Manchester United-Arsenal: Disaster for the Gunners

Sheikh Zakaria by Analyst Written on February 16, 2008
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Both Rio Ferdinand and William Gallas denied claims that a loss either way may well decide the winner of this season's Premier League title.

But certainly a winning team will always take positives from the game and use them to springboard and look forward to what remains of the season in all competitions.

A majority of the teams' fans were rooting for a lackluster draw though when the starting eleven was announced.

Ronaldo and Giggs were left out of the entire squad for United, while Arsenal had their leading scorer Adebayor on the bench and Rosicky sidelined.

United went for a rather unorthodox formation and lineup, where Sir Alex gave Park and Fletcher a chance to prove their worth at the club.  Fletcher and Park started in the wings, while Nani played behind Rooney upfront

When you see the gaffer leaving out the Talisman Ronaldo, you must rant at him and lose all your hopes for a win. 

But the gamble did pay off, and in some style, too, as the Gunners were mauled with four goals, and the man of the match was none other than Darren Fletcher.

Though different sports channels opted for different players for the awards, I would go for the Scot because he has been so fairly underrated by the pundits and he needed to reply to them.

There wasn't even any open chance for Arsenal to score and their attitude was nothing more than tardy and disgusted.

United dominated the entire match in all respects—possession, shots on goal, corners etc...

Our midfield produced the most resounding performance of the season—Carrick was on top of his game, better than his counterpart Fabregas, and was delivering immaculate passes.

Nani delivered the two assists from which Fletcher scored his brace, and oh boy was he tormenting the Gunner defenders as if he had some grudge against them.  What skills, what dribbles—that was a sublime game from the 20-year-old Portuguese international.

Anderson showed his ball retention skills superbly and had some decent shots on goal.

You simply can't discount one player from the United team who hadn't unleashed themselves last night—Van der Saar was an exception though, as he rather relished some frolics with the referee!

The game also reinstated the fact that Ronaldo isn't the only scorer for United, but it vividly reflects the fact that everything in United revolves around him when he plays the game.

But as long as we keep winning, that's of no concern for us. 

All said, it's time for the gaffer to carry this performance to the remaining games of the season and checkmate Professor Wenger.

There's simply no room for complacency now.  Any more points dropped in the league, and the title may head to North London. 

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written on February 16, 2008 Sports

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