Blood, sweat and cheers rouse Ferguson
Manchester United 2 Arsenal
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Your support makes all the difference.There are occasions when Arsenal are simply too sexy for their shirts. This was one of them on an afternoon when Manchester United left theirs soaked with sweat. The blood lust in the nostrils of Sir Alex Ferguson's men had never been more evident all season as they chased and harried their great rivals in the manner that lesser teams tend to approach them. By the end a side weakened by the absence of a quartet of key personnel had made Arsène Wenger's champions and current League leaders appear, in contrast, unusually listless and, most pertinently, reduced their advantage to a mere three points on a day when it might have been extended to nine.
"Manchester United were more aggressive and committed at important moments in the game and won more 50-50 balls," accepted Wenger. "They [United] played a cup game today. In their minds, they were outsiders. We got a good warning of how much other teams want to beat us. It opens up the title race once again."
The scale of United's achievement was illustrated by denying the visitors a goal. It had been 55 games since that last happened. Whatever epithets the United manager used after the ignominious defeat by their city rivals four weeks ago, it had the desired effect: five victories and a draw have ensued in all competitions and the championship is now seriously back on the Old Trafford schedule.
"That was the defining moment," Ferguson said of the 3-1 loss to Manchester City. "Last week's win against Liverpool was also significant. This has given us a chance. But it's early doors. There's a long way to go. Hopefully, if we can get a few players back by Christmas we will be in good fettle. We have to go to Highbury in January and that will be a massive game."
A theory had been propounded that United, deprived of so much quality – it's easily forgotten that they once boasted a team including David Beckham, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand and Nicky Butt; remember them? – would engage in a damage-limitation exercise against a virtually full-strength Arsenal. The absence of the suspended Sol Campbell was negated to a large extent by the availability again of Martin Keown, who performed with his typical ferocity. Indeed he was fortunate that the referee, Dermot Gallagher, did not witness what looked suspiciously like an off-the-ball blow in the face of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
In contrast to the Gunners' rich reserve resources, United's answer to another injury setback, that of Quinton Fortune, who, it transpired, broke his left leg against Liverpool, was to call up Phil Neville. That name is not normally one to afford the Old Trafford faithful great optimism, but he rose to the challenge magnificently with some crucial challenges. Even his distribution led to applause.
Certainly, Ferguson's initial strategy was not overtly one of concerted attack, with Van Nistelrooy a lone striker, supported on breaks by an admirable Paul Scholes, although Wenger's observation – "I cannot say I was impressed by their offensive play, but they defended very well" – was a harsh assessment.
Sometimes no amount of grace and artistry is sufficient in the face of constant hounding. As much as Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira attempted to knock the ball around with their customary élan, seeking to fashion openings for Thierry Henry in a tense start to the contest, United's rearguard and midfield, in which the centre-backs, Wes Brown and Mikaël Silvestre, as well as the oft-derided Phil Neville and Juan Sebastian Veron, epitomised the United spirit with tackling and passing which rarely offered them the space or time.
It might have turned out differently had Henry, alone and onside, having been released by Oleg Luzhny, not struck a tame shot which was comfortably dealt with by Fabien Barthez. Maybe the recently free-scoring Frenchman was taken by surprise. In any event it summed up his afternoon. Then a splendidly incisive move involving Henry culminated with Pires steering a delicate chip over their United compatriot. Barthez was relieved to watch the ball bounce just wide.
Arsenal were looking assured, having had to contend only with a ferocious drive by Van Nistelrooy, well saved by Rami Shaaban, but then a failure to clear the ball effectively cost them dear. United seized control and a ball in from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was controlled by a combination of Van Nistelrooy's chest and arm – "it was handball. There's no debate about that," said Wenger – and played outside to Scholes, who made the byline before crossing for Veron to score from close range. It was the Argentinian's first League goal of the season.
Beckham and Ferdinand, watching from the stand, were suitably impressed. Henry found the net, but had trampled all over a United defender in the process and, in the second half, Pascal Cygan's effort was charged down by Phil Neville, while Gilberto Silva wasted a decent chance. By then Shaaban, who was deputising in goal for David Seaman, was himself replaced by Stuart Taylor two minutes before the break, after suffering a thigh strain. The Swede will be out for three weeks. After the interval Taylor was immediately called into action, denying Ryan Giggs and then deflecting a Van Nistelrooy header on to the bar and to safety, although referee Gallagher had already awarded a free kick to Arsenal.
The introduction of Dennis Bergkamp immediately enlivened Arsenal, but within minutes, his compatriot Van Nistelrooy had ensured that United had placed the game beyond them. His delivery to Scholes, darting through a static rearguard, was perfection and the England midfielder buried the chance without breaking stride.
Just what Ferguson needed with Wednesday's Champions' League confrontation with Deportivo La Coruña in mind. His Arsenal counterpart, though, looked an unusually distracted man. Scarcely the ideal preparation for the visit of Valencia on Tuesday. Wenger's team talk may be as harsh as Ferguson's was a month ago.
Manchester United 2 Arsenal 0
Veron 22, Scholes 73
Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 67,650
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