One small step for man, one giant leap for Manchester United

Filed in archive Premiership 2007-08 on April 14, 2008

Manchester United effectively knocked Arsenal out of the title race in their 2-1 victory at Old Trafford yesterday and put all the pressure back on Chelsea who face Wigan tonight.

It wasn't vintage United and Arsenal will be feeling 'hard done by' and disappointed that they left Manchester with nothing.

Comments after the game that this was the best game of football this season, I felt, were a long way wide of the mark. The second half was certainly good and exciting but the first half was a bit of a non-event. Both teams gave the ball away far too easily, but the Adebayor of earlier in the season would have collected at least a couple of goals prior to his half time orange.

The second half was played at an exceptional pace and Arsenal deservedly took the lead when Ferdinand, who was superb throughout, and Van Der Saar, who was also superb throughout, left a Van Persie cross for each other and Adebayor nipped in between them and punched the ball in with his hand. To be fair to Adebayor, he probably felt that was the only way he could guarantee hitting the target!

United did their best to increase Arsenal's lead with Ferdinand producing a wonderful reflex save from Van Der Saar, and Wes Brown hitting his own post.

Just three minutes after taking the lead Arsenal handed, literally, the chance to equalise back to United. A daft handball by the much maligned skipper William Gallas gave Ronaldo the opportunity to step up to the spot and bag yet another goal in his wonderful season.

The introduction of Anderson and Tevez for Scholes and Park gave United fresh impetus and it was no surprise when they hit the winner. Owen Hargreaves scored direct from a twenty-four yard free-kick to send Old Trafford delirious.

Whether or not the win was deserved, United took a big step towards the title and they know now that wins at Blackburn and Chelsea in the next two games and the title will be theirs.

Arsenal's season has fallen apart but they showed once again that they are a fine side. There are even some Arsenal fans calling for the managers head. If they could turn beautiful football into goals, they would be winning everything. Of course, that is a very big if.