When I first read the Man United starting XI, I wasn’t sure. No Antonio Valencia, no Dimitar Berbatov, no Ryan Giggs but most importantly no Nemanja Vidic who had suffered from a slight injury ahead of the game. But it goes to show that you should just trust Sir Alex Ferguson, he does know what he is doing.
The Man United starting XI was- Edwin Van Der Sar, Rafael da Silva, Wes Brown, Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra (captain), Luis Nani, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Ji-Sung Park and Wayne Rooney.
Arsenal had got off to a bright early start but United did gradually get back into the game. Once we had the first goal you could just see the confidence flowing through the team.
Nani was sublime for the first goal, he picked the ball up on the right, went past two Arsenal players, chipped the ball to the far post for Park but Manuel Almunia only managed to tip the ball in. United’s second goal came from a very fast Man United counter attack, Nani ran at Arsenal whilst Rooney sprinted down to the other end of the field and was able to put Nani’s pass to him into the back of the net.
There were moments in the game when Arsenal did look slightly threatening, mainly on the counter but United players were always there to snuff out the threat.
United grabbed an important third goal in the 51st minute, Park ran and ran at Arsenal with the Arsenal players concentrating on Rooney and Nani all he had to do was slot the ball past Almunia, which he did.
With only 51 minutes on the clock there was time for Arsenal to get back into the game but they needed a quick goal. They did bag themselves a consolation goal with 11 minutes remaining thanks to a lucky deflection.
United switched off from an Arsenal corner and a Thomas Vermaelen volley was deflected past Van Der Sar off Evans.
Tatically United got it spot on with Carrick, Scholes and Fletcher bossing the midfield. Nani caused loads of problems for Gael Clichy down the right, Rooney didn’t look isolated upfront and the back four didn’t really have much to do.
The two men who will be claiming the plaudits in tomorrow’s papers are Nani and Rooney.Nani, what a difference an injury can make. Ever since his return from an injury he has been fantastic. Since he joined in 2007, Nani has been frustrating, we have seen glimpses of what he can do but I think he may have finally come into some form.
Rooney scored his 100th Premier League goal today and it looks like he and Nani may be forming a partnership. He is in wonderful form and at the moment, you feel that he can score in every game.
Man United may have been good but Arsenal were poor. The defending was awful and they need a striker but hey, I’m not complaining.
What a week it has been for Man United, through to the final of the Carling Cup after beating Man City and beating Arsenal in what Sir Alex Ferguson called the biggest game of the season. Up next is a home match against Portsmouth.
Amazing, amazing, amazing!
I'm glad that Nani is playing better now, I was tired of shouting at him!
Also lovin this blog! :-)
Hi Sarah, I am glad you like the blog :-)
It is fantastic to see Nani playing well, we have seen bits of his talent but it now looks like he can keep it up.
I will be relising this result for days
It's a shame but I won't see any Arsenal fans until later this week, but they will still be in for some stick! Haha
On the second goal, Nani was the one that slotted the pass through to Rooney, not Park. The ball was cleared ahead to Nani, who had a SPECTACULAR first touch. He ran hard at the right (facing goal) corner of the 18, then slowed to allow Rooney to pass him. He picked his passing lane perfectly, and Rooney one-timed it into the net. A thing of beauty, really!
Sarah- That is a shame but I am sure it will be worth the wait.
jquijano- Thank you for pointing out my error, I have corrected it.