carlyluvsunited
03-11-2007, 10:06 PM
WILLIAM GALLAS went from zero to hero as Arsenal rescued a point against
title rivals Manchester United.
Gallas netted an own goal to gift United the lead but his last-gasp strike kept
Arsene Wenger's men at the top of the table.
And the Gunners skipper was delighted with his side's never-say-die attitude.
He roared: "We said if we had to die we would die together on that field — we
had to fight.
"In the first half we tried to play football but it was not really easy.
"We played very tight and it was difficult for us to find good space.
"We conceded a goal — maybe I was a little too late but that is football.
"In the second half when we came back on the pitch we said we had to play
better."
Gallas was at fault on the stroke of half-time for United's opener when he allowed
Wayne Rooney to slip into space.
Rooney only stole half a yard but his scuffed effort deflected off the Frenchman
and past Manuel Almunia.
Cesc Fabregas cancelled out the own goal three minutes into the second half
before Almunia's rush of blood appeared to have cost Arsenal the game.
The Gunners No1, who has condemned Jens Lehmann to the bench with a string
of fine displays, was left in no man's land as he raced out of his goal to close
down Patrice Evra.
Evra beat him to the ball to cut a cross back and Ronaldo swept home into an
empty net eight minutes from time.
But Gallas spared both his and the Spaniard's blushes by popping up deep in
stoppage time to hook home an equaliser.
The result maintains Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season and keeps them in
pole position with a game in hand on their closest rivals.
And Gallas insists the likes of United and Chelsea face a tough battle to overtake
them.
He added: “We had to stay top of the table as we have to put pressure on other
teams."
In typical fashion, United boss Alex Ferguson preferred to point the finger at
referee Howard Webb instead of praising Arsenal's comeback.
The fiery Scot groaned: "I think Webb has a great chance to be the top referee
but today was a big game for him and, at times, he favoured Arsenal.
"Their second goal came from him not giving a free-kick for a foul on Louis Saha
on the far side. It should have been a foul for us."
Fergie also blasted Arsenal's fans for constantly abusing the United bench.
He added: "We were getting terrible stick from people two or three feet away
from us.
"There is a lack of security here at the Emirates. It is absolutely disgraceful the
abuse you and your staff take.
"All sorts of things are been shouted and screamed at you and there is an
absolute danger here."
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Walcott 74), Fabregas,
Flamini, Rosicky (Eduardo 80), Hleb (Silva 80), Adebayor.
Subs not used: Lehmann, Diarra.
Booked: Fabregas.
Goals: Fabregas 48, Gallas 90.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown (O’Shea 71), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo,
Anderson (Carrick 76), Hargreaves, Giggs, Tevez (Saha 76), Rooney.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Nani.
Booked: Evra, Hargreaves.
Goals: Gallas 45 og, Ronaldo 82.
Att: 60,161
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php
title rivals Manchester United.
Gallas netted an own goal to gift United the lead but his last-gasp strike kept
Arsene Wenger's men at the top of the table.
And the Gunners skipper was delighted with his side's never-say-die attitude.
He roared: "We said if we had to die we would die together on that field — we
had to fight.
"In the first half we tried to play football but it was not really easy.
"We played very tight and it was difficult for us to find good space.
"We conceded a goal — maybe I was a little too late but that is football.
"In the second half when we came back on the pitch we said we had to play
better."
Gallas was at fault on the stroke of half-time for United's opener when he allowed
Wayne Rooney to slip into space.
Rooney only stole half a yard but his scuffed effort deflected off the Frenchman
and past Manuel Almunia.
Cesc Fabregas cancelled out the own goal three minutes into the second half
before Almunia's rush of blood appeared to have cost Arsenal the game.
The Gunners No1, who has condemned Jens Lehmann to the bench with a string
of fine displays, was left in no man's land as he raced out of his goal to close
down Patrice Evra.
Evra beat him to the ball to cut a cross back and Ronaldo swept home into an
empty net eight minutes from time.
But Gallas spared both his and the Spaniard's blushes by popping up deep in
stoppage time to hook home an equaliser.
The result maintains Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season and keeps them in
pole position with a game in hand on their closest rivals.
And Gallas insists the likes of United and Chelsea face a tough battle to overtake
them.
He added: “We had to stay top of the table as we have to put pressure on other
teams."
In typical fashion, United boss Alex Ferguson preferred to point the finger at
referee Howard Webb instead of praising Arsenal's comeback.
The fiery Scot groaned: "I think Webb has a great chance to be the top referee
but today was a big game for him and, at times, he favoured Arsenal.
"Their second goal came from him not giving a free-kick for a foul on Louis Saha
on the far side. It should have been a foul for us."
Fergie also blasted Arsenal's fans for constantly abusing the United bench.
He added: "We were getting terrible stick from people two or three feet away
from us.
"There is a lack of security here at the Emirates. It is absolutely disgraceful the
abuse you and your staff take.
"All sorts of things are been shouted and screamed at you and there is an
absolute danger here."
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Walcott 74), Fabregas,
Flamini, Rosicky (Eduardo 80), Hleb (Silva 80), Adebayor.
Subs not used: Lehmann, Diarra.
Booked: Fabregas.
Goals: Fabregas 48, Gallas 90.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown (O’Shea 71), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo,
Anderson (Carrick 76), Hargreaves, Giggs, Tevez (Saha 76), Rooney.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Nani.
Booked: Evra, Hargreaves.
Goals: Gallas 45 og, Ronaldo 82.
Att: 60,161
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php