MANCHESTER UNITED’S next six Premiership games are West Ham (away), Aston Villa (away).Wigan, Reading, Newcastle (away) and Aston Villa.
With 35-year old striker Henrik Larsson joining them next Sunday, and eligible to play in January, and Solskjaer on the way back, United are giving the billionaire’s Blues a serious test for the first time.
United’s 39 Premiership goals have been scored by 12 different players and they are nine points clear.
They will still be six points clear after Chelsea beat Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, having played a game more than Chelsea. They look hungry in every game
Predictably, Sir Alex said on PPV that he will be “supporting the Gunners.”
He grinned as he added that it’s not often he does that.
Cristiano Ronaldo made the first goal in 6 minutes and scored the third in 84, when the score was 2-1.
His raking early cross from the touchline found Rooney eight yards out and slotting easily wth his left foot.
It was an early cross by CR. Early for him, that is. He didnt do any stepovers. He chested the ball and took two further touches before hitting a killer crossfield pass which deflected off Distin to the Croxteth kid.
That goal was a Jimmy Greaves goal, a poacher’s goal that needed stealth and awareness.
After the game George Graham, the PPV pundit, was thinking along the same lines.George said it was “like Jimmy Graeves at his best.”
It was a vibrant derby but, like everyone else, I had backed United to win it.
On 45, Louis Saha went in bravely for a Heinze cross and his stab hit keeper Nicky Weaver on the body and went in off the underside.
The injured Weaver was replaced by Sweden’s current keeper Andreas Isaksson, who made good saves from Giggs and Rooney to keep City in the game before Trabelsi’s thunderbolt
In 72, sub Stephen Ireland, on for Reyna, destroyed Vidic near the corner flag and found Trabelsi, who jinked away from Rio Ferdinand and fired a scorching left foot shot that beat Van der Sar high inisde his near post.That made it intereresting.
City have not won at Old Trafford since 1974, when Denis Law reluctantly backheeled the goal that relegated United.
MOST ARSENAL fans I know want United to take the title off Chelsea.
They can’t stomach the thought of Chelsea winning three Premierships in a row. I suppose a majority of ANR readers feel the same way.
Regarding Chelsea v Arsenal, I’m not worried, although it is an uneven contest. I doubt if it will be a rout.
But, of course, Chelsea could annihilate Arsenal on set-plays because they have five players who can score with headers
Arsenal’s task now is to win their mini-league of Bolton, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Reading and Aston Villa. If they avoid major injuries, and Walcott and Baptista can contribute some goals, third place is attainable.
At the Bridge, I just hope Fabregas comes out in one piece.
If I have a fear, it’s that Lampard will do to him what he did to Xabi Alonso.