Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal – 29/04/09 – (Champions League) 30 April, 2009

Well not the greatest of results then, but what I think everyone is saying today is that it could’ve been a lot worse. Almunia says we have to be happy with the score and I guess he’s right – if it weren’t for him it could’ve been two or three nil. The Spanish ‘keeper had a good game last night starting from the very first minute when he was almost beaten from a lobbed Rooney header but he did well to get a hand to it and keep it out.

United started the game very well and at a high tempo. We found it very difficult to get a decent spell of possession and were hanging on a little bit. A few minutes later Gibbs slipped allowing Ronaldo the ball in the box but his shot/low cross went wide. With 15 minutes gone Almunia made a great save from Tevez at close range before Toure got it clear and I thought we’d escaped what looked like a certain goal. However from the resulting corner we conceded.

The initial ball was too long but it fell to I think Fletcher who’s ball back in got a slight deflection off Silvestre to the back post and the unmarked John O’Shea who smashed it in. We had all been drawn to the ball and made it easy for them to score. I’m still pissed off at that defending, in a game like that we need to get it right for the full 90 minutes and a sloppy mistake like that has cost us. I’d much rather concede a wonder goal we could do nothing about than one last night’s.

In the 26 minute our first chance came – Walcott got down the right, fed it to Adebayor who laid it off for Fabregas outside the box. He had two defenders closing in on him from either side so had no choice but to hit it down the middle and was comfortable enough for van der Sar

There was no doubt about it that the home side deserved their lead and we were very lucky not to be more than one goal down when Almunia made another great save from a point blank Ronaldo header and then another Ronaldo shot outside the box that he did well to gather and keep away from the following up Anderson.

At half time we needed to sort ourselves out, badly. United were running riot and looked very deadly on attack. If it weren’t for Almunia we could’ve found ourselves struggling so early in the two-legged tie.

We did improve in the second half. I think Wenger would’ve pointed out the poor defending for their goal and other chances. The defending did get better and we did show a bit more going forward, but only a bit more.

On the hour, Adebayor gave us a glimpse that he was actually on the pitch when a ball was played forward to him which he chested down and volleyed towards goal. It never threatened van der Sar as it went over the bar but Ade didn’t have much time with Ferdinand on him.

At this point I did start to get worried. It was getting later and later in the game and we didn’t seem to be doing enough. If any team was likely to score it was going to be them.

Cristiano Ronaldo showed us exactly what he can do if we don’t close him down. He was allowed space in midfield and ran towards goal before releasing an incredible 30-yard shot that crashed off the bar. The dip that he managed to get on it was amazing to watch, and watch is all that Manuel Almunia could do as the ball was fired over his head. A lucky let off there.

United didn’t stop the pressure, Carrick had a long range shot go just wide when he was left unmarked outside the box and Silvestre headed over the bar just before it was converted. Also Ryan Giggs had a goal ruled offside by one of the most marginal decisions. It does look like he was just offside but that really could’ve gone either way.

We did get one more chance late on with a free kick from about 40 yards out on the left. Cesc swung it in to a busy box and Bendtner rose above everyone to get a head on it. However his header wasn’t delicate enough, it just needed the slightest touch to guide it into the open goal but it went over. He and Eduardo were both introduced late on, but too late. I don’t know why Walcott was taken off either, if we were searching for a late away goal then surely Theo is the man to keep on the pitch, tired or not. I’m not happy with Cesc’s positioning either, we need him in central midfield. Can’t we play Nasri behind the striker? Or Theo in the middle? It’s frustrating seeing so many players being played out of position.

So we take a 1-0 loss back to the Grove, not the worst result. United had 14 shots as opposed to our 5, of which only one was on target and we didn’t win a single corner. We have to improve, Arsene says we’ll see a different Arsenal next week and I hope he’s right. At 1-0 we’re still in it but it’s going to take a good performance, in fact if we were to make it to Rome then it’d have to be one of the most memorable performances ever. If United score we require three goals to go through – that is the burning fact in my mind. An early goal to cancel out the first leg loss would be perfect but we’ll start thinking about this next week.

It turns out that Eddy’s 10 minutes was still too much and he’s injured again. I’m guessing it’s just another short-term groin problem but it is so frustrating. Silvestre also picked up a groin problem; both of them are awaiting results about next Tuesday but will not play at Portsmouth for sure. Neither will van Persie or Gael Clichy, Robin has a slight chance of making the 2nd leg but Clichy is definitely out. There are bound to be changes for Saturday’s trip to Portsmouth, all the news and more in tomorrow’s match preview. Until then.