There is plenty to talk about on that match and more today, so allow me to begin before my liver ceases all function from this weekend.
I imagine some people will disagree with my take on the action this weekend. To those people I say, go write your own damned blog then. I'm the law on this post, dammit. As an Arsenal supporter, I went into this match feeling quite confident. We were on as good a run of form as I can remember in recent seasons leading up to this. United were, outside of a good half against Wigan, playing quite poorly. Even without Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal looked the better side before the match, although I obviously would have felt much more confident had Cesc been included in the starting XI. However, if his absence Saturday keeps him out of Spain's lineup in the fucking useless international break, then it's a small sacrifice versus risking him and having him injured worse on international duty, as happens routinely with Arsenal players (see Theo Walcott on every break with England so far).
Le Boss, not unexpectedly, selected Abou Diaby to start in Cesc's absence. Diaby was coming off of an impressive brace of goals against Pompey and had played well all season. The surprise to me was that we reverted back from the successful 4-3-3 to a 4-4-1-1 formation, starting the normal back 4 but with Diaby, Song, Denilson and Eboue in midfield. The Eboue choice was also not random, as AW seemed to be looking for a bit of cover on the right side of midfield. The problem I had with starting him in this situation was that Eboue can provide a more defensive presence, he also has a knack for halting our attacks in the final third before they ever amount to much. Arshavin stepped into the Bergkamp role behind lone striker Robin van Persie. Despite any complaints I might've had, I felt this was a team that would be able to handle whatever United had to throw at us.
However, after the starting lineups were introduced, it was announced that Mike Dean would be the referee... and immediately a voice in my head spoke. Everyone knows you don't get a fair shake at Old Trafford anyway, but Mike Dean's been up Ferguson's ass for so long that one of his Scottish whiskey farts is like a freshening breeze to him. Even still, how much difference can a referee, even a biased one, really make? Quite a lot actually. As Arsenal controlled the run of play and created a number of good chances in the first half, Dean was handing out yellow cards to Arsenal players like third-world babies to celebrities. I couldn't tell if he was blind or just out to screw over Arsenal, perhaps both. But he booked Alex Song for a soft challenge, and then a few minutes later I could only look down when Song completely took out Giggs, getting all of the man, none of the ball. But somehow the second yellow never came.
Shortly before halftime, Arshavin latched onto a cross on the left-hand side of the box with space to play, when Darren Fletcher committed what was the easiest penalty call you could ever hope to make, which Dean promptly ignored. In any other match, on any other day, and with any other ref, this is an immediate point to the spot, not to mention a yellow card (or red, if you're an Arsenal player). And Dean did nothing. This was where the outrage over Dean really began to take shape. It would have been worse had Arshavin not taken Peter Finch's advice and blasted the wonderstrike of the season so far. The Russian Rocket blasted one from outside the box that had power, bend, finesse and all the demons of hell on it, and Ben Foster was no match. 1-0 to the Arsenal, and that's how it stayed until halftime.
I know that I expected an immediate backlash in the second half by United, but it just never came. Arsenal still were well in control of the match as a whole and still looked the dominant side, until Wayne rooney, running onto a ball into the box, kicked it basically out of bounds, and then went to ground as Almunia came near. To the surprise of anyone sensible, a penalty was awarded, Shrek dusting himself off and converting. The game was level.
An aside here; amid the uproar over Eduardo's dive against Celtic (and it was a dive), a couple of interesting things happened this weekend. For one, Aaron McGeady was booked for diving in an SPL match, destroying the Celtic moral high ground on the subject. For another, Rooney's dive against Arsenal (and it too, WAS a dive) was a carbon copy of the move taken by Eduardo. He left his feet prior to contact being made and flopped right down. The only difference was the 'keeper: whereas Boruc kept his head and withdrew his arms, Almunia went flailing in. Contact was made, but no more than the same glancing treatment that Eduardo took as his cue to dive, and in this case, a penalty should not have been given, as Rooney's touch on the ball took it away from any play he could have made on the ball without obstruction. Add to that the yellow card shown to Almunia for his part in Rooney's simulation, and again, Arsenal were hard done by.
After United later won a corner, Diaby struck. It is moments like these that make one look past Diaby's natural ability on the ball, his quickness, agility and overall giftedness, and want to do nothing more than hit him in the head with a ball-peen hammer. A nothing ball was floated into the box, in no danger of a United player getting to it, and Diaby, from about three feet away, made what I can only think was a decision to head it back to the 'keeper. It's the only thing that makes any sense, although it really makes no sense at all, logically. He put a fantastic finish on it, gifting United a goal and the lead. I've said it before, it's never been Diaby's physical abilities, not even his tendency to get constant niggling injuries, that have doomed him in my eyes. It has always been his decision making, which is often questionable, and in this case, unfathomable.
