EPL Special : Arsenal vs Manchester Utd

last SG · 2007-01-19T13:44:26+00:00

1st goal: wayne rooney's header if arsenal loses cos of that unawarded penalty.. the referee's gonna hv a hard time.

used SG

manu just switched off after the first goal

T.Ryousuke SG

Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd
By Andrew McKenzie

Late goals from Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry saw Arsenal come from behind to earn a dramatic win over Premiership leaders Manchester United.

United went in front when Patrice Evra drilled in a cross for Wayne Rooney to powerfully head in at the far post.

But Van Persie reacted quickly to Tomas Rosicky's cross and got in behind Gary Neville to slide in a fine equaliser seven minutes from the end.

And in stoppage time Henry rose to head in Emmanuel Eboue's cross.

United had looked like extending their Premiership lead to nine points, with 10 minutes left on the clock.

But Van Persie's sixth goal in seven games pegged them back and Henry stunned the visitors with a late, late winner.

Both managers had predicted an entertaining encounter in the 200th meeting between the clubs.

And in blustery conditions the two rivals produced a game full of intrigue and incident, even if neither side were able to find their top form.

United settled first, with Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo both off target as Arsenal battled against the wind in their faces.

The first flashpoint led to Kolo Toure and Rooney exchanging slaps but, despite both players coming away holding their faces, it did not merit any cards from referee Steve Bennett.

Giggs and Evra both went into Bennett's book for lunging challenges as the game began to simmer.

Henry should have done better than head straight at keeper Edwin van der Sar from an Emmanuel Adebayor cross.

With Arsenal gaining the ascendancy, Bennett looked to have denied them a clear penalty.

With Henry running across the area, Neville stuck a leg out, missed the ball but got the Frenchman, who tumbled to the turf, but Bennett looked to have dodged the decision by neither awarding a spot-kick nor booking Henry.

United finished the half strongly - Rooney and Henrik Larsson both testing Jens Lehmann with headers.

Eight minutes after the break United went in front through Rooney, who was looking closer to his best form even if he was somewhat stifled by having to spend much of the game out on the flanks.

Evra emerged down the left like a runaway train and, with Cesc Fabregas too late to stop him in his tracks, he had time to drill a cross that was gratefully lapped up by Rooney at the back post for only his second goal in 14 games.

Manchester United endured some nervous moments as Rosicky had a couple of stabs at an equaliser before Adebayor instigated a goalmouth scramble that left Van der Sar with a sore mouth.

But that will be nothing compared to the pain United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be feeling after seeing three valuable points slip away.

Rosicky's centre went under Henry and Van Persie the poacher pounced at the back post to keep their unbeaten home record alive in front of a record Emirates crowd.

But Arsenal were not finished there as Eboue sent in a cross and Henry was left free to thump a header past Van der Sar to the delight of the home fans - and no doubt Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

M©+square SG

Music to the ears.

Miss watching the game. But i Heard shouts of Goal. Thought it's Man U's night.
Laughing

OO_OO_OO SG

exactly. in fact, they switched off after the 1st 10 mins or so.
gave away possession so freely..

zocoss SG

Henry secures all three points for the Gunners

Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd

Arsenal produced a stunning late comeback to beat Premiership leaders Manchester United 2-1 on Sunday and breathe new life into the title race.

Thierry Henry headed a superb winner in stoppage time after Robin van Persie had netted on 83 minutes to cancel out Wayne Rooney's opener.

The result means United fail to increase their six-point advantage over Chelsea at the top.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side started the game confidently and dominated the early possession.

And twice they almost went in front in the dying seconds of the first half.

Both times they were denied by superb Jens Lehmann saves - the first to tip over a Rooney volley and the second to push away a Henrik Larsson header.

United did break the deadlock eight minutes into the second half as Patrice Evra went on a superb run down the left before crossing to the far post where the unmarked Rooney headed home.

Arsenal refused to give up though, and were rewarded for their persistence on 83 minutes.

Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky battled hard to win the ball back before the Czech crossed low into the box. And a faint touch from Henry diverted the ball to van Persie at the back post, who crashed the ball into the roof of the United net.

Then deep into stoppage time Henry sent the Emirates faithful wild with delight, beating Edwin van der Sar with a superb header from an Emmanuel Eboue cross.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue (Hoyte 90), Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb (Van Persie 67), Fabregas, Flamini (Julio Baptista 79), Rosicky, Adebayor, Henry.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Denilson.

Goals: Van Persie 83, Henry 90.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo (Heinze 90), Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Larsson (Saha 81).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Brown, Fletcher.

zocoss SG

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger "We won by never giving up," he said after Thierry Henry's stoppage-time winner gave his side victory.

"We began nervously and United started with maturity but I knew after the break we would have a go. "They got their goal with their only chance of the half, but we fought back because we have lions in our team."

The Frenchman added: "We needed to be direct with our play, although I think we were direct a little too often. "But I think we mixed our play well and there was so much spirit in the squad."

The only thing to mar Arsenal's victory was the news that Van Persie had broken a bone in his right foot while celebrating his equalising goal and could be ruled out for around six weeks.

Sir Alex Ferguson was philosophical following the last-gasp defeat - his side's third loss of the Premiership campaign. "I'm disappointed. We defended well - they resorted to long balls and we were coping great," he said. "Then we lost two goals from positions we didn't think we would lose goals. "We have some important away games and the team will be back to winning ways very soon. Rest assured we won't lose like that again."

He added: "We have a game less to play and are a goal better off than Chelsea following their 2-0 defeat at Liverpool yesterday. So it's not all doom and gloom."

windjammer SG

ARSEnal looks good man...

I made a wrong call this match...

Laughing

hisoka SG

hope chelsea can fall to 4th spot or lower Twisted Evil

The man who was death SG

arse was hungrier

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