So Arsenal have lost to Manchester United, but the first time in a long time it’s a defeat that has not spelled disaster for the gunners. It was an extremely encouraging performance, one which saw Utd largely outplayed, but, in time honoured fashion, sneaking a victory whilst turning in sub-par performances. Arsenal on the other hand were for the most part impressive, pressing their opponents high up the pitch, dominating the midfield and stamping their authority on the game. Fabregas and Song were not fit, and had they been able to play their presence would have no doubt tipped the scales further in Arsenal’s favour. Despite their absence, the makeshift midfield comprising Denilson, Diaby and Eboué played extremely well, controlling the middle of the park for long stretches. Indeed it’s more than likely that without those two moments of madness from keeper and midfielder, Arsenal would have taken all three points back to North London. Instead. Almunia’s madcap rush off his to line to haul down Rooney, and Diaby’s wildly misdirected header effectively handed the points to United. But this needn’t be a cause for despair; in fact, coming home empty handed but with the knowledge that they outplayed last season’s champions (in their own backyard) may well serve the squad better than having been outplayed but nicked a point, say. It seems ever more likely that Chelsea will be team to beat anyway, United looking entirely unlike the team that has won the last three premierships.
Ferguson has refused to yield to demand from his team’s fan base to spend some of the 80 million pounds, ‘burning a hole’ in the club’s pockets as his programme notes so succinctly put it. On Saturday’s evidence this might have been a mistake; Rooney looked isolated up front on his own, Nani and Valencia completely lacked creativity, succeeding only in making the gulf in class between themselves and Ronaldo look even wider. No one has suggested that Ronaldo would not be missed, to do so would be incredibly naïve; however, Ferguson’s belief that Valencia and Owen would be able to adequately replace Ronaldo and Tevez is beginning to look just as naïve. It was suggested that giving Owen a contract was a no-risk venture, given that his pay would be largely based on his performing well. However, I would suggest that Owen represents a gamble every time he steps on the pitch, given that it means someone else will have to be confined to the bench (Berbatov for example), someone much more likely to score than a striker who is well past his best. When commentators say that Owen has lost a yard of pace, what they really mean is that he’s not fast anymore. For a striker who relied heavily on pace and finishing, the loss of speed has left his game very one dimensional. It’s still early days, and he still has time to prove his detractors (like me) wrong, but I simply don’t think he has it in him, and it looks increasingly like Ferguson will have to dip into that 80 million come January if he wants Manchester United to still be in contention at the end of the season.
Still, encouraging signs from the gunners, and the team should be confident going into their second game in Manchester against City. Arsenal fans everywhere will be desperately hoping that the outstanding pairing of Gallas and Vermaelen can put a stop to Adebayor’s resurgent form (and make him shut his trap for five minutes about how great everything is up North).