Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United

What a result, i don't think anybody could have predicted it would be all over after just 11 minutes. But over it was and what horrendous goals to give away they were from the Arsenal point of view. But so what, luck just evened itself out as we should have had the tie finished in the first 90 minutes of the tie. It just took another 11 minutes of the second leg of the game for fortune to even out. I wouldn't say United were at their free flowing best last night, but tactically and experience wise they were streets above Wenger's men. Evra's post match comment about it being 11 men against 11 babies wasn't far off the mark. Although seeing as though we still have to play them in the league that remark might have been better left in the changing rooms.
All 11 players who started the match were immense but i have to say that Ronaldo was absolutely outstanding. That was, by an absolute mile, his best preformance in a big game. I think that playing up front is definitely going to be his best position from now on in. I had a sneaking feeling that he might play up front, and if he stays next season, a big if granted, i think that performance has sealed the fate of Tevez next season, he will be off.
Arsenal actually started quite well as i had expected them to and for the first 7 minutes it looked like it was going to be a game. I wasn't worried as i had expected a tough game but thought that their lack of an away goal would prove crucial eventually as i couldn't see us not scoring against that defence. But when Gibbs slipped to let in Park who kept his composure to give us such a dream start you could see them visibly wilt. And when Ronaldo struck that thunderbolt that Almunia should have at least got a hand to in my opinion, they were a completely beaten team. The free kick may have been a bit contentious, sometimes they are given, sometimes not, but you shouldn't be conceding shots from that far out anyway. Ronaldo was causing their patched up defence all kinds of problems. And Park and Rooney were both doing a job and a half getting up to support him and get back behind the ball when we didn't have it. Ferdinand and Vidic must have thought this was the easiest semi they had ever played in. The statistics at half time were unreal with United having all those shots on goal and off target and Arsenal barely threatening Van Der Sar's goal. The gooners looked leaderless and charactless with Adebayor again having a shocker, and last night i didn't think Fabregas showed that much, either as a creative force or by giving his players an example.
The third goal was just what this stunning performance warranted, a fine move from Vidic's header that fell to Ronaldo who started the move with a great back heal and then run three quarters of the length of the pitch to get on the end of Rooney's perfectly waited cross to get his second of the night.
The only downside was the sending off of Fletcher. It was unbelievably harsh, even if it had been a foul, which replays show itwasn't. It was obvious he was going for the ball so i don't know why the referee thought he had to send him off. He put in yet another great performance in a big game and yet another stormer against Arsenal and i am pretty sure he would have played in the final. Getting the third on the hour was yet another bonus as he could take off Evra and Rooney who were both one booking away from not playing in Rome and keep them fresh for Sunday. If we beat the premier leagues premier comedy club on Sunday things are looking seriously good.

Henry Winter's match report
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/5279338/Arsenal-v-Manchester-United-match-report.html

Patrick Barclay on Fergie and the art of team selection
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article6229916.ece

Kevin McCarra on Ronaldo
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/may/06/cristiano-ronaldo-manchester-united

Evra gets a bit cocky, even if he is right
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/06/evra-manchester-united-arsenal-babies

Ribery to United?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/05/manchester-united-franck-ribery-bayern-munich-cristiano-ronaldo
He is a good playerwho would enhance us, but if he comes in players will obviously have to go out. So it would who depends who goes, to enable us to buy him, which would would decide for me whether it would be a wise move.
Mark Ogden comments on the possibilities this summer
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/markogden/blog/2009/05/05/ronaldo_holds_the_key_for_ribery_kaka_and_real

Cascarino lays into Arsenal
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article6229835.ece

Barca in the final, and they will have no defence, what a great couple of days.