ARSENAL SQUANDERED AN opportunity to return to the Premier League summit after drawing 0-0 with Manchester United in an attritional game at the Emirates Stadium.
Both teams had suffered damaging results at the weekend, Arsenal crashing 5-1 at Liverpool and United drawing 2-2 at home to bottom club Fulham, and the tentativeness on either side made for a game of only sporadic excitement.
Robin van Persie came closest to scoring for United, spurning an excellent early chance and later hitting the crossbar with a header, while Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny had a header cleared of the line.
Arsenal would have gone top with victory, but the draw left Arsene Wenger’s side a point behind Chelsea in second place.
For United it was another missed opportunity to make up ground on the teams in the Champions League places, ahead of a mid-season trip to Dubai when they will gird their loins for a high-stakes run-in.
Former Arsenal striker Van Persie was playing at the Emirates for the second time as a United player and his old team-mates gifted him a huge opportunity within seconds of kick-off.
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Van Persie was allowed to creep up behind Mikel Arteta and steal possession from the Spaniard, but with only Wojciech Szczesny to beat he drove a tame shot into the Arsenal goalkeeper’s arms.
In response, Jack Wilshere had a shot blocked by Chris Smalling after a weaving run, with Olivier Giroud heading over from the ensuing corner, while Tomas Rosicky saw a deflected shot saved by David de Gea.
With Antonio Valencia relacing Ashley Young for United, the champions deployed Juan Mata on the left flank, and the club’s record signing teed up Van Persie with a pass down the inside-left channel, only for the Dutchman to shoot wastefully wide.
John Walton
John Walton
Giroud continued to best United captain Nemanja Vidic in the air, but he was unable to find the target with a succession of headers.
The French striker was also involved in a collision with Rafael da Silva that saw the United full-back land awkwardly on his neck. After soldiering on until half-time, the Brazilian gave way for Rio Ferdinand.
A war of attrition took hold early in the second period, with neither side able to fashion a chance as attacks foundered on imprecise passes and niggly fouls.
The home fans almost had something to shout about in the 62nd minute, but although Koscielny’s glancing header from a right-wing corner beat the diving De Gea, Valencia was on hand to head the ball off the line.
Both managers made changes with 15 minutes remaining — Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain entering the fray for Arsenal and Adnan Januzaj taking Mata’s place for United.
The game belatedly came to life in the closing stages, as both sides looked to snatch victory.
Giroud was unable to make telling contact with an inviting centre from Bacary Sagna, before Van Persie saw a header from a Wayne Rooney cross brilliantly turned onto the bar at the other end by Szczesny.
Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla had two late attempts to claim a winner, but on each occasion he was thwarted by Spanish countryman De Gea.
As a united fan we now have to face the fact champions league football is gone for this season. A year or two of transition begins this summer.. With hopefully a clear out and some big name signings to clear the defence up and to add some prowess to the midfield.. no one said it was goin to be easy and Moyes should get a chance to build a squad just like Ferguson did, all be it sooner rather than later
Martin, either they back Moyes 100% or lose him now. Souness took over a strong Liverpool and was given too much time to dismantle it. Thats the danger, Man U are a traditional team, but its a different world now. When is enough, enough?
Uniteds first transfer should be Moyes back to Preson North-End. The comparisons to Ferguson are false. Moyes is not a big team manager and the players know it hence the comments by senior players. He inherited an excellent team with some of the best strikers in the PL. His tactics have been described as conference league standard and as being easy to defend against. Moyes could be managing Bayern Munich and still lose. Sorry guys but the majority doubted is credentials when he was appointed and hal a season has proved so…so…so much worse.
That’s the already slim chance of United getting fourth now gone. They probably won’t even catch Spurs now and will be battling Moyes old club for the last automatic Europa spot. What a difference a year makes!
Another 5 seasons with Moyes? These are going to be painful. he is such a negative manager. The man is clueless. David Moyes has turned a team who won the Premier League title to a top 7 side.
More like Fergie turned a team which was worthy of a Top 7 finish into a team which one the title. Or everyone else was scutter, I dunno. The point is, this has been waiting to happen for a couple of years, how United won the league with last year’s midfield I’ll never know. Moyes is a good manager who has inherited a squad in need of overhaul. Ye have had 20 years of continuous success, a couple of trophy less years will do ye no harm.
