Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal - Barclays Premier League

Arsenal were knocked off the top of the Premier League table after a narrow 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on Monday night.

The goal had more than a touch of good fortune about it. Nani’s cross deflected on to the head of Ji-Sung Park four minutes before half-time, though the Korean’s reaction was razor-sharp.

Manchester United also missed a second-half penalty when Wayne Rooney blazed over the bar.

Those were the major moments of the game. In between them, there was little to split the sides. Arsenal’s performance was combative and controlled. Though we have said it before, on another night they might have gleaned something from the game.

Yes rookie keeper Wojciech Szczesny made more saves than Edwin van der Sar but this is Old Trafford and the volume of the travelling Arsenal fans at full time suggested they still had pride in their side after this evening.

A fifth defeat of the season is a big blow to Arsenal’s title hopes but this performance means they can still claim that very quality - hope – for the remainder of the campaign.

The stand-out team news was the selection of Szczesny in goal. Lukasz Fabianski had damaged his hip in the final seconds of the win over Partizan Belgrade last Wednesday and so his compatriot took the gloves for the first time in a Premier League game.

Cesc Fabregas had been out with a hamstring problem since the 2-0 defeat in Braga last month. He was a significant doubt in the days before this game and began on the bench.

Otherwise Wenger shuffled his squad as he has done throughout the past month.

This game was an opportunity for Arsenal. They came to Old Trafford as the Premier League leaders but had yet to attain the kudos of a side with true title aspirations. That would change with a win this evening.

In the first half, they would never really find a fluency and would lose a goal but they were always competitive.

In the eighth minute, Van der Sar’s quick clearance found Rooney. The England striker turned sharply and his deflected shot was clutched by Szczesny with Park in close attendance.

The play was pretty even but the chances – such as they were - went to the home side.

Midway though the half, Darren Fletcher’s cross was aimed towards Rooney but Sebastien Squillaci intervened. The Frenchman’s header was weak and found Nani on the right of the area. His volley flew inches past the far post. It was by far the clearest chance of a tense opening quarter.

Just before the half-hour, Manchester United had a major shout for a penalty. Nani swung a cross over from the left and, as Marouane Chamakh stooped to nod the ball clear, it only brushed his head but hit his hand. Referee Howard Webb waved play on. Just as he had when Rafael blocked off Chamakh in the area earlier on.

Arsenal were holding their own but had not created a chance worthy of the name. Yet Manchester United were hardly carving the visitors apart.

In fact when they took the lead four minutes before the break, it required a healthy portion of luck.

Nani drove in-field with Clichy in close attendance and tried to cross the ball. His effort deflected off the Frenchman but Park reacted quickly and guided a header over Szczesny. It dropped agonisingly beyond the Arsenal keeper and into the net.

In a tight, fiercely-contested game, it was a huge moment. Arsenal went into the break feeling slightly aggrieved.

Tomas Rosicky thumped a cross-shot just wide in the opening moments of the second half. And, after Alex Song had nodded Rooney’s ball across his own goal and over the bar, Samir Nasri fired across goal only for Van der Sar to save at the near post.

Arsenal had upped the ante but Manchester United had been breaking quickly all night with long balls over the top. With the visitors chasing the game, this played into their hands.

In the 54th minute, Rooney fed Anderson and the Brazilian’s toe-poke was wonderfully batted away by Szczesny. His best save of the night so far.

A couple of minutes later Van der Sar made his first real stop. Nasri’s low cross-shot was turned into the path of Chamakh by the Dutchman. For a second the Moroccan had the goal at his mercy but Nemanja Vidic slid in to block as the Arsenal striker prodded a shot towards goal.

Wenger brought on Fabregas and Robin van Persie for Jack Wilshere and Rosicky. The away side were now pushing down the pedal but, when the Dutchman just failed to scramble home Sagna’s cross, you sensed it was not to be Arsenal’s night.

Anderson fired just wide with the right back lying prostrate after a high challenge from Rio Ferdinand.

Then, in the 72nd minute, Manchester United should have killed the game. On the right of the area, Nani tussled with the sliding Clichy. The Portuguese winger dragged the ball back on to the hand the Frenchman was leaning on and the assistant referee indicated a spot-kick. It was the fifth penalty awarded against Arsenal in their last eight trips to Old Trafford.

