Manchester United 2-1 Arsenal

A good start to our first big four encounters as we took the three points without playing anywhere near our best. Saying that, i can't agree with the majority of match reports that i have read that said Arsenal were the better team. For me neither side was that clever and a draw would probably have been the fair result. As for Wengers remarks this morning that United's tactics were anti football, having a go in particular at Fletcher, what a joke, half of the tackles he was pulled up for were basically just Arsenal players falling over. He was easily the man of the match as Rooney rightly said after the match.
The first half was one to forget for United, we were playing decently until it came to the final ball. The amount of times we could have opened them up only for the final ball to be unblievably poor was unreal. The main offender was Giggs who was having one of those games, but to give him credit he never stopped looking for the ball and making himsel available. We had the best early chance as Rooney fed Fletcher but the Scotsman couldn't keep it down. Arsenal were having plenty of possession but they weren't really threatning that much there best chance was when Van Persie was through but Vidic managed to block his shot. The goal was a great strike form Arshavin but i thought Foster should have done better. The tackle that preceeded it from Fletcher was a fait tackle as far as i was concerened as he got the ball. This new rule that says you can't follow through into player was obviously not conceived with challenges like this in mind. If a defender can't give everything he has got to try and block a forward getting an effort on goal in the penalty area the rules are wrong.
The second half saw us improve with Rooney busting a gut as usual but the goals when they came were gifted to us . They had a gilt edged chance to wrap the game up early on but Foster made a great save with his foot from Van Persie. It was cute play from Rooney to win the penalty. Most forwards would have given the pass up but he decided to give the goalie a decision to make and fortunately for us he made the wrong one, bringing Rooney down. This time Rooney took the penalty and made no mistake bringing us level. The deciding goal was comical, i don't know what Diaby was thinking but we gleefully accepted the gift. After that the game became end to end with Van Persie hitting the bar, Berbatov and Nani both missing great chances and then the injury time goal that was off side from Van Persie. So three points without playing that well, can't complain.
One thing that was pretty noticable in the game was Carrick's sudden loss of form. All of a sudden he seeems to have lost confidence, which is bit worrying. It was a good job that Fletcher had such a good game, then again he always has done against Wengers men.

Wenger has a moan and i don't think is going to win many friends
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/30/arsene-wenger-arsenal-manchester-united

Kevin McCarra's match report points out the hypocrisy in Wengers comments
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/31/manchester-united-arsenal-arsene-wenger

Alan Hansen thinks Arsenal need a Fletcher
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/6114767/Alan-Hansen-Arsenal-need-someone-like-Darren-Fletcher-in-their-team.html

Will Hutton comments on Lord Turner recent comments
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/aug/30/will-hutton-adair-turner-banks