Match Review
Arsenal 2 v 1 Manchester United, Emirates Stadium, London, 16.00pm K.O. Sunday 21st January 2007.
Goals: Arsenal: Van Persie (83), Henry (90)            Manchester United: Rooney (53)
Attendance: 60,128

Two last gasp goals from Arsenal saw United keep a six point lead instead of what so easily could have been a 9 point lead, Wayne Rooney opened the scoring for the Reds but Van Persie equalised late on before a Henry late, late header saw all the points go to Arsenal.

United started very bright using the football well with SAF’s European formation which has never really worked before has it, yes the one whereby Ryan Giggs, a 33 year old, left winger plays central & Rooney a 20 year old striker plays out on the wing, genius eh!!! The formation allows United to keep possession but always invites teams to attack and on this occasion SAF’s tactics worked a charm.

Both teams didn’t do enough to deservingly win the match & a draw was probably a fair result as the glamour inform players on both sides failed to light up the North London skys, With no Roy Keane or Vieira anymore this fixture has changed dramatically in central midfield as you could always expect some sort of fireworks, as we all know Vieira could dish it out but never take it and it seems this tradition continued as Eboue and Rooney like in a schoolyard fight about a pokemon sticker slapped each other but, the young scouser feeling the blow more so Eboue, like a pathetic cheat came away holding his face even though replays showed there was minimalist contact.

United kept the ball without creating and it was Arsenal who went close as Henry met a Adebayor cross only for EVDS placed well in the goals to save, Henry as expected again was in the thick of the action and was denied a clear penalty even though the Frenchman made the most of the rest of the tackle, Gary Neville who would later be at fault for the Van Persie goal, stuck his leg out near Henry in United penalty area the Frenchman who then tripped, flipped & dived even though it was all ready a penalty was denied by referee Steve Bennett as he waved play on, Henry then motioned & gestured to Neville, that it was a penalty on several occasions, but the Frenchman would get his reward late on.

The second half didn’t wait long before a Goal & Wayne Rooney ended his streak with his 9th of the season after Evra made a fantastic run down the left the Full back crossed a ball which the Arsenal defence didn’t clear & Rooney adjusted his body to head home a thumping header for the lead.

Arsenal seemed only limited to shots from distance from Rosicky, but did go close in a goal yard scramble which EVDS need treatment after getting a knock in the mouth, United fans would soon all get a knock in the mouth a two goals in seven minutes left United wondering what it would have been like 9 points clear as Gary Neville hesitating left Van Persie untracked as the Dutch striker contemplated any sort of cross at the far post, Rosicky crossed a ball which Henry missed only for the gleeful Van Persie to smash home his angled shot.

After whinging about his penalty earlier in the match Henry finally got his just reward late into injury time, after United failed to pick up one of the best players in the Premiership an unmarked Henry rise like a salmon & headed past EVDS for all three points.

United Starting Line-up
Rant Ratings in parenthesis
van der Sar (7); Neville (5), Ferdinand (5), Vidic (6), Evra (7); Ronaldo (6), Carrick (8), Scholes (6), Giggs (6), Rooney (7), Larsson (6).
Subs Used:
Saha (6) for Larsson (81 mins), Heinze (6) for Ronaldo (90 mins).
Subs not used: Kusczak, Fletcher, Brown.

United's Man of the Match
Michael Carrick used the ball well in United's midfield and seemed to play better than Scholes who was playing one of his lesser games.

Rants Reaction
This could have been a whole lot worse, but due to the Scousers bashing the rentboys the Reds are 6pts clear & our hardest away fixture is now history.

Still We at RANT dont like the cagey European Away tactics with Rooney wide & Giggs in the middle, the tactics invite teams to attack & get plenty of the ball, mmmmmm i wonder if it would work with a ball winner in the middle as we dont have one (Yet!!!)

Was Rant's Prediction Right
We said 2-1, United Rant 6 v 28 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
Wayne Rooney's 36th Premiership goal of his United career & 45th goal overall.
Wayne Rooney's 120th Competitive match for United.
EVDS 80th Competitive match for United.

Ryan Giggs is one game away from matching Bill Foulkes's record of competitive matches for United.

Miscellaneous Info
United’s next match is on Saturday 27th January 2007 at Home to Portsmouth in the FA Cup 4th Round, 17.15pm K.O.