United not letting go of crown

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Arsenal 1 Manchester Utd 3: THE EMIRATES is Arsenal's home but it has also become the arena in which Manchester United and Chelsea vie with one another. Since May of last year those visitors have been here on four occasions in the Premier League or Champions League. Arsene Wenger's side have floundered every time, conceding 13 goals. United lag slightly, having scored only half a dozen of them, but it is clear that they can compete vigorously for the title with the Stamford Bridge club.

Arsenal are at risk of looking like a test-your-strength machine in a fairground as they are given repeated hammerings. This latest win, coupled with the defeat of Manchester City in the League Cup last week, suggested that Alex Ferguson’s team is more expressive and creative than had been assumed. They made enough of an impact to drive some home supporters from the stadium early and there were boos from those who lingered until the full-time whistle.

Not even Wenger can command the absolute trust of followers who were so devoted that they once resembled cult members. As a large, well-supported club in the capital, much will be asked of them and the burden of paying off the cost of a fine stadium may not be accepted indefinitely as reason for finishing among the also-rans.

The play of the Arsenal line-up here was not even particularly attractive and a transformation will be called for at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

There were hindrances for Wenger and, with no genuine centre-forwards fit to start yesterday, Andrey Arshavin had to fill a role in which he was ill at ease throughout. Circumstances were to blame for this but it will have been troubling to Wenger that a fully established member of the line-up such as Gael Clichy was targeted by the visitors. United enjoyed great rewards on that flank.

Nani excelled, just as he had in that midweek encounter with City. Having been on the books since the summer of 2007, he is not to be taken as a bright newcomer. Neither can the 23-year-old be seen as any kind of counterpart to the other Portugal attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Real Madrid last summer, but he did spread misery in the Arsenal ranks.

He was one of the key sources of verve. Wayne Rooney, naturally, was the other. As the attacker matures, he increasingly finds the balance that allows him to be a finisher while also contributing imaginatively to the build-up at other stages in a match. He and the rest of the United side had completed their task before Thomas Vermaelen, with a drive that deflected off Jonny Evans, scored for Arsenal 10 minutes from the close.

This purposeful display put the victors a point behind the Premier League leaders Chelsea, who play their game in hand at Hull tomorrow.

There was a thoughtful tone to a United selection that had both Ryan Giggs and Antonio Valencia on the bench while the industrious Park Ji-sung was accommodated. The visitors had no intention of letting Arsenal put on an exhibition of fluent movement.

Arsenal would have hoped for far more resilience than they ultimately produced. With Vermaelen fit, there was no need to send out Sol Campbell against United or, for that matter, allow him a place among the substitutes. Considering the devastation inflicted by United, Wenger can count himself lucky to be spared the greater drubbing that could have been ensued if the 35-year-old Campbell had been compelled to face Rooney.

Even so, there was scant security with William Gallas partnering Vermaelen. Centre-halves could not be in the ascendant while Nani was repeatedly turning the defence. When the winger broke free of Clichy, Samir Nasri and Denilson, the cross was deflected into the net for an own-goal by the touch of the stretching Manuel Almunia in the 33rd minute.

After that United brimmed with merited confidence. Four minutes later they scored after an athletic and precise counter-attack that started on the fringes of their own area. Park, Rooney and Nani exchanged passes before Rooney shot home. The fragility of Arsenal was illustrated again at the next goal. Michael Carrick’s chipped pass released Park in the 52nd minute and his finish found the net at the near post.

Guardian Service