Premier League - Match #34

Man United 2
Cristiano Ronaldo, Hargreaves

Arsenal 1
Adebayor

It is confirmed. Arsenal is without a trophy this season, again.

Does that mean a switch of allegiance to another team? Not in mad redo1's case. It is true that we have not won anything of worthy since 2004-05 season when the FA Cup came back to Highbury after a penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester United.

It was the same opponent again that confirmed the reality that many Gooners are trying to defer from accepting. The defeat could be considered as a bit unlucky but in truth, the way Arsene Wenger's men have coped with all the trials and tribulations that befallen them this season has been nothing short from admirable.

We came back strongly after being unluckily eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday to show our interest in the league has not wavered. Perhaps the chances created should have been put away but after a long hard season it was asking a bit too much from the one who has contributed quite significantly to the campaign.

But we kept plugging away and finally the break came when hesitation in the United's defence allowed Manu Adebayor to turn a Robin Van Persie cross over the goal-line.

Unless we take the lead in the 94th minute of a match, I would not be comfortable with our ability to preserve the scoreline. True enough, it did not.

Skipper William Gallas handled the ball inside the box and Cristiano Ronaldo tucked home the equaliser despite Jens Lehmann going the right way on both occasions. Lehmann who was recalled after injury to Manuel Almunia made a few significant saves and a few more similar performances would see him as the number one goalkeeper for Germany for the upcoming EURO 2008.

Jens Lehmann made a surprise return to perform heroically at Old Trafford. His performance should put him ahead in the race for the goalkeeper position for Germany at EURO 2008.

The winner came from another dead-ball situation when Gilberto Silva was adjudged to foul Patrice Evra just outside the box. Owen Hargreaves' effort flew into the goal with nothing much could be done by the Arsenal defence. It was certainly a wonderful effort.

Despite trying their best, scoring another couple of goals proved to be a mountain too high for the visitors to climb and at the final whistle Alex Ferguson was seen offering consoling words to Arsene Wenger, knowing that Arsenal had lost the race rather than his side winning them.

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