I can take it no more...football is going to kill me sooner rather than later, and I’m just watching it. My heart is still pounding as I’m writing this. Man Utd vs Arsenal, clash of the top two in the EPL. Both teams are in irresistible form at the moment, both teams playing caviar football and both teams looking undefeatable. Try pitting these two together in an EPL match, and what do you get? Fireworks, lots of em’. The match was build up as a season decider, which means that the winner of this fixture will go on to win the title. I’m now back at my grandparents house enjoying the comfort of having my family around me and enjoy a mouthwatering clash between the two titans of English football. Looks like the Arsenal-United duopoly are starting all over again, although Liverpool and Chelsea do deserve a mention.
The only difference in United’s starting line up from their previous game was Evra and Giggs back in the side for O’Shea and Nani respectively. The inclusion of Giggs, in Steve McMahon’s words was because he’s been there, done it, got the shirt and still wearing it. In my words, he’s more experienced. The game was predicted to be a classic match up between the two, and no wonder. United started the game on the back foot, and Arsenal were…sigh, I hate to say it, very good. Right from the start, I could tell that it was not going to be United’s night, I just had that feeling. Arsenal were more composed, trying to break down the United defense, while United were unable to get a stronghold on the game. In previous years, United-Arsenal games are highlighted by the battles of the snarling Roy Keane and the ferocious Patrick Vieira. With Keane now managing Premiership side Sunderland and Vieira at Inter Milan, most would think that the intensity of the game would drop. Wrong. Although the hatred between the two clubs have turned into mutual respect for one another, the clash of the future stars Anderson
and Fabregas not surprisingly showed glimpses of the old days of Keane and Vieira.
Hargreaves had a pretty good match, especially in the first half where United stifled Arsenal’s attacking threat quite steadily with Hargreaves in particular nullifying most of the threat posed by the Arsenal attacking front. United had Hargreaves and Anderson running the engine room in the middle of the park, allowing the front four of Rooney, Ron, Tevez and Giggs to roam upfront, finding cracks in the Arsenal back four. The first half was a cagey affair, and it was pretty boring, seriously. However I was shaking in anticipation, waiting for something to happen. That something finally happened on the stroke of half time when Rooney stole in the front post to put Ron’s cross into the net via a deflection by Gallas. Arsene Wenger was fuming as he protested about the body check given by Brown before laying the ball to Ron who in turn supplied Rooney to give the finishing touch.
United leading at half time, and I couldn’t be happier. BUT as they say, football is a complicating game. Right after the restart Arsenal got back into the game through Fabregas. Van Der Sar made a very good safe from Adebayor, but Sagna kept the ball alive with a last ditch cross which found Fabregas in front of the goal. He took his time, and then stroked the ball past the United defenders. The game had finally opened up, and it was breathtaking. Both teams used up all of their substitutes, but I’ll get to that later. Fergie put O’Shea on for Brown in the middle of the 2nd half (I really believe that Brown is not the right man to be playing at full back, he just doesn’t have the accuracy and pace). This was really edge of the seat stuff, and my heart felt like bursting out of
my chest. Every time Arsenal got the ball, they looked like they might score, and the space now is so much more compared to the first half as both sides were playing attacking football. It was from one end of the field to another, and was impossible to choose a winner.
At this moment, I was just happy for a draw. It was the Emirates stadium, and Arsenal are on a roll at the moment, a draw would be a very satisfactory result indeed. Then, Fergie made a master stroke and subbed Tevez by bringing on Saha. Not many would put their money on the French striker after his many injuries, and certainly no one would want to break the promising Rooney-Tevez partnership which has rewarded United with so many goals. However football is unpredictable, and as soon as he came onto the field, Saha held the ball, fed a delightful through ball to the on coming Evra who picked out Ron with a cutback. Ron just had to put the ball into an empty net. Obviously being a Man United fan (in case you haven’t noticed) I jumped up and down in the living room. There was just 8 minutes on the clock plus injury time. I punched the air, knocked my glass over and just went wild.
Arsenal were not going to give up their unbeaten run at home that easily without a fight, and gave their all in clawing back an equalizer. I couldn’t bear to watch the ending, it was nail biting stuff and I couldn’t keep up with the pressure. Waves of attack were aimed at the United goal, and every time Arsenal would have a shot at goal, I would breath a sigh of relief, only to be clutching my pillow later on in wait for the final whistle. The presence of my aunt and mum behind me giv
ing their opinion of the outcome certainly did not help my cause. My heart was in my mouth, and I, like the Arsenal supporters were praying, only for different reasons. Evidently, they prayed harder…sigh. The 90 minutes were already up, and we were in the 2nd minute of added time. I’m finding it hard to put this into words…I just feel so disappointed. Arsenal had 1 final attack, shot after shot. United’s brave defense held their line and blocked every single shot (I gave little yelp every time they shot). Suddenly, the stadium erupted; the ref was waving the players back to the center of the field. Certainly not, he had just awarded Arsenal the goal. Looking at the replays, it was clear that the ball had crossed the line after Gallas hit it, but it was clawed out by Van Der Sar in mid air. Rules are rules, it was goal, but my heart was shattered into pieces.
