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Barclays Premier League: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United
By Tom Humphrey
Arsenal drew 1-1 with newly crowned champions Manchester United in an exciting game at the Emirates yesterday. All of the talk surrounding the game was the return of former captain Robin Van Persie, who started for a United team that received a guard of honour from the Arsenal team as they walked out onto the pitch.
Arsenal started the game in perfect fashion. Van Persie gave the ball away, much to the delight of the home fans, who greeted his every touch with jeers and every mistake with sarcastic cheers. It was from that Van Persie pass that Arsenal would find the opening goal of the game. Lukas Podolski played the ball to Tomas Rosicky, who sent Theo Walcott clear down the right. The Englishman went on to beat De Gea and put Arsenal 1-0 up with just over a minute played. The replay showed Walcott was just offside, so Arsenal got away with one on that occasion.
Theo Walcott celebrates putting Arsenal in front against Manchester United. Picture: Sky Sports
The Gunners looked the team that were more up for this. For a while, United looked as though they had one too many drinks to celebrate winning the league. Their passes were sloppy and they couldn’t get into the game. You couldn’t blame them either. They’ve just won the league. Other than the Premier League record points total, they had nothing left to play for.
De Gea made a good save to prevent fellow Spaniard Santi Cazorla from scoring a second as the Gunners continued to create chances. United continued to collect bookings as Jones, Rafael, Van Persie and Evans were all booked in the first half for the visitors. Of course, Van Persie’s booking was the one that was greeted most by the home fans, after the Dutchman went in late on Per Mertesacker.
After a slow start, both United and Van Persie improved as the half went on. The former Arsenal player crossed for Phil Jones who really should have done better with a header and he then had a chance himself as his header was saved by the face of Wojciech Szczesny.
The visitors did get their equaliser on the stroke of half time, but it’s how it happened that will annoy the Arsenal fans. Bacary Sagna gave the ball straight to Van Persie, who was then brought down by the Frenchman in the penalty area. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot and book Sagna for the foul. Of course, there was only one man who was going to step up and take the penalty for United. Van Persie kept his cool under pressure as the fans behind the goal tried to put him off. Predictably though, Van Persie scored from the spot.
Van Persie scored Manchester United’s equaliser. Picture: Yahoo
The visitors had a strong second half as one of their better chances came from Wayne Rooney, who headed straight at Szczesny.
Bacary Sagna was lucky to stay on the pitch after a foul on Patrice Evra that should have seen him off for his second booking. The referee let it go though.
Arsenal threw on Jack Wilshere, Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from the bench as they tried to win the game. Tomas Rosicky was unlucky to be replaced as he had a very good game. Lukas Podolski was ineffective as he got a rare start through the middle and Aaron Ramsey was the last one subbed off. Ramsey played well and certainly looked fired up as the Welsh international upset Sir Alex Ferguson for a shoulder barge on Nani that went unpunished.
Kieran Gibbs was brought down by Rio Ferdinand in the box and the United defender was lucky to not concede a penalty. Cazorla again tested De Gea from range late on as Arsenal continued to push for a winner.
The champions could have stolen a winner in stoppage time as Ryan Giggs nearly scored on the break. A crucial block from Oxlade-Chamberlain sent it wide instead of in and in the end, both sides had to settle for a point.
If you had offered me a point before the game I’d have probably of taken it. Both Chelsea and Tottenham have that game in hand over us, but it is against each other.
Arsene Wenger said it best when he said that we have no margin for error now in these final three games of the season. Any more dropped points and it could be Thursday nights on the ITV sister channels opposed to Tuesday or Wednesday night and going up against the top teams in Europe next season.
One final note I’d like to make on the Van Persie goal is that he did not celebrate it. Like at Old Trafford when he scored, his team-mates did celebrate, but Van Persie was respectful despite the fact the Arsenal fans booed his every touch. As much as I don’t like him, he could have done what Emmanuel Adebayor did when he scored against us, but he didn’t.