“They do not know how strong we are,” declared the Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger at half time during Tuesday night’s one-sided encounter between the Londoners and Barcelona at Camp Nou. Yet, as Arsenal slumped to defeat against the Catalans for the second time in as many seasons a certain sense of inevitability played out. The Londoners’ fragile resolve crumbled, as it always seems to on the biggest occasions, with Barc¸a thoroughly dominating the match.
Predictably Wenger blamed referee Massimo Busacca for Robin van Persie’s second half dismissal, claiming that Arsenal would have won bar for the Dutchman’s red card. It is, of course, a huge red herring; a ruse designed to mask the Frenchman’s own failings. Arsenal, as Pep Guardiola so succinctly put it, couldn’t string three passes together on the biggest of occasions. Much as Wenger has added steel to his side this season – nine red cards attests to that – few expect the Londoners to rise to the occasion.
Surely then, with Arsenal battered from the Carling Cup final loss against Birmingham City and European elimination, Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Old Trafford is the perfect occasion for United to break Arsenal’s season. Indeed, victory could perhaps terminally end Wenger’s hopes of a first trophy in nearly six years. After all, elimination from a third competition inside a month would destroy the confidence of even the mentally strongest sides. Durable, Arsenal is not.
It is not as simple as all that of course. While Arsenal’s defeat was a lesson in predictability, Saturday’s tie is anything but given each side’s calamities in recent weeks. United’s own confidence is under threat too of course, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side having lost three of the last five Premier League fixtures. The capitulation at Stamford Bridge was painful; humiliation at Anfield a huge blow to the squad’s resolve.
Indeed, Ferguson’s media black out this week is, perhaps, as much an attempt to refocus his squad as it is childish retaliation against a perceived press enemy. Circling the wagons may well foster that ephemeral team spirit, although it can do little for his side’s quality. Or lack thereof in recent weeks.
Add injury to key players and Ferguson’s temptation to rest others and there is no guarantee of success over Wenger’s battered troops though. With Rio Ferdinand still on the sidelines, Nani out for a fortnight with a deep dash to his left leg, and Park Ji-Sung, Anderson and Jonny Evans all missing, Ferguson is still without half-a-dozen senior pros.
Better news concerns Antonio Valencia, who may yet player some part against the Gunners, although there is little guarantee the 25-year-old Ecuadorian will immediately replace Nani’s creativity in the United side. Valencia was due to play in United’s 2-1 reserves’ defeat at Blackpool on Wednesday but was pulled out of the fixture after United’s coaching staff assessed the pitch. It’s a tougher ask still to replace Nani’s 14 goal assists this season.
Then there is Ferguson’s temptation to rest key players, with the FA Cup taking a back seat to Premier and Champions League campaigns. Indeed, with Marseille coming up at Old Trafford next Wednesday United’s senior players – Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar – will probably only play in the European tie.
Moreover, the FA Cup tie comes in the middle of a Premier League title race in which all pretenders’ inconsistency means there is no genuine front-runner. United’s three-point lead is countered by the Gunners’ match in hand and Chelsea’s renewed belief. United must also face Arsenal at the Emirates and Chelsea at Old Trafford before the season draws to a close. At this stage, few can confidently predict a positive outcome in either of those matches.
The upcoming Champions League fixture, in common with United’s rash of injuries, means that fringe squad members including Darron Gibson, Gabriel Obertan and Bébé will almost certainly play some part against Wenger’s outfit. Given that trio’s performances this season, it’s a frightening thought.
The question is whether Ferguson can balance a squad thin on resources with the cataclysmic effect of losing a third match in a row. If the Scot thought press coverage in the wake of defeat to Chelsea and Liverpool was not to his liking then tales of ‘United in crisis’ will surely follow an Arsenal victory at Old Trafford.
Yep it is a difficult one on Sat. In some ways being out of the Cup would help in the league -the real target. Could I stand that? I wonder. SAF is a bad loser, but Wenger is a blind loser, not good for a manager. One must keep repeating, will Rooney & Berba come good when it matters? We all may hate Carrick -the first goal against the scousers, similar to that aginst Bayern- but the manager’s bastard son has not been much better. Midfield could well be an even greater nightmare than usual on Sat.
If we knock them out of the FA Cup then the game at the Emirates is gonna be fucking hard
It’s all they’ll have left
We’re going to win the treble again this year.
Completely random fact and off-topic but Brian Blessed is a United fan. Nice one.
Ah where were we? Good article Ed.
Thank God the game is at home, that’s all I can say. Any word on Valencia playing?
