United v Arsenal – The Game The Bigots Forgot
Aug 28th, 2009 by 'holic
Manchester United v Arsenal. It’s about as big as it gets in the Premiership. The two clubs that traded titles from 1996 to 2004 clash again at Old Trafford tomorrow, and the game merits barely a mention in the popular press. What a funny old world we live in.
Forgive me if I first concentrate on a game that gets the juices flowing. It is a meeting of two men who have taken great delight in winding each other up in years past, but who have come to a point where mutual respect is more in evidence. The two most successful managers in Premier League history are mellowing perhaps, although I suspect that if either of them is a loser tomorrow evening, there will be some less than gracious acceptance of that defeat!
Both sides are without key players, with Rio Ferdinand and Edwin van der Sar missing for the hosts, while Cesc Fabregas was confirmed a non-starter for Arsenal, alongside longer term absentee Samir Nasri. For me that means that Arsene Wenger has just one selection headache. Robin van Persie will return in place of mass-murderer Eduardo, while Andre Arshavin will also start.
The jury is out on whether it will be Nicklas Bendtner or Emmanuel Eboue who makes way for the little Russian. I have a feeling Eboue may get the nod to start because he will give us the option to switch formation rapidly into a more cautious one if required. We shall see.
Because the formation and approach is uncertain I am venturing the ‘holic pound on a goalscorer rather than a scoreline. With Ferdinand missing we may enjoy more fortune from set pieces and a headed goal would not surprise. United will surely stick their best markers on Gallas and Vermaelen in these situations so I’m having a little flutter on Alex Song, 16/1 to score anytime with William Hill.
The bookies tell you a great deal. How many times will the champions not be odds-on to win at home this season? I have a fancy they are right to be nervous, but we will see at around seven tomorrow evening.
Come on you Arsenal!
No Complaints Here – Yet!
I cannot completely ignore the contrived furore over Eduardo today, much though I would like to. The issue has been done to death elsewhere. All we can really do is await the verdict of the UEFA disciplinary committee with interest.
Did he dive? Yes, and therefore deserves some censure. Should he suffer a ban when a player who was booked for the same offence on the same evening in the same competition does not? Of course not.
Most importantly though, will we now see action taken against other divers in ALL competitions which fall under the authority of UEFA. This has to happen, otherwise we will have justifiable cause for complaint. We will all applaud the two charges against Ashley Young in last nights Europa League clash for starters.
For now, let the bigoted fourth estate create an outcry against the dirty cheating foreigners whilst turning a blind eye to culprits born closer to home. UEFA, I’m sure have no such prejudices (yeah, right!). Just let Steve Gerrard collapse in the same mysterious fashion that earned Liverpool a point-winning penalty in the last minute against Atletico Madrid last November. I could go on, and you know it.
I’m looking forward to this new clampdown, and will be watching very closely the matches involving other clubs this season. I have a feeling I will not be alone.
Have a great weekend, ‘holics.
15 Responses to “United v Arsenal – The Game The Bigots Forgot”
Just watching Barca vs Shaktar in the Super Cup, and I don’t want to go on about the awful Eduardo decision by UEFA to charge him for diving, but surely it’s the refs mistake for not spotting it? Ibrahimovic for Barca just tried to con the ref tonight for a penalty but the ref was spot on and saw it as a dive and waved play on, nothing else has been said. Surely UEFA have to charge Ibrahimovic for attempting to con the referee, or do they just want to charge those players that DO con the ref? I don’t think it (Eduardo pen) was a penalty but I’ve been disgusted by the way the SFA and UEFA have reacted, why start complaining about diving now? The only thing I can imagine is that UEFA have decided to clamp it out of the game, and if Eduardo’s charge is the start of that, then I applaude it and hopefully it will make football an even better game than it already is. Come on Arsenal you can beat Man U!
very good article, summed up everything perfectly. And alex song to score anytime, hmm..why not! Come on you gooners!
Surely UEFA have to charge Ibrahimovic for attempting to con the referee
Heh!
And so it starts… 🙂
I plump for a 5-2 Arsenal win with Van Persie, Arshavin (2), Song (there you are), and Diaby the Arsenal scorers.
Come on GUNNERS!
@’Goonerholic’ and ‘We love eduardo’ pedro got booked in that game for diving so he should be banned too
Nice summation ‘holic. Had the misfortune to listen to Eleanor Oldroyd’s show on 5 live on Thursday and I almost feel inclined to write a complaint to the BBC for a complete lack of balance. One person on the show was trying to argue that the cheating of the Harlequins and their ‘bloodgate’ was no different to diving in football. I fumed for a bit but managed to calm down. Think the British press have been OTT in their reaction and the BBC are one of the worst culprits. Anyway, feeling positive about tomorrow. Hope we really take the game to them. Suspect Fergie will try and park a bus and hit us on the counter. Think we can do it too 0-2 to the Gunners!
Thanks Snail. It’s almost embarrassing to see what the Beeb, and the broadsheets, have become. They employ the same standard of clowns as the tabloids, and seek the same ‘biggest bang for their buck’ in corporate speak. Sadly in the media these days that means the cheapest bang for your buck.
Would you like to take a bet if Rooney repeats his 2004 antics tomorrow we get a bunch of ‘supreme irony’ stories as the cheating foreigners are hoisted by their own petard?
The witch-hunt has been media lead with I’m sorry to say a Scottish hand in the form of Gordon Smith and Platini’s right hand man David Taylor.
Like you I will be watching in interest. But I’m more a what goes around comes around type of man
Good luck today, tomorrow and for the season.
Hail Hail
I hope not ‘holic, but it is perfectly set up for it sadly.
Welcome lord. Fabulous piece yesterday. For those that missed it, click on http://www.oleole.com/blogs/thelordofthewing/posts/celtic-cheated-by-uefa-arsenal-gaddafi-and-themselves
Brave bet, ‘holic.
I’ll have an Irish cofee please, but only after my full Belgium breakfast 😉
The bloke at Hill’s looked at the slip and said ‘Who’s he? Never heard of him!’.
I will make a point of picking my money up from him if it comes to fruition 🙂
2-1 win to the Gooners. Arshavin to stamp his authority. I have a sneaking suspicion Diaby will get the winner, with Vermaelen getting the other. Don’t know why, it just feels right.
The caution has to be that we need to dominate more in mdfield, which is where we have lost other more recent contests against the Mancs.
FFS, Snail. How could I nail it beforehand. I can’t believe what I have just witnessed on Sky. Really cannot believe the performance of Dean today. Questions would be asked were it anybody else he had treated like that.
Jebus ‘holic, you called it. I’ve heard there is money to be made in the predictions business.