The Aftermath: United 1-0 Arsenal

The Breakdown

United 1-0 Arsenal

The big one. A dominant first half display was backed up by an equally dominant second half display. All round, it was a solid team effort and it was clinical - could've been a training session against the travelling "training centre" which is Arsenal FC.

With more of the possession, United really commanded the first half. More possession for us meant more chances, and with Arsenal fielding a rookie goalkeeper - with a surname that looks like a 5 year-old mashed the keyboard - it was unsurprising that we went in at half time 1-0 up.

A Nani free-kick, a Rooney shot, a close-shave from a misdirected clearance for Nani all could've brought the opening goal. In reply, I think Arshavin had one shot on goal? Didn't finish anywhere near it in the end, though.

United were threatening to make the breakthrough from about the 35th minute onward. It's hard to think of any occasion where Arsenal made it into their attacking third menacingly after this point. But, credit should be given where credit's due, in the 5-10 minute period after the first 5 or so minutes where Arsenal were part of this football match, Nasri, Chamakh, Wilshere and Arse-shaving all looked the part. After that though, it dried up for them all and it really was all United.

The goal wasn't anything spectacular, but it was well deserved. Coming from our two men of the moment, a cross from Nani which was deflected by Clichy and a back-breaking header, Javier Hernandez style, by Park Ji-Sung. Park had to stretch backwards because of the deflection and could do just enough to loop it high and towards the back-post, where rookie-keeper Szvsczcvwcxerny could only flap and scream wildly at. In off the post, cue rapturous celebrations.

The second half was almost identical to the first—a slow-ish start, with Arsenal slowly working themselves into it in the first 5-ish minutes. And after that, just like the first half, United took control of the game again.

Four key moments, for me, happened in the second half which could've either ended the game or left 75,000 fans absolutely disgusted.

1: Nani has a glorious opportunity after a quick-fire break. Seriously, he wins it back off Clichy and so is clear, he has the goal at his mercy and he curls it over the bar. C'mon, man.

2: Anderson is fed through by a delightfully disguised touch from Rooney and brings out the best in Szvsczvcwcxerny, who produced a pretty good save.

3: Rooney. Penalty. It would've killed off the game and would so easily make the last 10 minutes a bit more bearable. Didn't matter in the end, though. He had another chance, on the run and chip but the keeper did well and got a hand to it. Just hasn't been his season.

4: Walcott had a pretty good chance right at the death to share the spoils, undeservedly, for the Gunners. The commentators didn't make too much of it, but I think, if he were more composed and possessed enough skill, that could've changed the game. (Remember Pavlyuchenko vs. Bolton? That was class.)

1-0 enough on the night, 3 points in the bag. Job well done.

Reaction
Firstly, what has happened to Anderson? Has all our jeering finally reached his ears?


His performances of late have certainly converted me. I probably wasn't the only one to have questioned his credentials, but he put in an absolutely fantastic shift today in the heart of a 3/5 man midfield.

He was strong, he was incisive and he played some reasonably good football all round today. I am appeased.

Almost for Rooney. Almost. Blazed over with his penalty and a finger-tip save from his chip. He could have easily bagged two today and people would've forgotten all about his troubles, I'm sure. But as it turned out, neither chance was converted and we're all left with the task of believing in him and hoping it'll come good in our next game. I'm not sure if you've heard of the team we're scheduled to play next... apparently, they come from London too.

Quiet at the back, but when they got forward, our full-backs were threatening. Vintage United—at least in the right- and left-back positions.

There's not really much else to talk about. Fergie played what could be said to be a predictable 4-5-1 against difficult opposition, everyone played their part, it was open when we had the ball and tight when we didn't and the result was a clinically fashioned one.

Best Player is a tough accolade to award because it was just such a good team performance. When Anderson got the ball, it seemed like nothing could stop him (no joke.) When Park or Nani got the ball, you knew something was going to happen - and when it fell to them both in quick succession, a goal happened. Coincidence? I think not. So maybe, I'll cop out tonight and say Best Team, by miles, was clearly Manchester United. Not a biased decision at all.

Where We Stood, Where We Stand
That win takes us two points clear with a game in hand, huzzah! With Chelsea next weekend, the game in hand could turn out to be a priceless asset. But seriously, it seems like we can beat anyone at the moment. Especially a Chelsea team in disarray.

1|United|16P|20GD|34PTS
2|Arsenal|17P|15GD|32PTS
3|Man City|17P|11GD|32PTS
4|Chelsea|17P|19GD|31PTS
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5|Tottenham|17P|3GD|27PTS

Woohoo!