It may not be the best result, but it’s satisfying. We managed to draw Arsenal at the Emirates, and at a time when they are flying. I guess it’s not that bad after all, eh? I caught a glimpse of a poster hung by a few United fans stating the importance of Man United. It read ‘United, Kids, Wife…Importance in that order’. It was a nice and amusing sign of loyalty to United, but then family is definitely more important than anything else in the world, yes, even more important than football…
The only difference in United’s starting line up from their previous game was Evra and Giggs back in the side for O’Shea and Nani respectively. The inclusion of Giggs, in Steve McMahon’s words was because he’s been there, done it, got the shirt and still wearing it. In my words, he’s more experienced. The game was predicted to be a classic match up between the two, and no wonder. United started the game on the back foot, and Arsenal were…sigh, I hate to say it, very good. Right from the start, I could tell that it was not going to be United’s night, I just had that feeling. Arsenal were more composed, trying to break down the United defense, while United were unable to get a stronghold on the game. In previous years, United-Arsenal games are highlighted by the battles of the snarling Roy Keane and the ferocious Patrick Vieira. With Keane now managing Premiership side Sunderland and Vieira at Inter Milan, most would think that the intensity of the game would drop. Wrong. Although the hatred between the two clubs have turned into mutual respect for one another, the clash of the future stars Anderson
and Fabregas not surprisingly showed glimpses of the old days of Keane and Vieira.Hargreaves had a pretty good match, especially in the first half where United stifled Arsenal’s attacking threat quite steadily with Hargreaves in particular nullifying most of the threat posed by the Arsenal attacking front. United had Hargreaves and Anderson running the engine room in the middle of the park, allowing the front four of Rooney, Ron, Tevez and Giggs to roam upfront, finding cracks in the Arsenal back four. The first half was a cagey affair, and it was pretty boring, seriously. However I was shaking in anticipation, waiting for something to happen. That something finally happened on the stroke of half time when Rooney stole in the front post to put Ron’s cross into the net via a deflection by Gallas. Arsene Wenger was fuming as he protested about the body check given by Brown before laying the ball to Ron who in turn supplied Rooney to give the finishing touch.
United leading at half time, and I couldn’t be happier. BUT as they say, football is a complicating game. Right after the restart Arsenal got back into the game through Fabregas. Van Der Sar made a very good safe from Adebayor, but Sagna kept the ball alive with a last ditch cross which found Fabregas in front of the goal. He took his time, and then stroked the ball past the United defenders. The game had finally opened up, and it was breathtaking. Both teams used up all of their substitutes, but I’ll get to that later. Fergie put O’Shea on for Brown in the middle of the 2nd half (I really believe that Brown is not the right man to be playing at full back, he just doesn’t have the accuracy and pace). This was really edge of the seat stuff, and my heart felt like bursting out of
my chest. Every time Arsenal got the ball, they looked like they might score, and the space now is so much more compared to the first half as both sides were playing attacking football. It was from one end of the field to another, and was impossible to choose a winner.At this moment, I was just happy for a draw. It was the Emirates stadium, and Arsenal are on a roll at the moment, a draw would be a very satisfactory result indeed. Then, Fergie made a master stroke and subbed Tevez by bringing on Saha. Not many would put their money on the French striker after his many injuries, and certainly no one would want to break the promising Rooney-Tevez partnership which has rewarded United with so many goals. However football is unpredictable, and as soon as he came onto the field, Saha held the ball, fed a delightful through ball to the on coming Evra who picked out Ron with a cutback. Ron just had to put the ball into an empty net. Obviously being a Man United fan (in case you haven’t noticed) I jumped up and down in the living room. There was just 8 minutes on the clock plus injury time. I punched the air, knocked my glass over and just went wild.
Arsenal were not going to give up their unbeaten run at home that easily without a fight, and gave their all in clawing back an equalizer. I couldn’t bear to watch the ending, it was nail biting stuff and I couldn’t keep up with the pressure. Waves of attack were aimed at the United goal, and every time Arsenal would have a shot at goal, I would breath a sigh of relief, only to be clutching my pillow later on in wait for the final whistle. The presence of my aunt and mum behind me giv
ing their opinion of the outcome certainly did not help my cause. My heart was in my mouth, and I, like the Arsenal supporters were praying, only for different reasons. Evidently, they prayed harder…sigh. The 90 minutes were already up, and we were in the 2nd minute of added time. I’m finding it hard to put this into words…I just feel so disappointed. Arsenal had 1 final attack, shot after shot. United’s brave defense held their line and blocked every single shot (I gave little yelp every time they shot). Suddenly, the stadium erupted; the ref was waving the players back to the center of the field. Certainly not, he had just awarded Arsenal the goal. Looking at the replays, it was clear that the ball had crossed the line after Gallas hit it, but it was clawed out by Van Der Sar in mid air. Rules are rules, it was goal, but my heart was shattered into pieces.It may not be the best result, but it’s satisfying. We managed to draw Arsenal at the Emirates, and at a time when they are flying. I guess it’s not that bad after all, eh? I caught a glimpse of a poster hung by a few United fans stating the importance of Man United. It read ‘United, Kids, Wife…Importance in that order’. It was a nice and amusing sign of loyalty to United, but then family is definitely more important than anything else in the world, yes, even more important than football…
Just hope that football doesn't do this to me....
1 comment:
I think match between Arsenal and Man Utd this season and last season did not bring as much as "incidents" as that time when Keano, Viera, Campbell and Ashley Cole meet together. By the way, from last season and this season of clashes between this two giants in EPL. I think Wenger had found tactics that made Gunners do better than the Devils. Last season, we saw how Adebayour shoot down Man Utd. But thing doesn't happen this time. Rooney got a gaol again this time. But if Rio Ferdinand could just full stretch his leg and I think Man Utd could walk away will the 1-0 win.But, Gunners got the first equalizer. Ronaldo did well for the leading goal. But, Gunners just luckily walk out with a point than their neighbor do (Totenham got a disallow goal although the ball passed the line few season ago). Personally, I think the referee just lucky enough for not making the wrong decision. Arsenal remain at top with a game in hand.
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