february 15th
15.56 – Manchester United 0-2 Arsenal (Edu, Wiltord).
After suffering replays of ‘that’ goal from Ryan Giggs for weeks and months after the FA Cup semi-final in 1999, it will be nice to watch replays of his quite outstanding miss in today’s game.
With an open goal in front of him, Seaman, Keown and Sol Campbell flat on their arses and van Prickstelrooy just outside him, the Welsh ‘Wizard’ conspired to knock the ball over the bar from the edge of the box. My, how I laughed. In fact, I’m still laughing.
And to make it even sweeter, less than 2 minutes later Arsenal scored. Keane chopped down Vieira on the edge of their area, and Edu’s deflected free kick made it 1-0 to the gunners.
Arsenal went 2-0 up early in the second half. Lovely build up play, a sweet pass from Edu and Wiltord stuck it past Barthez to score his first goal since 1876. I was surprised to Edu play to be honest. He hadn’t even been on the bench for the last few games, and I was expecting to see Gio in the team, but well done to the Brazilian. He slotted in superbly alongside Vieira and our central midfield pair rendered Keane and Scholes more or less anonymous.
Obviously the referee was being kind to United when he failed to give a penalty when Wes Brown chopped down Wiltord late on. It was comfortable enough for Arsenal in the end. Not the classic everyone had hoped for, and I’ve seen United play better than that to be fair. But who cares, we’re through, they’re out and we got to hear the ‘We won the league on Manchester’ song again.
Keown and van Nistelrooy renewed aquaintances, although the Dutchman’s early booking put paid to it being too physical. He is hilarious to watch though. A 6’2″ athlete falling over like a drunkard that’s been spun round and round on an office chair. He wants a free kick or a penalty for everything. Anyway, nice to get revenge for the 99 semi-final, and the league game earlier in the season. Ferguson’s scowling face at the end was priceless.
