Manchester United is now two points clear at the top of the English Premier League after their 1-0 win over Arsenal at Old Trafford. In a match that lacked chances but not tension, Park Ji-Sung's 41st minute goal ended up deciding the match, with Arsenal dropping to second place.
Manchester United Vs. Arsenal: Second Half Shift Helps United Hold On To 1-0 Win Over Arsenal
For Gooners the result will be less painful than the way it came about. Losing at Old Trafford is neither new nor something to rue. Arsenal hasn’t won their since 2006, a record that isn’t uncommon in the Premier League. But going the whole match without meaningfully tested Edwin van der Sar? That’s something that will given Arsenal supporters pause, leave them asking whether their team was ready for today’s match.
At the beginning, it didn't seem so. Arsenal took nearly a quarter hour to adjust to the pressure exerted by Anderson and Park Ji-Sung, with a couple of giveaways in their own end leading to half chances for Manchester United. As Wayne Rooney and Nani asked speculative questions of Wojciech Szczesny, Arsenal was being thwarted the few times they approached United's third. One attempt to play through Marouance Chamakh and another attempted cross from Gaël Clichy - those were the only hints of attack from Arsenal in the first half.
In the 41st minute, Manchester United finally broke through, they they had barely been more effective than Arsenal. While the Red Devils were clearly controlling the match, that wasn’t manifesting as opportunities. Then minutes before half time, Nani picked up a ball 35 yards from touch, attacked Gaël Clichy and got into the box, eventually chipping a ball toward Park Ji-Sung. Nominally United’s left midfielder, Park had made his way to the middle of the area, alluding Sebastien Squillaci as he leaned back and arced a headed shot inside Szczensy’s left post, putting United up 1-0.
In the second half United played noticeably deeper and more compact, elected to led Arsenal come to them, As a result, the period played out much more like a typical Arsenal match, though there was still an obvious lack of chances for the Gunners. For all their possession and pressure, their entries into the penalty area would always be rebuked, often leading to a Manchester United counter attack. Aside from a Samir Nasri shot near the 57th minute (the rebound from which was almost put home by Chamakh), Edwin van der Sar went untested.
Instead, it was United that looked more likely to score. Anderson was put through the Arsenal line at one point, forcing Szczesny to burst off his line to prevent a second goal. Nani blew a easy chance half-way through the period, and Wayne Rooney beat a high line late for United’s last clear chance. Ultimately, United had to settle for a single goal, though given a penalty kick in the 73rd minute, the Red Devils should have put the match away.
And accidental hand ball from Gaël Clichy was flagged by the assistant referee, with Howard Webb awarding a penalty kick after an attempted pass from Nani struck the defender’s right hand. Wayne Rooney stepped-up to take the kick but shockingly, some would say comically, skied his kick well clear of the cross bar, the left-to-right spin on the ball hinting that the United forward had completely miss-hit his attempt.
While Ian Darke and Steve McManaman were forced to speculate whether that miss would come back to haunt Manchester United, Arsenal would never seriously threaten. One dangerous cross from Theo Walcott and another shanked volley from the Gunners' forward were the only gasp-inducing moments for United. With their second half shift to a more defensive approach, United locked-down the match, enabling their 1-0 victory.
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