You beat Barcelona? You are even worse than Arsenal at passing. We humiliate you again, cant wait.
Completely agree with everything. This United squad is frighteningly thin, and we’re in the middle of a tough couple weeks.. If we win, the match at Arsenal will be incredibly difficult. If we lose, well.. The pressure is really on now.
I don’t see us winning the Champs League. Progression will just be delaying the inevitable. Better to focus on the domestic cups.
I think the FA, Champs League and PL are not going to happen this season. The team and the manager have lost the plot.
Found this on another forum so its about equal.
Played 10, won 3, lost 3, drawn 4, goals for 14, goals against 17
Individual results with date, location
07/03/84 – Nou Camp – Barcelona 2 – 0 United
21/03/84 – Old Trafford – United 3 – 0 Barcelona
15/05/91 – Feyenoord Stadion – United 2 – 1 Barcelona
19/10/94 – Old Trafford – United 2 – 2 Barcelona
02/11/94 – Nou Camp – Barcelona 4 – 0 United
16/09/98 – Old Trafford – United 3 – 3 Barcelona
25/11/98 – Nou Camp – Barcelona 3 – 3 United – 67,648
23/04/08 – Nou Camp – Barcelona 0 – 0 United – 95,949
29/04/08 – Old Trafford – United 1 – 0 Barcelona
27/05/09 – Stadio Olimpico – United 0 – 2 Barcelona
You feel that there will be another questionable referee decision that effects this tie. Time for technology FIFA not banning snoods, you are ruining football.
Probably right…
How’s life in your 2 team league?
Have you scored 200 goals yet?
Can’t wait till your team goes through an entire season without losing or drawing a game… that should be excitng, eh?
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
I believe the Champions league tie with Marseille is on Tuesday, not Wednesday.
If there was ever a time for G-bomb, Obertan and Bébé to prove their worth, a game against Arsenal is it (though with Bébé I’m still in the “FFS he’s played professional level football for 6 months, give him 24 months and then assess”).
I really fear for our season now.
2nd / 3rd, knocked out this round in CL and knocked out this round in FA Cup looks distinctly realistic and possible :<
Fabregas and Szczesny are out for Arsenal
If we score first I think you’ll see Arsenal’s head drop
Batter them early on and score, and we’ll piss it
We can have it sewn up in 45 minutes
I certainly believe that Fergie will rest some big guns ahead of the Marseille clash.
The question though is:can United’s 2nd string squad beat Arsenal who will probably play their strongest team?
On current evidence so far this season,probably not.
In addition to looking terrified, I was struck at how Arsenal players lost their composure against Barça. Wilshere started running his mouth to Dani Alves in the middle of the first half. van Persie was his usual punk self. I didn’t agree with the second yellow, but he’s a little bitch. Nasri also let the situation get the better of him.
So, regarding this weekend, both teams are shaky, which means the role of the manager will be all the more important. Whom would you rather be training with and hearing from all week? Time to stand firm, supporters as well as players. And that means no responding to taunts from the Barça troll. Face it – he has some bragging rights, for now, anyway. Let’s just ignore him.
Nasri and Wenger charged by UEFA.
Wenger has refuted the charges calling UEFA a “dictatorship”.
He is gonna get FUCKED.
Just went to get some diesel for my car and who should I spot at the petrol station?
Only the one and and only Mr Anders Lindergaard
Held the door open to let him into the shop…to which he said ‘thank you’
Who wants to touch me?
“Who wants to touch me? [8)] “
Calls Madred & Han over
i would need keepers gloves first.
i have no club what lindgard looks like
i think if i saw carrick in the street id barge into him accidently on purpose to see how hed react, i bet hed apologise
sheesh
open wide for daddy……..
and then u’d go down on all 4s and ask him to bum u
Hargreaves returns to training tomorrow, according to Fergie.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6811610,00.html
It’s do or die for his United career.
ffs
the guy’s crocked and i hate to say that
comeback after comeback
however, saf will probably want to give him a 3 year contract so he can keep the midfield as strong as possible ffs
Fergie will hope that he at least has an opportunity to use Hargo in the games against Arsenal and Chelsea..possibly FA Cup games as well (i.e – sparingly).
If he could play in those games, I would take that.
I’ve given up hope on the mop headed twat.
It’s a silly farce… even if he comes back… how good can he be?
100% fit, he’d still need 6 months to get his game back… and I wasn’t that big a fan of his game… even at its peak.
I suppose since he’s already paid for, and with all that’s invested in him, Fergies got nothing to lose. Might as well see what happens… good excercise for the physios.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”