Often they are decisive but this one was missed. Inexplicably, Rooney thundered his effort high over the bar from 12 yards.

It was the impetus Arsenal needed and Wenger added pace to his side by replacing Andrey Arshavin with Theo Walcott.

But, as the seconds ticked by, Manchester United were defending deep and making the better chances on the break.

From one, in the 88th minute, Rooney tried to chip Szczesny. The Pole stretched his huge frame and batted the ball aside.

In final seconds of normal time, Walcott’s drifting cross was headed away from Van Persie by Ferdinand at the far post.

Manchester United were now closing the shutters and Arsenal could not prise them open.

There was one final half-chance when Chamakh nodded on and Walcott blazed over the bar.

But, despite a half-decent performance, this was just not Arsenal’s night.

New date for Seasiders

A new date has been fixed for Blackpool's Barclays Premier League match against Manchester United.

The encounter at Bloomfield Road will now be played on Tuesday 25th January with a 7.45pm kick-off.

The fixture was due to be played on 4th December but was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

The Seasiders brought in industrial heaters but the playing surface was unable to beat the Big Freeze.

The re-arranged fixture will be an intriguing encounter between the newly-promoted side and the club with the most Premier League crowns.

Ian Holloway's Blackpool have made a hugely encouraging start to their first campaign in the Barclays Premier League.

But Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be desperate to make the most of their match in hand over their title rivals.

Nani: Gunners main threat

Manchester United winger Nani views Arsenal as a bigger title threat than Chelsea this season.

The Gunners visit Old Trafford on Monday looking to consolidate top spot in the Barclays Premier League table. For their part, United know a home win would allow them to jump back to the summit, while retaining a match in hand following the postponement of last week's visit to Blackpool.

It promises to be a feast of football, with Nani believing it represents the acid test of United's trophy ambitions.

"Arsenal are a bigger threat than Chelsea now," he said.

"Chelsea have lost a few games and drawn some and their confidence looks a bit low.

"But Arsenal have been winning and being top of the league gives you great confidence."

The north London giants have lost three times on home soil this season.

However, away from the Emirates they have been a formidable force, managing recent victories over Manchester City, Everton and Aston Villa, none of whom United were able to beat on their own travels.

"Arsenal have been doing well. They are growing up in the way we are," the Portugal star said.

In Samir Nasri, the Gunners boast a player who is at the very top of his game and arguably the most influential in the top flight at present.

"Nasri is the most important player in the Arsenal team," said Nani.

"He is a very big danger for us and we have to take care of him."

Arsenal might well feel the same way about United's confident winger.

It was Nani's direct running that got Arsene Wenger's side into a flap on their most recent meeting in January as United extended an unbeaten run against Arsenal to four matches in very impressive style.

"I like to play against Arsenal," he said.

"It is good playing against any big team but I have done well against them in the past.

"The way they play gives you a chance to show your quality."

Manchester United 1-1 Valencia - UEFA Champions Leagu

A rare goal from Anderson gave United a point in a captivating encounter with Valencia, ensuring the Reds’ passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League as winners of Group C.

The Spaniards had forged ahead before the interval when Pablo Hernandez punished a slack piece of play from Michael Carrick – firing home the first goal the Reds have conceded in this season’s competition – before Anderson tucked away the rebound from Ji-sung Park’s parried shot just after the hour mark.

Already assured of qualification to the second round, both sides scuffled for victory in an end-to-end tussle. Sir Alex Ferguson named a side bearing only two changes from that which obliterated Blackburn Rovers in Old Trafford’s most recent fixture. Most surprising was the inclusion of Ben Amos, who made his Champions League debut in goal, while Fabio replaced the injured Patrice Evra at left-back.

Whereas latter group stage games can often be lacklustre affairs, both sides signalled an early intention to attack. Nani dragged a shot just past Vicente Guaita’s left-hand post inside four minutes, while Ricardo Costa headed wide when well placed.

