http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=flamini-blast%2D-we-knew-unfit-united-would-fall-apart%26method=full%26objectid=18516500%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
MATHIEU FLAMINI has revealed that Arsene Wenger predicted
Manchester United would collapse late in the game against Arsenal
because they are not fit enough.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side began in sparkling style at the Emirates
and took the lead after 53 minutes through Wayne Rooney.
But the French midfielder said the Arsenal boss told his team at
half-time that their opponents always slow down after the 70th
minute.
And Wenger was proved right when Robin van Persie and then Thierry
Henry scored in the final 10 minutes to seal a great Gunners fight
back and give Chelsea a lifeline in the title race.
Flamini said: "At half-time the manager asked us to keep
concentrating and keep going because Manchester would run out of
steam in the last 20 minutes. 'They are never the same after 70
minutes', he insisted. And once again, he was right." And Flamini
said the late win also proved Arsenal, often accused of lacking the
stomach for a fight in tough matches, were capable of battling to
get a result.
"You have to be honest, Manchester played really well and we found
it really difficult to get going," he added.
"They put up a real fight but Arsenal is not just a team which
plays football. It is also a team which never gives in."
Also, another article->
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007030565,00.html
MANCHESTER UNITED must prove they are not the Dads Army of the
Premiership in the race for title glory.
Alex Ferguson will react furiously to Arsene Wengers suggestion
his old-timers are only good for 70 minutes.
But the statistics back up the Arsenal managers claim that United
are starting to feel the pace.
Even skipper Gary Neville concedes they threw it all away in the
final 10 minutes at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
United were heading for a nine-point lead at the top of the table
after Wayne Rooney headed them into a 53rd-minute lead at
Arsenal.
But they were unable to withstand a furious late fightback from the
young Gunners, who equalised through Robin Van Persie in the 83rd
minute before Thierry Henrys winner in the third minute of
stoppage time. Five of Uniteds six defeats this season have been
inflicted in the final stages.
In fact, a remarkable 46 per cent of all the goals they have
conceded this season have come in the final 20 minutes.
That places a huge question mark over the stamina of an ageing
team.
United boss Ferguson sent out his strongest side to face Arsenal
and that included five stars well past their 30th birthday.
With an average age of 28.3 years, they are by far the oldest of
the top four rivals and Fergie knows he will be relying on golden
oldies Ryan Giggs, Henrik Larsson, Paul Scholes, Edwin van der Sar
and Neville to carry them over the finishing line.
In sharp contrast, Arsenal had an average age of just 24.5
years.
So it is no surprise Gunners full-back Gael Clichy, 21, claimed:
We were better than United physically and showed a character and
state of mind beyond reproach.
While remaining faithful to our own game, we ended up by having
them in the physical impact.
!
Match-winner Henry added: In the past few weeks we have been
scoring a lot of goals in the dying minutes of the game, which
tells you our squad is really on form.
And this is coming at a time of the year when you are usually
tired after the Christmas period.
I dont know if we are unstoppable but the point is that we know
we can deliver something throughout the whole game and that is
important.
We have a young team but I think the work we have been doing with
all our coaching staff has been a big plus for us.
If you dont work properly on the training field then the final
five or 10 minutes will always be difficult in games.
United skipper Neville admitted: Sundays defeat was incredibly
difficult to take. We had played so well, put in a good performance
for 83 minutes and were kicked in the teeth right at the end.
We were comfortably in control of the match and created the better
chances in the first half.
We got the goal through Wayne and everything was going so well
until we conceded those two goals.
It was the second time this season Arsenal had beaten their old
rivals in the dying seconds.
How the goals go in
MANCHESTER UNITED
Conceded 26 goals in all competitions 12 in last 20 minutes,
which is ... 46.1%
CHELSEA
Conceded 25 goals in all competitions eight in last 20 minutes
which is ... 32%
LIVERPOOL
Conceded 36 goals in all competitions eight in last 20 minutes,
which is ... 22%
ARSENAL
Conceded 28 goals in all competitions six in last 20 minutes,
that is ... 21.4%
Emmanuel Adebayor scored in the 86th minute when they triumphed 1-0
at Old Trafford in September.
Wenger underlined his teams superior staying power with his
post-match analysis of Sundays game.
He said: United were more mature than us in the first half and it
took us time to get going. But we took over in the second half and
for the last 20 minutes it was all us.
Fabregas and Rosicky fought like mad to win the ball for Robin van
Persies goal, underlining the spirit and resilience of this young
team.
Even Ferguson acknowledged his team ran out of steam. The United
boss said: We controlled the first-half possession-wise but when
we went ahead, maybe we sat back and played 10 yards deeper.
I sent on Louis Saha for Henrik Larsson with 10 minutes to go to
use his pace up front. The players worked hard and theres not a
lot I could fault them with.
I couldnt see any danger throughout the whole day. But Arsenal
resorted to long balls which is unlike a normal Arsenal team. When
they tried their normal passing game our midfield coped
well.
With a six-point lead over second-placed Chelsea, United remain
overwhelming favourites to win their first Premiership title in
four years.
But their rivals will pounce on Sundays setback as a possible
weakness.
How true do you think this statement is?? and if so, what should we
do??