Diaby had a chance later to make amends, dancing into the box and creating space, but his shot left a lot to be desired and went wide of the post. United, with a lead, began to play with a bit more confidence, holding possession for longer periods and looking a bit more threatening. Nani in particular was in great position to put the game to bed but missed badly. Arsenal had, by late on, thrown Eduardo, Bendtner and Ramsey into the fray. To the outrage of United fans, 5 minutes of time was added on, and Arsenal used all of it. In the 94th minute, a long ball was played into the box, which was knocked down to the feet of van Persie, who struck home what should have been the equaliser. But the linesman's flag had been raised, disallowing it. Then all hell broke loose. Wenger went over to argue that Gallas, who had indeed strayed offside on the play, was not involved with the play on the ball (he wasn't), meaning play should continue and the goal should stand. Dean, disgrace that he is, sent Wenger off in a match that was, for all purposes, over. Wenger, in what has become to me the defining moment, went up into the stands among the same pitiful United supporters who had been calling him a pedophile for two hours. In a moment of complete defiance, Wenger stood up in front of them, a full-body stance middle finger (or two fingers, depending on where you are). I felt nothing but admiration for the man, and unless you are one of those despicable cunt United fans, I challenge you to watch that and not at least smile. Arsene Wenger is Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is football.
Despite the scoreline, I still have all the faith in the world in Arsenal this season, and I think this result and the madness that was the officiating will galvanize the Gunners and bring them together. Already this team seems like a bunch that will fight for each other, and they never laid down against United. You can talk about Chelsea all you like, I still feel that Arsenal can and should win the league this season.
That out of the way, let's briefly recap how AWESOME-O 5000 did in his first week of Premier League picks:
CHELSEA V BURNLEY
PREDICTION: CHELSEA 0-1 BURNLEY; REALITY: Chelski 3-0 Burnley
Turns out the Clarets weren't going to knock off every giant that came to step on them. We'll see what happens when the Blues go to Turf Moor.
BLACKBURN V WEST HAM
PREDICTION: BLACKBURN 0-5 WEST HAM; REALITY: Blackburn 0-0 West Ham
I caught a good bit of this game, and I wish I hadn't. Bogged down in midfield, and several chances went begging, but not much to speak of, really.
BOLTON V LIVERPOOL
PREDICTION: BOLTON 0-2 LIVERPOOL; REALITY: Bolton 2-3 Liverpool
The Scousers pull another one directly out of their collective asses, winning this one late on against a subpar Bolton side (which is redundant, I know). One has to wonder how long their luck will hold, but this team looks to be in some trouble.
STOKE CITY V SUNDERLAND
PREDICTION: STOKE CITY 1-1 SUNDERLAND; REALITY: Stoke 1-0 Sunderland
Big win for Stoke, I just think Awesome-o's reason was faulty. Yes, Red-White-Striped Team does = Red-White-Striped Team, but Red-White-Striped Team + Home field does not.
TOTTENHAM V BIRMINGHAM
PREDICTION: TOTTENHAM 2-2 BIRMINGHAM; REALITY: Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham
Like a very persistent homeless person, Tottenham just won't go away. A late winner was needed to get by Brum, who had matched them well most of the match (which probably means they'll finish no more than 3 places apart from each other).
WOLVES V HULL CITY
PREDICTION: WOLVES 1-2 HULL CITY; REALITY: Wolves 1-1 Hull
What? Jozy can't do EVERYTHING...
PORTSMOUTH V MAN CITY
PREDICTION: PORTSMOUTH 0-2 MAN CITY ARAB EMIRATES; REALITY: Pompey 0-1 Shitty shitty bang bang.
City roll on a bad Pompey team. These guys are in trouble, and they're SELLING players... the writing's on the wall
EVERTON V WIGAN
PREDICTION: EVERTON 3-1 WIGAN; REALITY: Everton 2-1 Wigan
This one was close all the way through and Wigan acquitted themselves well in a losing effort, I thought. I don't know what to think about Everton this season...
ASTON VILLA V FULHAM
PREDICTION: ASTON VILLA 1-1 FULHAM; REALITY: Villa 2-0 Fulham
I think it's time I revisit my thinking on Fulham this season. I assumed this team would push for the top half of the season based on the previous year, and the returning squad. This team have so far looked like the 2007-2008 version than the 2008-2009 edition. Let's hope they can get their shit together.
I haven't got much more to say this week, and frankly I'm worn out from reviewing the United match in my head. One thing I will mention is the disappointment I had for some of the Gooners at Nevada's on Saturday. Once Diaby gave United the lead, it was damn near impossible to get a song going, and nothing pisses me off worse than being shouted down by those plastic fucking United "supporters." We need to stand together, because when we're loud, no one can shout us down.
One last note, to the United douche who said he wasn't there to wind up anyone, but was clearly there to wind up the Gooners: Your team is shit, were outplayed, and you're winning nothing this season. I'd say I can't wait to see you when we beat you in London, but, a) I'm hoping to be at that match, and b) if United aren't winning, you won't be showing up anyway.
Until next time, you stay classy, and proud, Gooner nation...
- B, a Gooner.
