It was the opportunity for the Gunners to get back on the title pursuing and they made it. It seems as if the game was a recap from last season 2-1 (which I still owe the post haha) which was the match that defined title race just with the reverse score. This time it was also that for Arsenal this match defined the season, not even with half of it raced. Now title contention for the London side seem more reachable and the prospect of resurgence is far more near than against Stoke. Even with several first team injuries the young guns managed to overcome the difficult task. It was Samir's night as he rose above level and scored two in a brilliant match. Former Red Devil Mikael Silvestre did play with a broken nose and van Persie faced one match ban from the red card against Stoke. Certainly this match was more favorable for the Northern side that from the London.
Several changes were made in the line-up with Diaby and Bendtner, the latter as the sole striker. I would say that this positioning of the Dane as the only attacker against Utd is a very dangerous and difficult proof to the young Gunner since every match against the Red Devils is among the toughest in the season. And so began the first half with the expectancy of another thrilling match. But not even with a minute passing the Gunners felt the missery of an unfocused United player, Silvestre. It seems this because of his pass to Almunia. Utd was awarded an indirect free-kick inbox. In a deflection of Anderson's kick Carrick found the ball but went jsut wide. On the consecuent minutes the pressure was on the home side with one of the special Roonie Rockets wide off the mark. A good cross from Clichy a minute later saw Bendther header went just wide. Arsenal attempts from the left side, a cross from Nasri and a wide shot by Denilson, were the only side that could be managed for the London side in the first fifteen minutes. Arsenal turn more agressive in the attacking part and in a set-up piece there were three shots on target. The visitig side were suffering from different approaches.
The first fifteen minutes were the beginning of an excellent match full of adrenaline worthy of a game of this magnitude. The game turned backwards when Utd again took possession of the ball until the goal arrived at 22'. There were glimpses of a brilliant Samir Nasri in the beginning stages of the match with the previosuly mentioned crosses but it was his goal, a crossed shot deflected by Utd defense, that marked his resurgence. One has to pay attention to the degree of technique that this kind of shots has. Utd began to make an extreme pressure, and by 28', the momentum of Arsenal appeared to have passed. One thing that the Arsenal took advantage from was the different ways in which Arsenal faced this kind of pressure: reverting them with a strong counter-attack that kept possession till the play was finished. This was the perfect Arsenal that every supporter is expecting with the different attacking possibilities and a strong defending. Certainly by the end of the first half, and with several dangerous Utd arrivals, the Arsenal was beginning to cope with an opposition that was as strong as any top-flight team in Europe
Just second half beginning Samir's dream began. After a play that he created, Cesc, with Evra fouling him, passed through and finished in a thunderous way. Van der Saar could do nothing as missery was piling in the soulders of the Red Devils. Right after the goal a cross from Park fond a lonely Ronaldo who stroke the ball wide, just wide. It was the best game so far in the season for the Gunners. And who could tell that! William Gallas organizing the defense, showing some respect and encouragment. Denilson's effort was considerable, following CR7 in every direction near the goal. Reaching the 50' mark the things began complicating for the home side, not because dispossession but by the flaws of referee Webb. The game was swaying in possession and the full-throated counters were a reminisence of the style played in later tournaments (Germany v. Italy in WC 2006, and Turkey v. Czech Republic in EURO 2008). From the moment of the arrival of the second goal Samir Nasri had begun to appear in the middle, making incurssions in the middle and the fact of his awareness of the need of Arsenal for an attacking midfielder led to him the question of why had he arrived to the Grove. In the final stages of the match the game saw a tranquil Arsenal substitute several players. In an impulsive streak Rafael scored a nice volley in the 90'. But what I was wondering was that just before he scored the six minutes were added, I do not know from where did Mr. Webb counted six minutes of injury time. The final extreme pressure by Utd in the last gasp were neutralized by the colling off of the match by Arsenal forwards.
I have to say that I did not expected either the result nor the way of playing by both sides. I thought that due of our recent form United would crash us in an unexpected form, but it was Gunners unexpected form that rose from level. The point is; if Arsenal is going to play everytime like this in season or just when facing Utd or just when obliges? The quesition still remains unanswered but we all hope it is for the silverware way.
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