Anderson played a neat one-two with Rooney and fired tamely at Guaita, before Alejandro Dominguez twice came close in quick succession; firstly drawing a smart save from Amos with a cheeky effort from distance, then cracking a low drive against the outside of the youngster’s post.The clearest opening of the game’s early stages fell to United, however, when Anderson’s delightfully weighted through-ball released Berbatov, who opted to try and round Guaita, only for the youngster to deny the Bulgarian by thrusting out an arm and halting his progress.


That chance marked a sustained spell of United pressure. Both Nani and Anderson came close from promising positions within the visitors’ area, then a superb left-wing cross surge and cross from Rooney gave Park an unmarked volley which Guaita parried to safety with his legs.

Within the same passage of play, Valencia took the lead. Carrick’s errant pass was pounced upon by the alert Dominguez, who advanced and slipped a pass to Fernandes, and the midfielder struck a powerful low shot between Amos’ legs.


The chance to make history by navigating a Champions League group stage without conceding had gone. More importantly, Valencia had suddenly seized control of Group C, fronting United with the possibility of facing more imposing Spanish opposition – Barcelona and Real Madrid - in the second round.

The Reds' riposte was brisk and almost emphatic. Rooney picked up possession on the left wing, cut infield and curled a stunning effort from 25 yards which thudded against the underside of the crossbar, and Nani’s volleyed rebound skidded agonisingly wide of the far post.That purpose carried over through half-time, and Berbatov could twice have levelled from Rooney crosses within two minutes of the restart. First the Bulgarian’s flicked header was parried away by Guaita, then his second header dropped just past the stranded goalkeeper's far post.

Berbatov seemed to have levelled in the 56th minute when he clinically volleyed home a Nemanja Vidic flick, but he was correctly ruled offside. Although Aritz Aduriz tested Amos with a near-post volley soon afterwards, United’s dominance was almost total, and Guaita was increasingly under siege.

Rooney spun and fired just wide after good approach play from Park, then moments later fired in a stinging half-volley from distance which Guaita opted to punch to safety. The youngster’s preference for parrying had proven effective, but soon afterwards it played a major role in United’s equaliser.

Rafael burst through a cluster of players and spread the play to Park. Cutting in from the left and using Rooney’s run as a decoy, the Korean unleashed a superb shot which was destined for the top corner. Guaita did well to keep the shot out, but his parry landed only at the feet of Anderson, who tucked away the rebound and embarked on a rare goal celebration – indeed, his first at Old Trafford.

The early stages of the second half had seen United as the only attacking agitators. Suddenly, Valencia were stung into life. Pablo Hernandezsomehow missed a gilt-edged chance from six yards after the visitors had survived a legitimate shout for offside, before Guaita frustrated Berbatov twice in under a minute with a pair of fine saves to keep out the Bulgarian’s header and shot.

As the game swung from end to end, Valencia’s small band of supporters claimed a penalty when Fabio and substitute Isco collided inside the area, before Aduriz shot straight at Amos following Nani’s loose pass to substitute Chris Smalling.

Perhaps inevitably for a game conducted at such breathless pace throughout, the sides ran out of steam in the final 15 minutes. Both teams can now draw breath before looking forward to next Friday’s draw for the second round of this season’s Champions League, and United can breathe a little easier in the knowledge that, theoretically, winning the group should carry a more favourable pairing.

United: Amos; Rafael, Ferdinand (Smalling 50), Vidic, Fabio; Nani (Giggs 81), Anderson (Fletcher 90), Carrick, Park; Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Hernandez, Obertan, Macheda.

Valencia: Guaita; Miguel, R Costa, Dealbert, Mathieu; Hernandez (Feghouli 82), Banega, Albelda, Alba (Mata 68); Dominguez (Isco 54); Aduriz.
Subs not used: Sanchez, Maduro, Soldado, T Costa.

Blackpool v Manchester United called off

Blackpool's televised Barclays Premier League match against Manchester United tomorrow has been postponed because of concerns about the Bloomfield Road pitch.

Temperatures dipped below minus eight last night meaning the Seasiders' attempts to make the pitch playable, using protective covering and hot-air blowers, were in vain.

The match was officially called off this afternoon after referee Peter Walton carried out an inspection this afternoon.

