When you lose a game there is always a number of factors that can be outlined. Today I have just witnessed Manchester United get back to their best but the best they deserved today was a point. So why did Arsenal lose?
The first turning point was Henry through on Barthez and he had a lot more time and space than perhaps he thought. He tried to roll it in to the corner but handed Barthez an easy save.
The second point was Van Nistelrooy's deliberate hand ball and the offside that followed, neither given and Man Utd scored. The linesman bottled it as officials often do at Old Trafford. Anyone remember when Curtis hacked down Overmars when it was 0-0 in 1998? The clearest of penalties you could wish to see and the ref ignored it. Now will action be taken against Ruud?
The reason why Man Utd are hated so much is because they cheat and get away with it. They have their own set of rules. The fact that Man Utd fans started singing "bad luck Arsenal for your cheating" just drives the hate further. Man Utd are still the most hated side in the league even though they are not champions so it proves it's nothing to do with success or jealousy.
I stated Man Utd were at their best and they were because any side beating Arsenal by 2 goals needs to be. Man Utd looked tight at the back the return of Brown and Silvestre recently has stiffened them up. Fergie you really shouldn't bother with Blanc.
Man Utd were never 2 goals better than Arsenal and the stats proved it, they were just 2 goals luckier. Arsenal don't usually hit any kind of form until March so the fact we are leading the Premiership is an ominous sign for our rivals. Let's just make that point. We are champions, FA cup holders, top our Champions league group and TOP OF THE PREMIERSHIP.
As for Arsenal I think Wenger should have played 5 across the middle. Wiltord out wide and Freddie playing in front of the middle 4 linking the attack and midfield. Wiltord is now for me a winger and Wenger should have played him there. The other option would have been Fred out wide as he was with Bergkamp linking. Bergy and Freddie link so well and that may have produced a goal.
There was a plus for me today and that was Taylor. He made a magnificent save to tip over at a time when it was just 1-0. He for me is a real hope for Arsenal and much underrated. Arsenal's 55 scoring run is now at an end but that is pretty meaningless considering that we would have taken 0-0 over a 2-1 defeat for sure.
Man Utd are 3 points behind and we don't start playing until March. Let's see how well they do at Highbury. For Man Utd fans reading don't get too excited you're still 3 behind and you have to come to Highbury.
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Sour grapes or what! The Gooners had one shot of note on target from Henry, Pires' shot was probably going wide anyway. Everything else was high wide and very unhandsome. They never looked like scoring after the opening 20 minutes....
