manu vs arsenal

The biggest game of the barclays premire league (previously called english premire league) played between Manchester United (man u) and Arsenal last week (29^th aug 2009) at Old Trafford (home ground for man u). These two clubs have the biggest fan following across the world.

This was the important game especially for the champions of the last season man u. They lost to new team, Burnley 2 weeks ago in the away match. Man u fans were shoked after that defeat. Compared to last season manu team is looking weak, after their playmaker Cristiano Ronaldo left the club at the start of new season to join real madrid for record fee transfer. Now their midfield is looking very ordinary. They also had some problems in the defence as Rio ferdinand, the best defender of the team and their first choice goal keeper Van Der Sar both are injured.

Arsenal also had issues to solve before this match. Their captain Fabrigas was injured. Arsenal is also struggling to find their form since 2004-05 season. Their key players left the club one by one after the exit of former captain Theory Henry. But Arsen Wanger, manager of the team believes in building the youth team. Their average age is very much less than other teams in premire league.

Man u was not playing with their traditional formation 4-4-2 (4-defenders, 4-midfielders, 2-attackers). Sir Alex Fergusson manager of the team was playing with slightly defensive strategy at the start with only one attacker Wayne Rooney. Ryan Giggs ,the most experianced player was captain of the team,who has served the team for many years.

Arsenal started with attacking approach. Manu’s 2 wingers and one attacker formation was not working for them. They had no player to receive the ball in the box near Arsenal’s goal. Arsenal was playing as unit. With batter passing and quick movements, as they had young legs in the team. At the other end Manu’s counter attacks looked very slow.

Arshawin, the Russian attacker of Arsenal had some chances early in the game, he was trying his best to score, but manu’s experianced defence looked rock solid. Atlast at the 40^th min the splendid bullet shot by arshawin went directly into the nets of Manu. Ben Foster, the keeper of the team and replacement for Van Der Sar looked very ordinery at that perticular time. Sir alex had much half time talk to deliver to the team.

Manu’s midfield with Fletcher and Carrick is average compared to what they had few years ago with Devid Beckham, Roy Kean known for one of the best midfield of that time. Scholes and Giggs are still there serving the club but they are also not quick as they used to be because of their ages. Fergusson surely will be facing this problem for remaining whole season as no new sighnings will be made declaired by himself.

Games like this require match winners. But this season Manu doesn’t have many with the exit of ronaldo. Only Rooney and Giggs are match winners are there in Manu and its very difficult to find potential match winners in reserved squad. Arsenal faced similar situation few years ago but now they have built the attacking unit which can defend.

Game started after the half time without bringing any change in luck for Manu. At 48^th min Ben Foster came to resque of manu with nice save, he saved the short range shot by Van Persie with his reflexes. But otherwise for whole game Fosters looked really confused to attack or to stay on his place to collect the ball. He looked heavily dependant on his defenders for their tackles and their offside traps.

But as expeced Manu bounced back. Almunie’s(goal keeper- Arsenal) poorely judged tackle awarded him yellow card and penalty for Manu. Rooney earned and scored the penalty. It was really a nice through pass by Giggs to Rooney to earn penalty. After this goal Arsenal looked scattered and Manu got the free kick 10 yard outside the box. Giggs with his curling balls is always the threat for opposition and this time was no exception. Diaby tried to give back pass in Almunie’s hands with his miss judge header. Diaby scored the own goal. Manu took 2-1 lead for the first time in the match. Manu shown real character to come out of the mess. Giggs is going on and on to resque the team for all these years when his team is in mess.

Now Arsenal was really struggling to form the game. Arsen wanger brought Eduardo, their meed week hero against Celtic who scored twice to take the team to victory. They tried substitutions, different strategies and everything but nothing was working for them. At last minutes of the game Arsenal paniked and collected total 6 yellow cards in the game(last year at old trafford they collected 5).

Manu brought their stylish player Barbatov very late. In that time also he missed one golden chance at extra time. At the end of stopish time Van Persie scored the goal but that was not counted as Gallas who gave the pass to Van Persie was offside.

Manu won the crucial encounter 2-1.

There were few thing that arsenal should work on to win the championship. The most important is proffessinalism. Arsenal have quality players in their squad. But difference in Manu’s game and Arsenals is only Arsenal players don’t know how to play under pressure, how to win big games. They should learn from their mistakes.