and a quite worrying obsession with the beautiful game. Born and raised by Wolverhampton ...
