PREMIER LEAGUE Manchester Utd 2 Arsenal 1:MANCHESTER UNITED were not allowed to be fussy about the way they approached the Premier League title. This was a stumble rather than a glide towards the trophy as Arsenal performed with enormous pride and exertion before succumbing to a defeat that was hardly deserved. Only a sadist will sneer they again conceded an equaliser so soon after going in front.
The victory is one for United to reflect upon. If they needed a reminder of how arduous the closing phase of a season can be, then they were given it in a resounding manner here. Their manager, Alex Ferguson, needed little prompting to admit Arsenal had deserved more. It was as if the laws of physiology had been given the afternoon off when Arsène Wenger's team acted as if they had not been through the harrowing night at Anfield five days earlier that eliminated them from the Champions League.
This was the energy of desperation from a team frantic to stave off the end of their campaign. United could barely equal it, despite the rest a few members of the squad had been granted when Roma were at this ground last Wednesday. Arsenal could have equalised here and Old Trafford hearts hammered, for instance, as the substitute Nicklas Bendtner rose for two late headers that Edwin van der Sar reached.
There was a liberation for Arsenal in the knowledge they had nothing left to lose. United, on the other hand, were hampered by all the calculations that buzz in the brains of a side on the verge of retaining this prize. While they did not flow as Arsenal had in the first half, they came up with a means of winning after going 1-0 down. Two victories, including a triumph at Stamford Bridge on April 26th, will confirm them as champions because of their impregnable advantage in goal difference.
Despite the spasmodic character of a display in which Cristiano Ronaldo was largely marginalised, there were still openings for United. Jens Lehmann, between the posts for Arsenal because of a wrist injury to Manuel Almunia, needed to make a string of saves even when the United engine was spluttering. With the fixture goalless he got a foot to Rooney's close-range shot after a Ronaldo cut-back in the 23rd minute. The German's presence could have been mistaken for a harbinger of achievement. Emmanuel Adebayor had squandered several opportunities, too soft with some finishes and wild with another, before at last putting Arsenal in front after 48 minutes.
Gael Clichy crossed and the United defence paused in the misinformed assumption Van der Sar would come to catch it. As the Dutchman froze, Adebayor bundled the ball into the net although it did seem to come off his arm.
United could have been 2-0 down, as Rio Ferdinand directed a hard Adebayor cross towards his own net, but Van der Sar blocked.
The self-destructive trait in Wenger's side was not to be suppressed. In the 52nd minute William Gallas leaned to his left and put an arm in the way of a pass from Michael Carrick. Ronaldo was then obliged to give a more sustained exhibition of his adroitness from the spot. His first attempt was disallowed because Park Ji-sung had encroached.
Here was a fertile situation for Lehmann, who delayed the retake at the expense of a caution. Ronaldo was not to be distracted and possessed such supreme faith in himself he delivered an upgraded version of his initial penalty. Lehmann was once more beaten to his right, but the shot that sped past him was kept even lower.
United could not really kill off Arsenal. Wenger's men nearly levelled but the Clichy cross that broke from Wes Brown after 68 minutes banged off the near post. Arsenal were undone by a piece of precision. Gilberto Silva fouled Patrice Evra and Ronaldo was the decoy as Owen Hargreaves scooped an exquisite free-kick over the wall and low into the net.
Arsenal, who collected five bookings, continued to claw at United. Their challenge for the title had expired a while ago but only this defeat persuaded Wenger to issue the death certificate. His side were killed off over a period commencing with the 2-2 draw at Birmingham City in late February.
Wenger has, as a parting shot, driven United into a period of chastened reflection. Perhaps that will be a boon to Ferguson. After this the squad will believe him when he insists there is nothing to be taken for granted in the Premier League or Champions League.
Guardian Service
