50 Games, You're Having a Laugh!

The Perfect Day
By Chris O'Brien
October 25 2004

Manchester United ended the unbeaten run of 'untouchable' Arsenal with a memorable 2-0 victory over the Premiership Champions at Old Trafford. Ruud Van Nistelrooy buried some old ghosts with a penalty, whilst Wayne Rooney added a second as the Red Devils dragged themselves back into the title race.

50 Games, You're Having a Laugh!

Absolutely fantastic! Manchester United left Arsenal's unbeaten run in the Football League in tatters with a 2-0 victory over the Gunners at Old Trafford thanks to strikes from Ruud Van Nistelrooy and birthday boy Wayne Rooney. It was a day to remember as United pulled off a victory that could change the face of the Premiership race.

This was a game that Manchester United simply had to win. Defeat would have left United with only half the points Arsenal would have accumulated at the top of the table. Any other result than victory would have given Arsene Wenger's "invincible" team a record of 50 straight Premier League matches without losing. The papers the next day would have bee unthinkable. None of that matters though - Arsenal have been beaten, and Manchester United have pulled off a win that could turn around a season which has started slowly.

Rio Ferdinand took the captain's armband for the crucial encounter due to Roy Keane suffering from flu. The England international was joined by Gabriel Heinze, Mikael Silvestre and Gary Neville at the back with Roy Carroll defending the defensive quartet. Phillip Neville replaced the injured Keane, alongside Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo in midfield. Wayne Rooney, who turned 19 on this momentous day, was alongside a motivated Van Nistelrooy up front.

There is no doubt that we have the best away support in the country. However, I am the first to admit that out home atmospheres, especially in recent seasons, are often poor. This was not the case today. 64,000 passionate Red Devils roared on the United side, determined to bury the ghosts of the infamous clash between the two sides at Old Trafford last season. Protests against Malcolm Glazier's proposed takeover bid went on in and around the stadium, and everybody seemed in a confident mood as the two sides took to the field to raptures of noise.

United came at Arsenal from the off. As expected, tackles were flying in from all over the place. Mike Riley only dished out five yellow cards but on the face of it the game could have really exploded with scuffles ongoing throughout. United were on the attack almost instantly, when a mistake from Viera allowed Rooney to fire a shot at goal, but this was blocked by Toure before Scholes and Rooney combined to find an unmarked Ryan Giggs, only for Sol Campbell to block the Welshman's drive. Later in the half, Ronaldo sent a shot wide from a Rooney corner when he really should have hit the target.

After some scrappy defending, Arsenal settled and started stringing some of the passing football together that had seen the Londoners go 49 games without defeat in England's top flight. A quick attacking move saw forward Jose Antonio Reyes in front of goal with only Carroll to beat, but the Ulsterman made a great stop with his legs on his way to a third successive clean sheet between the sticks. He made a similar save from Henry later in the half, and the former Wigan 'keeper is looking stronger by the week.

It was an entertaining half, but despite a few impressive moves from the Gunners lacked much in the way of flowing football. Instead, the game was predictably close with tackles flying in and mini pitch battles sparking off between different players. A repeat of last seasons events looked likely at times. Chances were few and far between, although in fairness Arsenal looked the more likely to score as the half progressed but a solid defence and some good work from Carroll left Wenger's side, who had a scary goal difference of +23 before today, frustrated as the two sides went in goalless at the break.

Tempers continued to flare as the second-half got underway. Paul Scholes volleyed over from long-range before brave defending from Gary Neville blocked a shot from Reyes. Arsenal were building in confidence having survived the opening 45 minutes and were enjoying more possession. Bergkamp was guilty of missing an opportunity from close-range. United were creating chances too. Heinze headed wide of Lehman's goal but deadlock remained.

United's big chance came on 73 minutes just as it was looking as if the game was heading towards a stalemate. Controversy surrounded the penalty given after Rooney was tripped by Campbell. Replays will be played over and over again but the fact is that Campbell stuck out his leg towards the forward, and the fall gave Riley little choice but to give the spot-kick. There was never going to be any question who would step up - Ruud Van Nistelrooy took the ball, desperate to bury the evil memories of the 0-0 draw between the two sides where the Dutchman missed a last minute penalty which resulted in the pitch battle that followed.

Van Nistelrooy's nerves would not have been helped by a 5-minute melee with Arsenal defenders protesting over the decision. However, his spot-kick was taken with precision, sending Lehman the wrong way he sent it into the bottom right-hand corner as the Stretford End watched on. Ruud's celebration said it all - pure ecstasy. Old Trafford went ballistic. It was one in the eye for the Arsenal team who shamed British football at the Theatre of Dreams last term.

The atmosphere was electric, with the only silence coming from the 3,000 travelling Gunners supporters. Faint taunts of 'USA' and 'Super Malcolm Glazier' could be heard but you could tell the cocky North Londoners knew there run was coming to an end. We have endured months of press attention about this 'best team ever' but this was Manchester United's day.

United should have had another penalty when Ronaldo was brought down in the penalty area by Ashley Cole. It looked more clear-cut than Rooney's fall, but Riley waved play-on.

Arsenal attacked in numbers but they rarely looked like getting an equaliser. Ferdinand was exceptional in defence, Phil Neville helped limit attacks and Carroll wasted time with perfection! Ashley Cole sent a shot over the bar and there were nervous moments as the Gunners had a corner and a free-kick in an attacking position, but the Red Devils victory was secured during the 4-minutes (where did that come from anyway?) injury time.

A sweeping attacking move we have come to associate with 'unbeatable' Arsenal saw Wayne Rooney fed the ball only yards out and the teenager finished to secure a vital victory. Substitute Louis Saha had found Alan Smith, another late introduction, who set up the 19-year-old with a pin-point accuracy pass and the recent acquisition made no mistake under pressure - the best possible birthday present. Seeing the entire United side charge to the Englishman in celebration from the North Stand was a sight I'll never forget. This meant everything to the players.

Arsenal tried to press forward in the closing seconds to salvage consolation but United held on. The players and fans celebrated alike and you just got the feeling this win signalled the return of Manchester United. Just the perfect day.
 

Full Time - Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal
Attendance - 67,862

ManUtdWeb Man of the Match - Rio Ferdinand
This was a great team performance and one of those passionate victories that will be remembered as long as Manchester United Football Club is in existence. However, Rio Ferdinand was particularly outstanding at the back with a solid display that kept the highly-rated Arsenal frontline at bay, with Thierry Henry largely anonymous. Considering today's skipper was out of action for eight months, his performance was phenomenal. Meanwhile, Phil Neville, Gabriel Heinze and Roy Carroll all had excellent games but this was a day for everybody involved with MUFC.

Manchester United: Carroll, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Heinze, Ronaldo (Smith 85), Phil Neville, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, van Nistelrooy (Saha 90).
Substitutes Not Used: Howard, Brown, Miller.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Edu, Reyes (Pires 70), Bergkamp, Henry.
Substitutes Not Used: Van Persie, Taylor, Fabregas, Cygan.