Don’t worry, the board will add to yer never ending debt to bail him out at the end of the season. The only danger is that he’s made such a bollix of it that players won’t want to join
As I said before fair enough if Liverpool city Chelsea Everton beat united . It’s the points dropped against stoke Fulham Cardiff West Brom that are are going to be the difference . Any other season United would have been delighted with a point .
United of late remind me of the Liverpool when they lost their top 4 spot a few years ago at least Liverpool at showing there’s light at the end of the tunnel
Get a few spelling lessons jimmy it is spelled to . Also how can you jump off a sunk ship or did you mean sinking . In that case get a few grammar lessons as well .
I will not comment on that while practising my Parade. Looking at all the ”s and “ss I see you double checked first. For the record, my spelling is correct, my grammar is not. :)
I read that the saviour Mata was taken off! He’s a decrepit overhyped waster…. He’ll be the main man after the front too jump from that sunk ship in the summer
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United effectively 12th points off 4th now with the massive goal difference taken in. That’s the champions league ship sailed.
The champs league ship was sailed ages ago
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As a united fan we now have to face the fact champions league football is gone for this season. A year or two of transition begins this summer.. With hopefully a clear out and some big name signings to clear the defence up and to add some prowess to the midfield.. no one said it was goin to be easy and Moyes should get a chance to build a squad just like Ferguson did, all be it sooner rather than later
Martin, either they back Moyes 100% or lose him now. Souness took over a strong Liverpool and was given too much time to dismantle it. Thats the danger, Man U are a traditional team, but its a different world now. When is enough, enough?
Uniteds first transfer should be Moyes back to Preson North-End. The comparisons to Ferguson are false. Moyes is not a big team manager and the players know it hence the comments by senior players. He inherited an excellent team with some of the best strikers in the PL. His tactics have been described as conference league standard and as being easy to defend against. Moyes could be managing Bayern Munich and still lose. Sorry guys but the majority doubted is credentials when he was appointed and hal a season has proved so…so…so much worse.
I think he deserves another season at least to build his squad
That’s the already slim chance of United getting fourth now gone. They probably won’t even catch Spurs now and will be battling Moyes old club for the last automatic Europa spot. What a difference a year makes!
How’s yer tool Pat?
Another 5 seasons with Moyes? These are going to be painful. he is such a negative manager. The man is clueless. David Moyes has turned a team who won the Premier League title to a top 7 side.
More like Fergie turned a team which was worthy of a Top 7 finish into a team which one the title. Or everyone else was scutter, I dunno. The point is, this has been waiting to happen for a couple of years, how United won the league with last year’s midfield I’ll never know. Moyes is a good manager who has inherited a squad in need of overhaul. Ye have had 20 years of continuous success, a couple of trophy less years will do ye no harm.
Don’t worry, the board will add to yer never ending debt to bail him out at the end of the season. The only danger is that he’s made such a bollix of it that players won’t want to join
Shlt, that name from Middle Earth?
Debt is falling constantly
As I said before fair enough if Liverpool city Chelsea Everton beat united . It’s the points dropped against stoke Fulham Cardiff West Brom that are are going to be the difference . Any other season United would have been delighted with a point .
How are United gonna buy all these quality players in the summer if there not in the champions league
United of late remind me of the Liverpool when they lost their top 4 spot a few years ago at least Liverpool at showing there’s light at the end of the tunnel
Get a few spelling lessons jimmy it is spelled to . Also how can you jump off a sunk ship or did you mean sinking . In that case get a few grammar lessons as well .
* two
John, when using names, it starts with higher case, for example, James, not james. Your ever so welcome.
Graham, hate to rain on your parade but it’s actually “you’re” – it’s probably best you go and refresh your own spelling and grammar too!
I will not comment on that while practising my Parade. Looking at all the ”s and “ss I see you double checked first. For the record, my spelling is correct, my grammar is not. :)
I read that the saviour Mata was taken off! He’s a decrepit overhyped waster…. He’ll be the main man after the front too jump from that sunk ship in the summer
Bandwagon fools
You’re ma
*your