Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United – 03/11/07 – (Premier League) 5 November, 2007

Sorry about the lateness of this report. Simply haven’t had time to do it. I’m sure you’ve all read about the game enough times by now, but what a game it was, so you’re still getting a match report.

We started with Eboue on the right and Hleb in the centre. It was probably the best option to go for but Adebayor was left too isolated and after the game Wenger admitted it was a bad choice and that we missed the 4-4-2 option with Van Persie.

I thought the game would start with both teams being very cautious and it would take a while for it to get going. However the game got straight into action from the whistle, both sides were getting decent possession of the ball and creating things.

In the first half an hour I think I can say we had the upper hand; we were playing decent football and the visitors looked worried. However, United looked dangerous themselves and their counter attacks had me scared.

Possibly our best chance came from a free kick out on the right in the 36th minute. Fabregas was getting ready to take when Gallas came over to have a quick tactical word. The captain then took up position in the box and started his run he’d discussed with Cesc. William lost his man and ended up at the near post, Fabregas played the perfect ball in and Gallas got good contact. However Van der Sar got to it with his legs and it looked more and more likely that it would finish at half time level at 0-0.

However Wayne Rooney made all the visiting fans go into the break with a big grim on their faces. Ronaldo got down the right wing well and played a low ball toward the near post. Rooney made the run away from goal and got the ball before Gallas and managed to divert it into the net. Bill was sliding in for the challenge and I think his touch took it away from Almunia as it’s gone down officially as an own goal.

At half time I wasn’t in the best of moods. I couldn’t believe we were 1-0 down. A few minutes ago I was thinking that we’ll score and win in the second half, but now we were losing. After I’d come to terms with going a goal down I realised we’re more than capable of getting more than a goal back in the next 45 minutes.

In fact it only took us three minutes to get the equaliser, and it was Cesc Fabregas again who came up with the goal in the 48th minute. Eboue started off the move feeding Adebayor a good ball whose shot was blocked by Van der Sar who rushed out to collect. It looked like the ball was going out but Sagna hadn’t given up on chasing it and got there first. He found Fabregas unmarked in the box with a ‘keeper-less goalmouth starting at him. Credit has to go to Cesc for his composure and accuracy. He took a touch and then placed it right in the corner leaving the defenders on the line hopeless.

1-1 and the place went wild. The fans from Manchester visiting fans shut up and the atmosphere was incredible. We were right back in this now, Man U looked dodgy after conceding and we were looking to exploit it. The visitors soon got back into gear and this is where the game truly began…

The second half was amazing. Both teams were playing football that perfectly displayed why these two teams are 1st and 2nd in the Premiership. It was end-to-end stuff and great football in between. Both sides were also getting decent chances in front of goal and you just knew there was another goal in this game.

Time ticked on and it looked like it was going to end one goal each, unless someone got a winner late on…

And it looked like Manchester United had done it. With seven minutes left on the clock Cuntiano Ronaldo got United’s second. Saha picked out Evra who made a great run down the left, which we couldn’t defend. Almunia decided to come out to face him which proved the wrong decision as the ball was squared to Ronaldo who finished into the empty net. They went mad as they thought they’d found a crucial winner. I just held my head in my hands and faced defeat.

I thought we’d lost. I didn’t think we’d be able to get past a Man Utd side that was going to defend and time waste the rest of the game. My misery was intensified when 1. Evra’s sliced clearance looped towards goal but hit the crossbar and went over. And 2. when Eduardo was gifted a chance at the far post but decided to put his foot through it and he smashed it high and wide. I shouted many expletives to Eddy at this point and I’d just like to say I’m sorry and I didn’t mean it, I was just upset because I thought we were going to lose. Sorry Eddy.

The board went up for injury time and I prayed for a winner. There must’ve been millions of Gooners around the world begging for a late equaliser and our prayers were answered. William Gallas came up with the goal in a goalmouth scramble. Walcott shot right at the ‘keeper from 3 yards out and if Gallas hadn’t converted the re-bound then I think it’s fair to say I would’ve run on the pitch and slapped young Theo. However Big Willy was on hand and shot well from a tight angle. The ‘keeper got to it but he was way behind the line. I knew straight away it was a goal from where I was sitting and was celebrating like mad. I was just lucky the Linesman agreed with me and a few seconds later those millions of Arsenal fans joined in with me.

It was an incredible moment and the celebrations were almost as wild as when Henry scored that injury time goal last year. After the goal we had the complete stadium singing, “We are top of the league!” It was incredible.

We could’ve got a winner with United still in shock but in the end I have to admit the draw was a fair result. Neither side deserved to win and I would’ve taken the draw before the game anyway. It was a fantastic game and one I’m sure I wont forget for a while. So we kept our place at the top with a game in hand, it’s Reading away on Monday but before that it’s the Champions League on Wednesday. Thanks for reading.