A statement on the club's website, www.blackpoolfc.co.uk, read: "Mr Walton expressed concern that the severely affected areas of the playing surface would not thaw sufficiently for the game to be completed."

This weekend's Football League programme has been ravaged by the weather, but this was the first Premier League game to fall.

West Ham United 4-0 Manchester United - League Cup

From one extreme to another, United followed Saturday’s 7-1 Barclays Premier League hammering of Blackburn Rovers with a disjointed 4-0 Carling Cup quarter-final defeat away to West Ham, surrendering the Reds’ two-year grip on the trophy and ending a 29-game unbeaten run in all competitions for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.

West Ham, playing with the shackles off from their struggles against relegation in the league, looked hungrier and certainly more organised than United, who could conjure none of the verve and magic of the weekend’s demolition of Sam Allardyce’s side, and instead at times seemed intent only on defensive self-destruction.

Despite United’s success in this competition in recent years it still does not top the list of priorities, but that will not soften the blow of a frustrating and disappointing night in East London as United missed out on a 13th appearance in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

For the trip to a snow-capped Upton Park, Sir Alex made ten changes from the team that so freely took Blackburn apart at Old Trafford, with only Anderson surviving from the weekend’s starting XI. Although there was widespread change in the United ranks, the team still boasted plenty of senior men, with Anderson joined in central midfield by Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher.

An early flurry of West Ham possession quickly gave way to a spell of United dominance, and the Reds had the first chance after seven minutes following a series of raids down the right side. After several attempted crosses, John O’Shea’s sidefooted ball found Gabriel Obertan. The Frenchman took two touches to create space for a shot, which Rob Green brilliantly tipped onto the post. Javier Hernandez slid in at the far post for the rebound, but James Tomkins beat the Mexican to the ball.

United appeared in total control, both midfield and defence confidently keeping possession. But on 17 minutes Jonathan Spector, playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, went on a surging, unchallenged run through the centre of the park. He squared the ball to Victor Obinna on the edge of the area and continued his run, but Obinna’s shot struck Spector – now in an offside position – as it deflected past Tomasz Kuszczak. The West Ham players and supporters all celebrated, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside. The decision was completely correct, but a perceived sense of injustice galvanised the home side and within five minutes they legitimately had the lead, via the same combination of players. Obinna, a potent and lively threat all night, twisted and turned before lofting a pass into the area, which Spector glanced past a stranded Kuszczak.

The Reds looked shaken, West Ham were stirred. In midfield United looked overrun, while defensively Sir Alex’s men appeared unsettled. The boss made a move to address the balance of the team by switching his full-backs; Fabio moved to the right and O’Shea to the left.

Just after the half-hour mark on a now rare foray forward, Chicharito crossed to the far post for Giggs, but the Welshman’s free header was straight at Green rather than making him work. But it was by no means a Reds resurgence. On 37 minutes Spector, who made eight appearances starting out his career with the Reds, was again allowed to break forward from midfield. As United failed to clear the ball, Spector gleefully pounced for his second goal of the game and United went in at the break 2-0 down.

Sir Alex had no choice but to make a change at half time. Bebe was sacrificed as the Reds switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Federico Macheda joining Chicharito up front; Obertan subsequently moved to the right and Giggs took up his new post on the left. There immediately seemed more purpose and structure to United’s play as the Reds pinned West Ham into their defensive third.

But once again United’s early dominance in the half was undone by soft defensive errors. A ball down the left channel allowed Obinna far too much room to cross, and Cole attacked the ball, beating Evans to reach it and nod past Kuszczak to make it 3-0, further loosening United’s grip on the Carling Cup.

The snow continued to pelt down at Upton Park, but this was no picture postcard performance from the Reds, with seemingly very little to warm the travelling United fans. And it only got worse. After 66 minutes, Obinna again provided the cross for Cole to make it 4-0. This time it was Rafael, on for his brother Fabio, that Obinna got the better of, while Cole again got in front of Evans to beat Kuszczak with a left-footed strike into the far corner.

Hernandez clipped the top of the bar with a right-foot effort, a rare attempt on goal in the second half, after 74 minutes. But there was no joy on a night to forget. United’s silverware must come from other sources this season.