Old Trafford retired last night to the sound of approaching guns. The barrage that blew Blackburn Rovers apart at Ewood Park has left Manchester United staring down a barrel, or in Arsenal's case a double-barrel.
A 4-1 win, Arsenal's 11th victory in 14 Premiership matches, has taken Arsene Wenger's ebullient team to within a point of the champions at the top of the table. Arsenal have two games in hand, United have only four to play. As United's manager Alex Ferguson observed after Liverpool's 10 men had forced a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Good Friday, Highbury now holds the balance of power.
Having worn down Newcastle United's massed defence on Saturday Arsenal swept through Blackburn's thin cover last night much as the snow blew across Ewood for most of the second half.
Three goals for Arsenal in the first 13 minutes ended the match as a contest and by half-time they were four ahead. Blackburn managed a goal themselves in the second half but their defence lay in ruins and Marc Overmars might have had a hat-trick with better finishing.
A week earlier Blackburn had lost 3-1 at home to United after overrunning their opponents in the first half with football which even Ferguson was moved to describe as "quite brilliant". Last night, however, Roy Hodgson's attack was without two essential components, Chris Sutton and Damien Duff, both kept out by weekend injuries.
In Duff's absence Jason Wilcox resumed his normal left-wing role with Callum Davidson, signed from St Johnstone for £1.75 million in February, making his first appearance at left-back. From the start Blackburn's defence was ill at ease with itself and elementary errors were ruthlessly punished by Dennis Bergkamp, returning from a three-match suspension, and Ray Parlour, whose pace destroyed the opposition. Patrick Vieira, needless to say, ruled the midfield.
Basically Blackburn's defence turned up for the game 70 seconds late and were chasing a lost cause thereafter. As Remi Garde took a throw-in on the right Bergkamp turned away from Davidson and found himself with a clear run to goal after the ball had flicked off the head of Stephane Henchoz. Bergkamp then beat Alan Fettis with a low shot into the far corner.
After six minutes the speed of Parlour's sprint on to a return pass from Bergkamp again exposed Blackburn on the right. The cover was non-existent as Parlour broke clear to drive past Fettis.
Arsenal's third goal was even more preventable. Emmanuel Petit sent a corner on the right short and low to Bergkamp, whose 25-yard shot pierced a crowded penalty area but was blocked by Fettis. It should have been cleared but Parlour headed the queue of Arsenal players waiting for the rebound and again his shot was true.
Understandably Arsenal relaxed a little, concentrating more on possession than aggression. On the half-hour David Seaman's first serious save, dropping on Kevin Gallacher's sharp downward header, offered a reminder of the potency that still lay in even this depleted Blackburn attack.
But four minutes before the interval a long clearance from Nigel Winterburn found Nicolas Anelka outpacing the tattered remnants and impudently showing Henchoz the ball before whipping it away, drawing Fettis off his line and scoring Arsenal's fourth.
The home supporters booed their players off at half-time but within five minutes of the second half Gallacher, oddly unmarked as Jeff Kenna's cross dropped to his feet, restored Blackburn spirits as the blizzard took over where Arsenal had left off.
On St Stephen's Day Arsenal were 13 points adrift of Manchester United. Now, like yesterday's snow, they are making a nonsense of seasonal assumptions.
Blackburn: Fettis, Davidson (Valery 58), Kenna, Sherwood, Hendry, Gallacher, Dahlin (Beattie 79), Wilcox, Flitcroft, McKinlay (Ripley 79), Henchoz. Subs Not Used: Broomes, Filan. Goals: Gallacher 51.
Arsenal: Seaman, Winterburn, Vieira, Bould, Adams, Anelka (Platt 69), Bergkamp, Overmars (Hughes 87), Parlour, Petit, Garde. Subs Not Used: Wreh, Crowe, Manninger. Booked: Garde, Vieira, Petit. Goals: Bergkamp 2, Parlour 7, 14, Anelka 42.
Referee: M J Bodenham (East Looe).
Jordi Cruyff has emerged as the key player in Manchester United's attempt to sign Jaap Stam from PSV Eindhoven, with Stam claiming he will be at Old Trafford by the end of the week.
PSV have reportedly put a £15 million price tag on the Dutch defender but it is believed the United chairman Martin Edwards has offered £9 million plus Cruyff for the 25-year-old.
Cruyff, son of Johan, has failed to win a regular first-team place at United since joining them from Barcelona for £1.4 million two years ago. He has not started a game since October.
Stam, who is angered by PSV's apparent efforts to block his move, has threatened to take them to a tribunal if terms are not agreed with United.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)