The penultimate chapter of Alex Ferguson's autobiography is entitled Arsenal at the Gallop and deals with the Gunners' double-winning triumph of three seasons ago. In particular, it details how Marc Overmars' winning goal at Old Trafford in the March of 1998, as the run-in intensified, proved to be a major turning point in the title's destiny.
Ferguson is generous in his praise of Arsenal - "a truly special team" - but he begins the next chapter, the one about Manchester United's famous treble, by stating: "We had yielded the position of dominance in English football to Arsenal . . . We had to thrust ahead again."
They did just that. Whenever it comes time to look back on Ferguson's years in charge at Old Trafford, this feature of bouncing back and thrusting ahead again will be seen repeatedly. It is, without question, one of the players' and the manager's greatest qualities.
Now, it may seem premature to suggest that as September becomes October, and with the league season only seven matches old, United need to be thinking of re-charging and reminding again. They are, after all, three points ahead of Arsenal and, unlike Arsenal, are unbeaten in the Premiership, but the events of the past seven days have been notable for being not very Manchester United at all.
Losing a two-goal lead at home to Chelsea last Saturday was simply slack, but then to lose by two goals to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday with such a makeshift team was as near to perverse as things get under Ferguson. Arsenal, meanwhile, were jolting their season into life by bolting past Lazio on Wednesday. They are on the gallop again.
So when the two collide at Highbury tomorrow the onus will be on United to rein Arsenal in, and not to lose. It is a measure of our fickle nature that we think this way. It is only a fortnight since most commentators were eulogising United for the lyrical beauty of their crushing of Everton at Goodison Park. Yet now there are whispers about the wisdom of Ferguson's treatment of Mark Bosnich in the light of Fabien Barthez's injury and Raimond van der Gouw's ineptitude, his team selection in Holland, the dodgy defending and Roy Keane's inconclusive form. This being Manchester United, defeat tomorrow would be regarded as the beginning of a crisis.
But, this being Man United, defeat tomorrow is a historical improbability. So talented at thrusting ahead after a setback are Ferguson's teams, you have to go back to January 1998 to find the last time United lost two consecutive league matches - Southampton away and Leicester City at home. Last season it didn't happen, nor the one before that.
In fact, taking into account all United's fixtures including Premiership, League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League and that two-bob tournament in Rio, United have lost two consecutive fixtures twice since January 2 1/2 years ago. Both blips came last October: after losing 1-0 in Marseille, United were beaten 3-1 at Spurs on the Saturday. Before that the 5-0 shocker at Chelsea was followed by a 3-0 loss at Aston Villa. But the latter was in the League Cup and the only two recognised United first-teamers present were Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Bosnich.
It would seem that nothing inspires United quite like a little local difficulty. Even off the pitch the reaction is swift. After going out of the European Cup to Real Madrid in April, United's response was to announce - prematurely - the £18.5 million capture of Ruud van Nistelrooy, while it was noticeable on Thursday morning England's newspapers were full of stories about United's alleged £300 million sponsorship contract with Nike. Got to keep the share price up, you know.
So Arsenal can expect, if not a backlash, then at least a lash or two from United tomorrow. "The reason we left Ronny Johnsen and Denis Irwin out on Tuesday was simply because of Arsenal coming up," Ferguson said yesterday. He could have added the names of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs there. Far from downbeat, Ferguson then said: "Arsenal have had two home games in Europe whereas we've had two away ones. That makes a difference."
Jaap Stam has his ankle operation this morning but Ferguson said that Barthez may well be fit again and that there are no doubts over anyone else. United will be close to full strength and led by Keane against an Arsenal midfield missing Patrick Vieira, who is still suspended.
Keane has long personified his manager's formidable fire and said, ominously: "We need to get our finger out now. The disappointment after the PSV game was the same as after the Chelsea game. We are professionals and set ourselves high standards. We didn't reach them against PSV or in the second half last Saturday. We are giving away bad goals and that's not just against the defence. We have to defend better as a unit."
Ferguson was keen to applaud the "versatility" of Arsenal's attack and argued that exchanging Overmars and Emmanuel Petit for Robert Pires, Sylvain Wiltord and Lauren was "sound business".
Though Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have a strained personal relationship, presumably Wenger would be happy to accept such a bouquet. Then again. But yesterday he, too, was magnanimous when addressing his coming opponents. "We will have to be as sharp mentally and as strong physically as we were against Lazio to just have a chance against Manchester United," said Wenger.
To beat the Italian and English champions in the space of five days is the Arsenal task. Without Vieira tomorrow that double looks a lot harder, he is the whip behind the gallop. And then there is Manchester United. Idling in front? Or about to show the spirit of Giant's Causeway, thrusting ahead again?
