Tomorrow is the anniversary of Manchester United's 5-0 defeat at Chelsea last season. All those who think that this result, taken with the midweek beating in Eindhoven, is a sign of a club in decline would do well to remember that United won the Premiership by a record 18 points in May.
Perhaps this season will be different, yet it was due to a goal, "so spectacular that it took the breath away," according to Ferguson, that United did not leave north London with a point yesterday. This was United's first league defeat since February 12th at Newcastle.
Thierry Henry was the three-point-turn man having scored a goal of Justin Fashanu quality on the half hour. Accepting a pass from Gilles Grimandi, Henry beat his international team-mate Fabien Barthez with a shot of sublime invention.
Thereafter Arsenal relied upon the more English values of Tony Adams and Martin Keown to defend their advantage and Arsene Wenger praised his team's "organisation and spirit" as much as Henry's wonder goal. Arsenal joined United on points behind Leicester and now having beaten the reigning Italian and English champions in the same week, said Wenger, Arsenal have jumped a major psychological hurdle. "It has a lot of meaning for us," commented Wenger.
Arsenal had to make only one change from the line-up that ran around Lazio here last Wednesday night. That was enforced, Patrick Vieira serving the last of his five-match suspension for being sent off against Liverpool. Grimandi stepped in, to good effect as it turned out. The visitors' seven changes from Tuesday's side in Eindhoven were for the better. Or should have been.
Initially it was that way. Until the goal United were more of a threat. They had also constructed the best move of the match 'til then: from Barthez the ball went in rapid succession to Denis Irwin, Teddy Sheringham, David Beckham and Paul Scholes. Had Scholes' half volley gone in it would have been a contender for goal of the season. Unfortunately for Scholes, Keown made an important block.
Roy Keane then rocked David Seaman with a volley from 30 yards, and Beckham broke dangerously with Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole. Arsenal were struggling to find any cohesion. Somehow Nwankwo Kanu manages to look like the earth's best and worst player simultaneously but his unpredictably yesterday extended to his positioning. Kanu did not appear to know whether he was playing in midfield or upfront.
Twice, first when Silvinho burst through a clutch of blue shirts in the 10th minute and then when Henry did the same 17 minutes later, Kanu was nowhere to be seen as the ball entered the area.
Then Beckham stood on Freddie Ljungberg close to the Arsenal left wing and began a train of events that ultimately led to United's second league defeat of the year. Silvinho took the resulting free-kick short to Grimandi, but there was little in Grimandi's pass to Henry to worry United.
Nineteen yards out with his back to goal, surrounded by United players, Henry scooped the ball up with his right foot, swivelled, and then with the same foot half-walloped the ball, half-scooped it over everyone including Barthez, off his line but not far off it. It had an element of luck and an element of genius. "Something completely crazy - unbelievable," said Wenger.
Eight minutes later Dennis Bergkamp put an inviting drive wide following more good work by Henry and Silvinho and before half-time Henry wasted a relatively straightforward chance when put through by Ljungberg's long pass out of defence.
Not until near the end when Parlour stood on the ball when unmarked and Barthez made two fine saves from Henry and then substitute Sylvain Wiltord, did Arsenal really suggest that they could add to their lead.
ARSENAL: Seaman, Luzhny, Keown, Adams, Silvinho, Bergkamp (Wiltord 78), Grimandi, Parlour, Ljungberg, Henry, Kanu (Vivas 57). Subs Not Used: Dixon, Lukic, Vernazza. Booked: Adams, Bergkamp. Goals: Henry 30.
MANCHESTER UTD: Barthez, Irwin, G. Neville, Johnsen, Silvestre, Beckham, Scholes, Keane, Giggs (Solskjaer 85), Cole, Sheringham (Yorke 68). Subs Not Used: Butt, Bosnich, Brown. Booked: Irwin, Beckham, G. Neville. Attendance: 38,146.
Referee: G Barber (Tring).
