review: arsenal 2 v 2 MANCHESTER UNITED

Article by Mark Graham, Stats Nerd
Match Review
Arsenal 2 v 2 Manchester United, Emirates Stadium, London, 12.45pm, Saturday 3rd November 2007.
Goals: Arsenal: Fabregas (48), Gallas (90)       Manchester United: Gallas O.G (45), Ronaldo (82).
Attendance: 60,161

For the second year running (but deservingly so) Arsenal snatched points from the Reds at the last point of the game to keep both teams equally matched at the top of the Premiership table & leaving only one winner in the form of Chelsea who after beating Wigan easily moved up the table capitalising on Arsenal & United sharing the spoils.

United took the lead twice in a entertaining game with the second half the more pleasing to the eye, William Gallas turned from Zero to Hero as he was responsible for Wayne Rooney's effort crossing his goaline on the stroke of half time.  Fabregas later equalised before Ronaldo scored with less than ten minutes to go, the cue Arsenals captain Gallas to disappoint United.

The 1st half saw little in the way of action except for a potential penalty claim after Vidic tangled with Hleb and as replays showed the Serbian clearly was tugging the Arsenal players shirt.

 Ryan Giggs then went close for United after hesitation from  Bacary Sagna to clear a Ronaldo cross, the Welshman surprised by Sanga's poor choice was almost "put off" as his limp effort failed to trouble Manuel Almunia.  Arsenal then bagged the chance of the half after an inviting Fabregas freekick was met by Gallas resulting in EVDS saving & Evra clearing the danger.

SAF had opted for a cautious defensive tactical approach with Hargreaves & Anderson providing a defensive shield which worked extremely well subduing Arsenal's passing game & leaving limited space in front of United's back four Arsenal to create anything.

With Rooney shifted wide at times and away from the recently more familiar 4-4-2 shape he had played so well in previous games, this also effected Carlos Tevez's game was as the Argie had little impact in the game, however Rooney on the stroke of half time snook into the box after Wes Brown almost threw Hleb out of the stadium, Brown then fed Ronaldo before the Portuguese winger crossed a dangerous ball into the box and William Gallas turned Rooney's shot into his own net.

United went in at half time in the lead but it didn't take the Gunners long before they equalised.

Within two minutes of the restart Eboue passed to Adebayor, and EVDS made an excellent save but Sagna did well to cross the save back into the box where right place & right time Fabregas finished easily (take a look at Wes Brown's reaction).

United who had the better chances almost took the lead on 60 minutes after a slick move involving Giggs & Rooney found the United striker in space in the area, but the build up play was not match by the finish as Rooney missed the target with a header when he could have done much better.

United & Arsenal then made several changes with Theo Walcott on for Eboue & a quiet Carlos Tevez and Anderson for Saha and Carrick.

With less than ten minutes to go, United took the lead after Evra made a forward run untracked by Walcott, the French attacking full back was played into the box with a brilliant pass from fellow Frenchman Louis Saha & Evra then responded with a pass to Ronaldo who converted for United to take the lead 2-1.

Evra sparing his blushes later almost turned villain for United as a cross from da Silva's almost found the back of the net after an attempted clearance went dreadfully wrong, breathing a sigh of relive United were somehow still ahead.  Wrong.......Arsenal then equalised in stoppage time as Clichy's cross caused havoc with several Arsenal players attempting efforts on goal & desperate United defenders flinging anything at the ball, in amongst the fury, the referee's assistant was flagging for a goal & referee Howard Webb gave a goal to William Gallas (credit to the linesman) who after replays had shown the ball clearly had crossed the line.

On fair reflection Arsenal did deserve something from the game however this was another game where United dropped points to Arsenal at the Emirates when the game could have been so easily won.

ANY COMMENTS/OPINIONS???


United's Man of the Match
Patrice Evra, Anderson, Ronaldo & Owen Hargreaves all had good games, But Evra was a menace going forward & cleared two (one nearly an own goal) efforts away from danger.

MUFC.COM's Reaction
Once again Arsenal leave it late & snatch points from out of United hands, but on the positive side I have to agree with Hargreaves in Arse scored two scrappy goals & we scored twice against the table toppers & were unlucky not to win.

Was our prediction correct?
No!! We said 2-1. MUFC INFO 2 v 14 Wrong Predictions.

Milestones
SAF's 134th draw of his Premiership career.

Cristiano Ronaldo's 39th Premiership goal of his United career & 57th goal overall.

Ryan Giggs's 515th competitive League appearance of his United career.

Ryan Giggs Countdown = 37 competitive Games left to eclipse the All Time Record Set by Sir Bobby Charlton.

United's Next Match
Wednesday 7th November 2007 against FC Dynamo Kiev in the UCL at Old Trafford, Manchester with a 19:45pm K.O.

MUFCINFO.COM Reader Feedback
Name: Alex
Email: alex@dutch-mancunians.nl
 Comments: I was so sick after the game and still am thinking about it. Anderson was really brilliant in midfield, passing & tackling! My man of the match. Unfortunately one of Ronaldo's worst games in a United shirt.