Manchester United 2 – 1 Arsenal

0 – 1 Adebayor (47)
1 – 1 Ronaldo (54)
2 – 1 Hargreaves (72)

A bitterly disappointing week signalled the end of the trophy hunt for another season. In a match reminiscent of Anfield on Tuesday night, Arsenal played the better football, were the better team, put in the better performance. And lost. For all of the passing and movement, the one final push required was not there.

Yet again though the defeat was of the team’s own doing. Missed chances, good goalkeeping, fortuitous interventions by the woodwork led to lapses in defensive concentration being punished. It is a cliché to say but the line between success and failure at the highest level of football is wafer thin; Arsenal were unable to hold together for long enough to breach that gap this season.

In the midst of all of this though, it should not be forgotten the sea change in the teams performance over the course of the season when compared to the two preceding. And that is the key to gauging how this campaign has panned out. There is obvious disappointment, a common feeling amongst players, staff and supporters.

For me, the most telling aspect was the disappointment that visibly etched over Arsene’s face and body language at the end of ninety minutes to the extent that even Sir Alex Ferguson could be seen attempting to provide words of solace, knowing his team had been outplayed yet still triumphed.

If anyone doubted the character of this squad, the answer was delivered in sixty five minutes of composure and passing that this team has made their trademark. Unfortunately, it was accompanied by their more recent trademark of being unable to finish a game off.

Choosing a Man of the Match is difficult under such circumstances but Alex Hleb would be there or there abouts. Prompting, probing and doing everything but score, he popped up over the pitch to supplement the attacks which seemed to come at will in the first half. Adebayor was set up by all and sundry but whereas three months ago, the chances went in, confidence seems to have eluded him somewhat in front of goal.

As early as the twelfth minute, Eboue broke on the right and his stretched centre ran between two United defenders where Adebayor’s stubbed effort was blocked by Ferdinand. From the resulting corner, Gilberto struck a firm shot toward goal only for it to hit Song although it is doubtful if the effort would have found the back of the net with two defenders behind the Arsenal man.

United were never overwhelmed and probed bring good saves out of Lehmann, Ronaldo and Rooney denied most often. The clearest cut chance of the half though arrived when Hleb slid Adebayor through. His composure in finding the space deserted him when faced with van der Sar, a tame effort curled comfortably too close to the United goalkeeper. A similar finish came seven minutes later when Hleb again found the Togolese international following a good tackle from Gilberto.

The interval’s parity in scoreline did not last long. van Persie slid a freekick to Hleb on the edge of the area and a move seemingly stuttered to a finale with Fabregas’ effort blocked. The Dutchman had other ideas and had followed the ball into the centre, picked it up on the left edge of the area, got past the United defence and curled a cross over. Adebayor handled the ball in but so discreetly that the home players barely raised a murmur. It did not seem deliberate, his hands looked to be protecting his face from a battering that never arrived. A fortuitous finish but nothing like that for a deserved lead.

Minutes later, that could have been doubled as Ferdinand deflected a cross firmly toward his own goal only for van der Sar to save the hosts. Such fine lines between victory and defeat were emphasised when Gallas needlessly handled a Carrick flick on. Ronaldo’s twice taken penalty ended up in the net, in the same corner with Lehmann guessing right both times. Fifteen minutes of feistiness ended with Walcott and Hleb interchanging passes on the right with the England youngsters sliding across for Fabregas to blaze over. A minute later, Hleb sprinted fifty yards before putting a cross field pass to Clichy, whose cross was met by Brown, turned to his own goal where a combination of van der Sar and the post denied Arsenal.

Lady Luck had been flitting between the two dugouts and finally made her choice, pecking Arsene on the cheek and turning her affections towards Ferguson like the brazen hussy she is. Hargreaves capitalised on a Gilberto foul to send a freekick over the wall and into the net. Placement ruled out the wall or Lehmann intervening but why, oh, why was there no defender on that post with the German having to patrol the other side of the goal. Even then, her Ladyship still sent admiring glances in Arsene’s direction, chances created and missed; Bendtner had two headers late on to salvage a point. It did not happen and the Arsenal team headed home empty handed.

Much pride can be taken from the performances. To raise their game from Tuesday’s efforts to produce a performance augurs well for the future. Aside from Hleb, Clichy and Fabregas deserve special praise. The physical endurance that they have is incredible. Their consistency is a testament to their mental attitudes have covered so much ground during the season, to still sparkle when the chips have fallen out the wrapping and splattered in a massive heap is a source of great hope. Lehmann and Gilberto proved life may yet go on the pitch for them post their close season departures. They both rolled back the years yet the Brazilian transforms the dynamic of the team, requiring Fabregas to cover more ground. In both cases, with nothing but pride to play for perhaps the time is now ripe for a youngster to be given a run of four games in their positions.

Defensively, the frailties are still to be solved. Song had a reasonable afternoon considering the circumstances of his introduction. Expected slips were made but perhaps he deserves an outing or two in the heart of the defence because he is luckier that Senderos. One aspect was good to see that the experienced players around him were willing to help through cajoling; Lehmann, Toure, Gallas and Hleb could be seen talking to him throughout the half, peaking in a team meeting on the half hour mark. And what of the Captain? He is being chastised once more for not grabbing the team by the scruff of the neck when pressure was being exerted. Is it his style to do so? That is tough to answer because he certainly talks when it is going well. The media portray this with one example conveniently overlooking instances that contradict their arguments. However, there seems little doubt that the Captain needs working on in certain aspects of his game as any professional does. That does not mean that he should be stripped of the position, perhaps a man-management course might be helpful?

Defeat is hard to take but this instilled pride. There is work to be done on the squad but it was always a Work In Progress this season. A Brand New Hope is flickering. ’til Tomorrow.