He scores with his left, he scores with his right...

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
08 Nov	12:45 PM	P	Manchester United (H)	2	1	Win

I don't know if I'm being narcissistic, or overly self referential here, but I'd like to open this afternoon by quoting something I said on Thursday afternoon:

"We will beat Manchester United on Saturday afternoon. I have no rational reason for this belief, and I can't see how we will score a goal, whilst I can see all too clearly how United will, but football is never played on what should happen, it's played on what does happen. And I think what will happen is that one player will stand up for us on Saturday and win us the game."

On a Super Saturday, Super Samir Nasri was the man who stood up and downed the European Champions. And we thoroughly deserved it. Yes, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo missed chances you would normally expect them to at least hit the target with, yes they might have had a penalty and yes Berbatov had a goal (rightly) ruled out for offside. But, after a shaky opening twenty minutes, Arsenal played with such style and conviction that they might have added to their two goal advantage long before the 90th minute saw Rafael turn what might have been a victory lap stroll through injury time into a nerve-shredding climax.

What made the triumph all the more remarkable was the efforts of the referee to deny Arsenal at all cost, with a very odd display of decision making, best exemplified by the cynical foul by Wayne Rooney on Theo Walcott. Howard Webb chose not to book Rooney but when William Gallas did exactly the same thing just minutes later, out came a yellow card. He also failed to spot; though it was clear from reviewing the incident on Goals on Sunday that he didn't have the best view, a clear shirt tug on Samir Nasri as the midfield maestro danced his way from the halfway line into the penalty area late on.

Speaking of Samir, his first goal showed great technique to bring the ball down and get his shot away quickly, funny to think he messed up a similar opportunity on Wednesday night. Okay, he got lucky with the deflection, but as my friend Ray always says about the myriad of deflected goals credited to Frank Lampard, "You don't win the raffle if you don't buy a ticket". Backed by a raucous (again) crowd, Arsenal might have added to their single goal advantage before half-time. That they didn't didn't matter too much as, for the third home league match in a row, they struck again before many of the crowd had returned from half-time miturations, beers, and pies. And this goal was a stunning demonstration of the footballing philosophy that underpins Arsène Wenger's Arsenal.

From the moment Cesc Fabregas took a corner on the right, the ball was worked through every outfield player except captain William Gallas, from left to right, back, and back again. Until the moment Cesc, turned away from his marker; Theo Walcott dragging Nemanja Vidic from the centre with his right to left run, leaving Nasri the freedom of N5 to run onto Cesc's through ball, so perfectly weighted that the only touch he needed to take, was the one required to smash the ball from the edge of the box, into the corner of the goal down below us. As the net erupted, so did the stadium.

This was the one, as long as we didn't concede soon after, I felt we would be home and hosed. It was straight after that Ronaldo put a chance just wide of the far post and it was beginning to look like our day. Despite Ferguson's substitutions and the increased United pressure on the goal, I thought we always looked likely to score on the break. Indeed on a better day, Bendtner might have had a hat trick. The third goal never arrived, and when Almunia was kicked in the face by Michael Carrick and substituted with just over ten minutes to play, you began to fear that perhaps Arsenal would contrive to blow it again.

Lukasz Fabianski was absolutely blameless as Rafael beautifully beat him with 40 seconds of normal play left. It wasn't till about a minute later that we realised there would be six minutes of injury time to play. The ghosts of October 29 hovering dangerously close into view, the stadium built into a frenzy of howls and whistling. Kolo Touré and Bacary Sagna might have done better with counter attack opportunities, as might Nicklas Bendtner who worked himself into space but could only fire over but when Fabianski came flying out of his goal to expertly claim a cross, the game was up.

The first of our "Big Four" mini league encounters had delivered a resounding affirmation of Wenger style and how the crowd let him know it. backed to the hilt during the game through repeated, noisy, choruses of "One Arsène Wenger!", the final whistle was greeted with mass celebratory scenes. Gallas, rock like again, knew what it meant to everyone, coming down and pumping the air. Rumours of the demise of Arsenal Football Club reacted to with an "open show of defiance, both on and off the pitch", clearly, have been greatly exaggerated.

User Comments

Deloren

Posted on 11 Nov, 2008 at 02:40 AM - Reply

He is a real star in the making. Jus hope he doesnt end up like Reyes .. another glass legged winger

Bee Jaei

Posted on 11 Nov, 2008 at 12:56 AM - Reply

I think it is too early be euphoric. I predict a loss to or draw with Aston Villa.

Toju Apo

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 05:43 PM - Reply

I must congratulate the young gunners for their victory against a full strength man utd team. But, as the resident pessimist, might i point out that victories over AC Milan, Real Madrid and Juventus in seasons past were also spectacular but we all know the trophy counts for the last 3 seasons don't we? I say the problems still remain.

Toba: The only Gooner.

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 04:53 PM - Reply

It was a beautiful display of football artistry- the only way Arsenal play. Beautiful football lives at The Emirates. I am very pleased with the performance of all the players except Bendtner. I think he has not got the quality to lead an Arsenal attack. His presence in the team only adds to our numbers giving Wenger the self belief that he has gotten quality plays in all departments. Bendtner needs to go for another scorer to come in. Or at least, allow Vela to get playing times. Wenger, please let him go. For NASRI, the best is yet to come. Keep it up boy!!!

jack eldridge

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 02:05 PM - Reply

absolute quality article. amazing game, and a good performance all round, would like to single out the effort gallas made on saturday too. everything that came his way, he dealt with. superb captains performance also. thank god for samir nasri :)

Warmkop(RSA)

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 11:39 AM - Reply

Gu... Gu... Gu... Gunners!!!

tondmach

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 10:56 AM - Reply

if this is not rated 5-star, then maybe i do not what good writing is .fire on arsenal-mania's own samir nasri.

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