carlyluvsunited
03-11-2007, 05:33 PM
Arsenal 2 - 2 MANCHESTER UNITED
William Gallas equalised in injury-time to salvage a draw and keep Arsenal on top
of the Premier League after an absorbing clash with Manchester United.
Gallas turned Wayne Rooney's half-hit effort into his own goal on the stroke of
half time to give United the lead.
Cesc Fabregas' cool finish put Arsenal level two minutes after the break, but
Cristiano Ronaldo slid home Patrice Evra's cross nine minutes from time.
But Gallas then scrambled in Gael Clichy's cross to earn a point.
The Frenchman's equaliser allowed Arsenal to set a new club record of 25 games
unbeaten.
The opening 45 minutes proved an anti-climax until Gallas diverted Rooney's tame
shot in on the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal had reasonable penalty claims ignored by referee Howard Webb after 15
minutes when Nemanja Vidic tugged Alexander Hleb's shirt as they tangled in the
area.
United had a good chance seconds later when Bacary Sagna failed to react to
Ronaldo's cross and Ryan Giggs, perhaps caught by surprise, could only turn a
close-range effort wide.
Owen Hargreaves was outstanding in shielding United's defence from Arsenal's
attacking threat, but he was powerless as the Gunners almost went ahead after
after 35 minutes.
Gallas escaped the attentions of the United rearguard to glance Fabregas' free
-kick against the legs of Edwin van der Sar.
United's Brazilian midfield man Anderson is clearly a talent, but he demonstrated
an unsavoury side to his nature that predictably infuriated the crowd.
He flamboyantly demanded referee Webb show yellow cards to Arsenal players,
then rolled in ridiculous fashion after a foul by Fabregas that earned the Spanish
youngster a booking.
United staged a smash-and-grab in first-half stoppage time, Ronaldo crossing for
Rooney, who failed to make a proper connection but saw Gallas provide a crucial
deflection past Manuel Almunia.
The gauntlet was thrown down to Arsenal - but they picked it up to equalise two
minutes after the restart.
Emmanuel Eboue played in Emmanuel Adebayor, who was blocked by Van der
Sar, but Sagna crossed the loose ball for Fabregas to slide in a composed finish.
Arsenal had started to dominate possession, but it was United who had the next
big chance after 63 minutes.
Giggs found Rooney in space in the area, but he headed wastefully wide when he
should have at least worked keeper Almunia.
Both managers made changes in the final 15 minutes, Wenger sending on Theo
Walcott for Eboue, while Ferguson replaced the subdued Carlos Tevez and
Anderson with Louis Saha and Michael Carrick.
The changes worked better for United as they took a vital lead with nine minutes
left.
Walcott failed to track Evra, and when Saha played him in he crossed perfectly for
Ronaldo to score.
Evra then enjoyed a huge piece of luck when he sliced substitute Eduardo da
Silva's cross against his own bar with Van der Sar helpless.
Arsenal pressed forward and got the draw they deserved when Clichy's cross
sparked a goalmouth scramble which ended with a shot from Gallas which, even
though Van der Sar clawed it out, had clearly crossed the line.
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php
William Gallas equalised in injury-time to salvage a draw and keep Arsenal on top
of the Premier League after an absorbing clash with Manchester United.
Gallas turned Wayne Rooney's half-hit effort into his own goal on the stroke of
half time to give United the lead.
Cesc Fabregas' cool finish put Arsenal level two minutes after the break, but
Cristiano Ronaldo slid home Patrice Evra's cross nine minutes from time.
But Gallas then scrambled in Gael Clichy's cross to earn a point.
The Frenchman's equaliser allowed Arsenal to set a new club record of 25 games
unbeaten.
The opening 45 minutes proved an anti-climax until Gallas diverted Rooney's tame
shot in on the stroke of half-time.
Arsenal had reasonable penalty claims ignored by referee Howard Webb after 15
minutes when Nemanja Vidic tugged Alexander Hleb's shirt as they tangled in the
area.
United had a good chance seconds later when Bacary Sagna failed to react to
Ronaldo's cross and Ryan Giggs, perhaps caught by surprise, could only turn a
close-range effort wide.
Owen Hargreaves was outstanding in shielding United's defence from Arsenal's
attacking threat, but he was powerless as the Gunners almost went ahead after
after 35 minutes.
Gallas escaped the attentions of the United rearguard to glance Fabregas' free
-kick against the legs of Edwin van der Sar.
United's Brazilian midfield man Anderson is clearly a talent, but he demonstrated
an unsavoury side to his nature that predictably infuriated the crowd.
He flamboyantly demanded referee Webb show yellow cards to Arsenal players,
then rolled in ridiculous fashion after a foul by Fabregas that earned the Spanish
youngster a booking.
United staged a smash-and-grab in first-half stoppage time, Ronaldo crossing for
Rooney, who failed to make a proper connection but saw Gallas provide a crucial
deflection past Manuel Almunia.
The gauntlet was thrown down to Arsenal - but they picked it up to equalise two
minutes after the restart.
Emmanuel Eboue played in Emmanuel Adebayor, who was blocked by Van der
Sar, but Sagna crossed the loose ball for Fabregas to slide in a composed finish.
Arsenal had started to dominate possession, but it was United who had the next
big chance after 63 minutes.
Giggs found Rooney in space in the area, but he headed wastefully wide when he
should have at least worked keeper Almunia.
Both managers made changes in the final 15 minutes, Wenger sending on Theo
Walcott for Eboue, while Ferguson replaced the subdued Carlos Tevez and
Anderson with Louis Saha and Michael Carrick.
The changes worked better for United as they took a vital lead with nine minutes
left.
Walcott failed to track Evra, and when Saha played him in he crossed perfectly for
Ronaldo to score.
Evra then enjoyed a huge piece of luck when he sliced substitute Eduardo da
Silva's cross against his own bar with Van der Sar helpless.
Arsenal pressed forward and got the draw they deserved when Clichy's cross
sparked a goalmouth scramble which ended with a shot from Gallas which, even
though Van der Sar clawed it out, had clearly crossed the line.
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php