carlyluvsunited
04-11-2007, 05:50 AM
A great advertisement for the Premier League
If it is true that one billion people tuned in and watched Arsenal host Manchester
United, none can have been disappointed
So the Premier League has provided its spectacle. Arsène Wenger had billed this
collision of the division's top two as potential footballing "art" with the estimated
billion television viewers around the globe - quite how they calculate such a
figure remains a mystery - no doubt enticed by the promise of goals galore. In
the end, that is precisely what it provided, as well as intrigue, quality,
spellbinding football and, in its final seconds, breathless drama.
For so long, Manchester United had threatened to burst Arsenal's bubble of
optimism, only for William Gallas's stoppage time equaliser to keep their dream
alives. The Frenchman's volley, clearly planted over the line following a rat-a-tat
of efforts in the penalty area, prompted wild scenes in the stands and technical
areas alike. Sir Alex Ferguson held his head, Wenger clenched his fists in familiar
up-standing pose. The sides at the top of the Premier League will simply not be
separated and, on occasions such as this, we can be thankful for that much.
Long may this jousting between the two be maintained.
This was always likely to be an occasion that defied logic. There were times in the
first half when the visitors, a nervous opening exorcised and their midfield
increasingly dominant, had threatened to squeeze the life out of Arsenal. When
Wayne Rooney's scuffed attempt dribbled in off Gallas in stoppage time at the
end of the first half to establish United's first lead, it was easy to retire at the
interval having concluded that the champions' more streetwise personnel,
boasting considerably more experience, would inevitably prevail. Cristiano
Ronaldo's side-footed finish, after Louis Saha's exquisite reverse pass and
Patrice Evra's cut-back to put United 2-1 up as the clock ticked down, restored
such sentiment.
Yet this youthful Arsenal team boast their own rare resilience. Cesc Fabregas's 1
1th goal of what is already a staggering season had initially hauled them level in
the opening skirmishes of the second half. Gallas' late riposte merely offered a
reminder that there really is no predicting the way contests between the
division's elite will veer. Logic had suggested United would stamp their authority
on proceedings and pick off their hosts on the break. The reality was very
different. The football may not have flowed as it has from both sides against less
opponents, but the passing and movement on offer here were still stunning,
allied with the grit and strong-arm muscle demanded by champions.
So what, if anything, could be gleaned from this encounter? Perhaps that Arsenal,
as they had demonstrated at Liverpool the previous Sunday, really have
unearthed new-found aggression and self-belief, epitomised in the industry and
waspish tackling of the likes of Mathieu Flamini, Emmanuel Eboué and a regular
centre-half pairing. Fabregas, as we already knew, is a world-class talent and
their fulcrum. Stop him and you might stop Arsenal. United could not.
Yet they came as close to anyone has this term, and largely courtesy of their own
find of the season to date. Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira boasts the
dreadlocks of an Edgar Davids and is developing the snarl to match. While he
was on the pitch, it felt as if the visitors' aggression might prevail. He boasted
strength on the ball, an array of passes, and a spiteful streak which offered the
Arsenal fans a new pantomime villain to berate. When he wasn't snapping into
challenges, he was busy screaming abuse - in Portuguese - at the officials and
his opponents. His theatrics when Fabregas crunched him early in the second
half were hilarious, the Brazilian rolling dramatically before leaping to his feet as
soon as his opponent received the yellow card.
Every team needs an enforcer, and Anderson could yet become United's. As it
was, he had left the field by the time these sides traded goals in the dying
minutes. If a billion people tuned in to the fixture, none could have been
disappointed. This was a glorious advertisement for the Premier League, a true
collision of contenders, with its finale quite staggering to behold.
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php
If it is true that one billion people tuned in and watched Arsenal host Manchester
United, none can have been disappointed
So the Premier League has provided its spectacle. Arsène Wenger had billed this
collision of the division's top two as potential footballing "art" with the estimated
billion television viewers around the globe - quite how they calculate such a
figure remains a mystery - no doubt enticed by the promise of goals galore. In
the end, that is precisely what it provided, as well as intrigue, quality,
spellbinding football and, in its final seconds, breathless drama.
For so long, Manchester United had threatened to burst Arsenal's bubble of
optimism, only for William Gallas's stoppage time equaliser to keep their dream
alives. The Frenchman's volley, clearly planted over the line following a rat-a-tat
of efforts in the penalty area, prompted wild scenes in the stands and technical
areas alike. Sir Alex Ferguson held his head, Wenger clenched his fists in familiar
up-standing pose. The sides at the top of the Premier League will simply not be
separated and, on occasions such as this, we can be thankful for that much.
Long may this jousting between the two be maintained.
This was always likely to be an occasion that defied logic. There were times in the
first half when the visitors, a nervous opening exorcised and their midfield
increasingly dominant, had threatened to squeeze the life out of Arsenal. When
Wayne Rooney's scuffed attempt dribbled in off Gallas in stoppage time at the
end of the first half to establish United's first lead, it was easy to retire at the
interval having concluded that the champions' more streetwise personnel,
boasting considerably more experience, would inevitably prevail. Cristiano
Ronaldo's side-footed finish, after Louis Saha's exquisite reverse pass and
Patrice Evra's cut-back to put United 2-1 up as the clock ticked down, restored
such sentiment.
Yet this youthful Arsenal team boast their own rare resilience. Cesc Fabregas's 1
1th goal of what is already a staggering season had initially hauled them level in
the opening skirmishes of the second half. Gallas' late riposte merely offered a
reminder that there really is no predicting the way contests between the
division's elite will veer. Logic had suggested United would stamp their authority
on proceedings and pick off their hosts on the break. The reality was very
different. The football may not have flowed as it has from both sides against less
opponents, but the passing and movement on offer here were still stunning,
allied with the grit and strong-arm muscle demanded by champions.
So what, if anything, could be gleaned from this encounter? Perhaps that Arsenal,
as they had demonstrated at Liverpool the previous Sunday, really have
unearthed new-found aggression and self-belief, epitomised in the industry and
waspish tackling of the likes of Mathieu Flamini, Emmanuel Eboué and a regular
centre-half pairing. Fabregas, as we already knew, is a world-class talent and
their fulcrum. Stop him and you might stop Arsenal. United could not.
Yet they came as close to anyone has this term, and largely courtesy of their own
find of the season to date. Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira boasts the
dreadlocks of an Edgar Davids and is developing the snarl to match. While he
was on the pitch, it felt as if the visitors' aggression might prevail. He boasted
strength on the ball, an array of passes, and a spiteful streak which offered the
Arsenal fans a new pantomime villain to berate. When he wasn't snapping into
challenges, he was busy screaming abuse - in Portuguese - at the officials and
his opponents. His theatrics when Fabregas crunched him early in the second
half were hilarious, the Brazilian rolling dramatically before leaping to his feet as
soon as his opponent received the yellow card.
Every team needs an enforcer, and Anderson could yet become United's. As it
was, he had left the field by the time these sides traded goals in the dying
minutes. If a billion people tuned in to the fixture, none could have been
disappointed. This was a glorious advertisement for the Premier League, a true
collision of contenders, with its finale quite staggering to behold.
Click here to join manutdtalk.com and read all breaking news on all things
United !!!
http://manutdtalk.com/forums/register.php