Arsenal 1-3 Man United – 31/01/10 – (Premier League) 1 February, 2010

One point out of a possible six halfway into this vitally important run of four games, it’s not going well is it! There’s no point in getting all upset and angry about yesterday; we need to pick ourselves up, figure out what went wrong and bounce back in the next game – just what Cesc is saying here. Next up though is possibly the hardest match we could get, Chelsea away. There’s no point going there thinking we’re going to lose though, we have to do everything we can this week to prepare. We’re not out of the title race yet, in fact if we pull off another win at Stamford Bridge we’ll blow it wide open again. However, lose and the title will look a bit of a long shot.

Lets focus on yesterday for the moment though. A 3-1 loss that was very similar to Chelsea defeat in November and the Champions League Semi 2nd leg exit to United last season. We were just outclassed really, we didn’t look prepared and never really got settled. It’s such a shame because games like yesterday are built up so much and our performance (once again) lacked the sort of quality you come to expect – it’s just a bit depressing really.

We didn’t start to badly to be fair, for most of the first half it was a pretty even game. Both sides looked a bit cagey but were still getting forward. Arshavin was looking dangerous and really should’ve opened the scoring on a couple of occasions.

It really looked like anyone’s game until a tactical change by Man United, they started with a side designed to nullify Fabregas but decided to switch to a team to be stronger going forward. They took a risk and Fabregas showed what he could do with the extra space almost setting up a goal but in the end it paid off for the visitors.

A period of pressure and good team play preceded a fine individual goal just after the half hour. Nani out on the right wing was all over Clichy, he just couldn’t handle him all game. With a great piece of skill flicked the ball between him and Nasri to make space to get into the box. He flicked a cross over Almunia right in front of the goal, Manuel tried to get back and flick it over the bar but ended up being a lame tap into the back of the net… it would’ve been converted anyway if he’d missed it.

We pushed for the immediate response but paid for it and was caught out on the break. The ball was given to Nani on the wing who drove up field before squaring to Rooney. It was easy for the league’s top scorer and suddenly it was 2-0 out of nowhere.

Two bad bits of defending inside four minutes and we were two down. We might’ve overcome the same score line against Bolton a few weeks ago but Man United have never ever lost a game after being 2-0 up.

They nearly got a third when Nani’s shot was deflected wide. A goal back before half time would’ve been massive but there was just as much importance at this stage just not to concede again.

We needed to start the second half well. But we didn’t. United made it 3-0 and it was another goal on the break. Park received the ball on the halfway line and began charging at our goal with two in support. It was just Clichy vs. Park, Rooney and someone else. You can’t blame Gael too much on the goal as whatever he did it would’ve ended up with a one-on-one opportunity. In the end he tried to get in the way of a squared pass forcing Park to go alone and hope Almunia would get something on it. He didn’t, and it was 3-0. Game over.

Arsenal being Arsenal we didn’t stop trying. We kind of knew that we’d lost but we still gave it a good go – you never know what might happen. We did have a few chances but nothing really was going for us.

Wenger threw on Bendtner and Walcott replacing Rosicky and the hopeless Denilson. Nicklas did alright after coming on but Theo was anonymous again.

Rooney should’ve got a second when he went clear after Eboue (who came on for Sagna) slipped but shot just wide of the post. As much as I wanted us to score I was thinking damage limitation was just as important.

With ten minutes to go we did finally get one back but it was far, far too late. Fabregas took a free kick quickly on the left for Nasri to swing in the box. The ball fell to Vermaelen on the edge of the box and struck it well in the air. It took a deflection on the way in but who cares, that’s Vermaelen’s sixth goal in the league.

The goal still gave us the faintest of glimmers of a miracle so we pushed on. Walcott had a header cleared off the line from a corner, we were pushing everyone up now just to try get us back to 3-2.

Almunia nearly rounded off another poor game by clearing the ball straight to the opposition’s feet. I think they were a bit surprised by his stupidity themselves and missed the chance.

In the 89th minute Gallas had a free header right in front of goal but the ball came awkwardly to him and put it wide. Could’ve easily scored and set up an interesting 5 minutes added time but it wasn’t to be and the game ended up 3-1.

I think both sides will argue that they should’ve scored at least two or three more than they did but you cannot deny Man United were worthy winners. Both sides had problems defensively but the visitors proved their class with their organization.

It’s too early to talk about our title chances now, next Sunday will tell all. Lets hope Wenger spends this week sorting us out and we’ll come back looking to prove a point at Chelsea.

Thanks for reading.