English FA Premiership/Manchester Utd v Arsenal: Kevin McCarra says that Manchester United's excellent start to the season has unsettled Chelsea, Liverpool and tomorrow's visitors Arsenal
All those who thought Manchester United would be yesterday's team in today's Premiership have just discovered what a treasure trove the past can be to Alex Ferguson. The four clubs who were supposed to compete for the title are in direct conflict this weekend and United, who have recently benefited from key contributions from their veterans, must anticipate retaining the lead in the table by preserving a perfect record tomorrow. Their opponents, Arsenal, have not won at Old Trafford in the league since May 2002, despite taking seemingly better sides there than their current one.
There are proper questions about United's capacity to stand the pace, but at the moment there is a stability about them that is not visible at Arsenal or at Chelsea and Liverpool, who meet tomorrow at Stamford Bridge.
Ferguson can almost tell himself he is better off without Jose Mourinho's bottomless transfer fund so long as he enjoys the riches created at Old Trafford. "I know there are a lot of high-profile players at Chelsea and Arsenal," he said, "but none of them, with the possible exception of Thierry Henry, are likely to match the consistency of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs over a period."
Each of those has been vivacious recently, even if the Welshman's resurgence is now in abeyance while he takes a few weeks to get over a hamstring injury. Scholes, back from suspension, split the Celtic defence to set up the first two United goals in the 3-2 win on Wednesday. In pre-season, too, there had been signs he had recovered a lethal edge that had been blunt for a few years.
The impact of veterans such as Scholes and Giggs must come as a relief. "With Gary Neville, the three of them are the governors of the place," said Ferguson. He observes a peace of mind in players who appreciate their importance to the club where they have always played. Giggs (32) has had his testimonial and Scholes (31) will be granted one in due course. The ties are strong now for men who can no longer envisage a transfer to any other club.
"They were probably at that stage in life, around 30, where they have thought about where they are going," the manager suggested. "They have been here for years and maybe when they have had off spells the doubts set in. Now they have committed themselves. They know where their bread is buttered, they know the value of this club and they know how important they are to the young players."
That interpretation contains a shift of emphasis, since Giggs had been told at the beginning of last season that he would have to settle for being a squad player. In fairness, though, rewriting the message as circumstances dictate is an art all managers must perfect. Ferguson has to wait and see whether the senior figures and the other players can sustain their form over a protracted campaign.
Neville had muscle strains before, during and after the World Cup, and Giggs must now take his turn on the sidelines. The re-emergence of Scholes has been a minor surprise and fans will be eager to witness that influence being extended for a few more months. Similarly, men such as Patrice Evra, who is suddenly hardier, and Louis Saha have to keep on impressing. Only then will fans intensify their assertions that United can be champions for the first time since 2003.
No matter what happens next, the comparatively smooth progress at Old Trafford has been enviable. Even Mourinho, the man who supposedly has everything, may be a little jealous. It was presumably not part of any cunning plan that the rebellious William Gallas should be sold so late that there was no time to replace him. In addition, some of Chelsea's signings have been so big that there has been a delay in assimilating them.
Michael Ballack had his best outing to date against Werder Bremen, but the equilibrium in the midfield has been lost and that may be a factor in the slight decline in Frank Lampard's form. Andriy Shevchenko needs some understanding at present and the Ukrainian, half-injured in the World Cup and now faintly disoriented in the Premiership, has far to go before he is recognised as the inspirational figure to elevate Chelsea to a level where they can take the Champions League.
Liverpool have an even keener sense of the unsettling side-effects when a squad is overhauled. It is as if Rafael Benitez has not worked out what to do with all the options he bought himself in the summer.
In view of Benitez's intelligence and the talent at his disposal Liverpool must come good eventually, but they cannot afford to fall too far behind and a defeat to Chelsea this weekend would be depressing.
That syndrome is even more depressing for Arsenal. Should they be beaten at Old Trafford the club would be 13 points adrift and a single game in hand would not be much of a comfort blanket; the title bid would be over before the end of September. Injuries are accentuating the fact that Arsenal lack a sturdiness to gather points regularly, especially in away matches. The World Cup has also sapped Henry and, despite that goal in Hamburg, Tomas Rosicky.
United are the only one of the four major clubs who do not look as if the season has caught them by surprise. The sharp start may prove valueless in the long term but right now it is invigorating for the Premiership that even Chelsea should feel the pressure of having to give chase.
