They call it the Theatre of Dreams but Manchester United are trading in remarkable reality.
This was only the second time Sir Alex Ferguson has been able to celebrate winning the title had Old Trafford. This was the Scot’s 11th championship title but he retains the almost child-like joy in victory. He wins, relentlessly.
This was not as emphatic a performance as United have grown used to delivering of late – indeed this was the only time they have failed to score at Old Trafford in the Premier League this season. With the line in sight there was a bit of stutter but not enough to prevent them going the distance. There were flashes here of what has made United such worthy champions: the obdurate defending from Nemanja Vidic, elegant distribution from Michael Carrick, explosive runs from Cristiano Ronaldo and, of course, Wayne Rooney’s distinctive brand of full-blooded total football.
Arsenal made it hard work for them, taking the game to the hosts. There was clearly damaged pride to repair after their Champions League semi-final elimination at the hands of United. Wenger had a fresh weapon to aim at the United defence this time though. Andrei Arshavin was ineligible for European football, having played for Zenit St Petersburg early in the tournament. However, Arsenal have not lost a game he has started and the Russian forward, playing a roaming role on the left, was soon showing why Wenger fought so hard to sign him.
Arshavin played with belief and vision, his cross from the right after quarter of an hour perfectly picking out Robin van Persie after the Dutchman had pulled away at the far post. Van Persie got under his header and sent it over, though. A minute later and Arshavin was causing more problems, dribbling straight at a panicking John O’Shea. Like Lionel Messi, Arshavin’s squatness, close control and acceleration making him extremely tricky to tackle and only Jonny Evans sweeping cover challenge managed to halt the Russian’s burst.
Arshavin was booked in the first half, despite not touching Michael Carrick in his over-exuberant closing down. There was plenty of malice from Arsenal’s players in the second half though – scores were clearly being settled. In the aftermath of United’s 3-1 win at the Emirates in the Champions League semis, Evra told the French press corps that it had been “men against babies”. Not very gracious and, in quick succession at the beginning of the second half, Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri took turns to foul the French full-back. Only Fabregas was booked.
It was a foul that went unpunished that should have given United a great chance at taking the lead. With an hour gone, Darren Fletcher crossed low into the box, where Carlos Tevez span around Kolo Toure. Lukasz Fabianski flew out of the Arsenal goal and clearly made contact with Tevez as he pushed the ball away from the goalkeeper. The Argentina striker doesn’t ‘simulate’ (love that euphemism) and the penalty wasn’t given.
It is that whole-hearted warrior spirit that so endears him to United’s support. The Stretford End had implored Ferguson to “sign him up” as the game kicked off and it is difficult to imagine another player – at any club – receiving such ardent support after publicly announcing he was leaving at the end of the season. When, with 66 minutes played, the inevitable substitution came – one of Tevez’s big complaints is that he is always the first to be withdrawn – he shook his head in disappointment but Old Trafford rose in ovation. As he trotted off he waved goodbye in what will surely be his last game at Old Trafford in a United shirt.
Was it also Ronaldo’s last? That is less clear but the Portuguese is certainly in fine fettle. Within moments of the kick off he was surging into the Arsenal box, full of menace. If he does end up playing in the white shirt of Real Madrid he will struggle to find another player that better understands his game than Wayne Rooney. So stylistically different, they play with astonishing mutual intuition. From the moment in the game’s nascent stages when Ronaldo sensed Rooney’s deep run and picked him out with a dragged pass, the pair were in sync, exchanging outrageous passes and flicks.
It did not conjure a goal however, although Park ji-sung’s second-half effort should not have been ruled offside. The Korean midfielder, the replacement for Tevez, passed the ball into Ronaldo and sprinted through for the return pass. The Portuguese winger squared the ball back to Park with Fabianski committed and the substitute tapped into the open net. The linesman, though, had wrongly flagged Ronaldo offside.
Still defeat would have been exceedingly hard on an impressive Arsenal. With the clock ticking down it was they who looked like winning. With six minutes left Alex Song, up from the back, worked the ball out to Fabregas and the Arsenal captain’s swipe came crashing back off the near post. Van Persie then add to Old Trafford nerves by cutting in from the right and shooting on goal. Edwin van der Sar was solidly behind it – as he has been so often this season.
The final whistle was met with the expected jubilation and home-made flags saluting the 18-title landmark. Wenger was there to offer Ferguson a warm handshake as the United players swarmed in celebration. Out came the flame cannons, fireworks and all the rest of the bombast – but it is the football that has dazzled. There is little one can do with Ferguson and his United team but sit back in admiration.
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I knew that the above is quite a lengthy but I bet it’s worth every sentences for the Man United Fan… ( Article abstract from TELEGRAPH.CO.UK )
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