Two Mistakes Cost Arsenal Three Points

Manchester United 2 – 1 Arsenal

0 – 1 Arshavin (40)
1 – 1 Rooney (59 pen)
2 – 1 Diaby (64 o.g.)

It is a defeat and one that will rankle simply because a mad five minutes undid the excellent work that came before it. More to the point, they will be scratching their heads to wonder how the game slipped from their grasp. It was a lost opportunity but there should not be any storm clouds gathering for even in this adversity, the signs of the collective improvements made as the squad matures are encouraging.

The tone of the game was set in the formations employed. United set out their stall to spoil, something that should not be lost amid any rancour. For a team who have been the most effective attacking unit at home to deploy defensive tactics is recognition of the standards of Arsenal’s play this season. If the result did not bring forth any vindication of Wenger’s belief in his squad, Ferguson’s starting line-up certainly did.

Football statistics are notoriously subjective, irrespective of their basis in fact. Yet United managed a paltry three shots on target, one of which was Diaby’s own goal. Arsenal countered that, one goal, one logic defying save and a crossbar which is still reverberating from van Persie’s free-kick. Had one of the latter efforts found the net, the match would have been over. They did not and United still breathed.

Before the game, I had hoped that Bendtner would be restored to the attacking line-up, especially in the absence of Cesc, adding to the goal threat. Arsene disagreed and retained Eboue. For an hour it seemed the correct decision on the part of the manager as Arsenal were the more effective of the two sides. Gallas and Vermaelen ruthlessly shackled Rooney, the only real attacking outlet for the hosts.

The first half was a scrappy affair. Arsenal used the ball well but too often surrendered possession. United faired even worse with Valencia setting out to prove that spending £16m does not guarantee quality; Berbatov provided ample evidence that £30m gives no more reassurance in that respect.

In the end, it took a moment of sublime technique to separate the sides at the interval. Wrongly denied a penalty by the ineptitude of Mike Dean, Arshavin picked himself up and received possession from Denilson. Invited to move forward, the Russian did so unimpeded before unleashing a powerful shot. Foster got his hands to it but was unable to prevent the strike entering the net. Had it been Almunia, no doubt he would have been severely castigated by media and fans alike; no such criticism of England’s Number One.

The Spaniard would not have to wait long before putting himself in the firing line. Four minutes after the restart, van Persie should have buried the game. A swift break on the United left found van Persie in the centre, his shot seemingly heading goalwards, interrupted on it’s route to the back of the net by Foster’s outstretched boot. Moments later, Eboue had the time but not the confidence, to volley home, unmarked on the right hand side of the area. He chose to try to control the ball instead and the chance passed.

On the hour came what seemed to be a temporary redemption for the hosts. Giggs sent Rooney through and from the moment that Almunia came to meet him, there was only going to be one result. Rooney was en route to the floor before the Spaniard’s momentum forced a collision. Was the decision to meet the United attacker rash? No, the execution was, Almunia should have stayed longer on his feet, forcing Rooney wider of the goal. The resultant penalty was as coolly despatched as Eduardo’s earlier in the week.

Even then, the fates teased Wenger and his men, the luckless van Persie’s viciously curling and dipping free-kick evading Foster but not the woodwork. How costly was that to prove for within a minute, United had struck their winner. Giggs’ deliver from the set-piece was unspectacular but into a decent area of the box. Inexplicably, Diaby miscued his header into the net. There was no pressure and the safest option was to head towards the touchline from his angle of ascent. The Frenchman was not finished though. Minutes later, some sublime footwork opened an excellent opportunity but a wide swing of his left boot rendered all of the previous good work unrewarded.

The farcical refereeing decisions were unfinished. Fletcher walked from the pitch unscathed at the final whistle, something that a stronger official would not have allowed to happen. Continual foul play is a booking. Fletcher committed enough sins to warrant three yellow cards but even then Dean is so inept he would probably not have sent him off. The only dismissal was that of Wenger for the technically superb despatch of a water bottle. Even then, the officials could not convey their decision accurately, failing to inform Wenger that the stands do not include the technical area.

For all of the disappointment, there are many positives to draw upon. They outfought United, a total turnaround from the Champions League and previous visits to Old Trafford. Six bookings in one match draws an automatic fine from the FA but shows a willingness to stand and trade blows with their supposed physical superiors. Arsenal used the ball more effectively in the final third than United, creating more danger than their opponents. Missing their creative hub, Arsenal still had enough to win the game.

The forwards though need to score. van Persie is an ideal striker in a 4-3-3 and growing in maturity, not just in his play but also his leadership, highlighted by his interaction with Diaby immediately after the own goal. He needed more support, something Eboue was not able to totally provide on the right since his game is not based on attacking instinct. In midfield, the mantra that Arsenal lack depth does not stand up to scrutiny. Song, I thought, continued his impressive start to the season, ably supported in the hardworking Diaby to form an effective shield for the defence. Denilson was more than a match for Fletcher, Giggs, Valencia and Nani. Less flashy and individualistic than his opposite quartet but more in tune with the Arsenal play than any of them.

A lot of positives to draw but a galling defeat nonetheless. Losing at Old Trafford is not as detrimental to a season as other early defeats have been in the past. United will drop points to Chelsea who will reciprocate by doing so to Liverpool who will complete the circle by doing so against Arsenal. The top four matches do not win titles; United has proved that in the past. Let Arsenal do so this season.

’til Tomorrow.

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