Manchester United took their chance, Arsenal did not

The tightest of games between two top class teams are usually decided by a moment of genius or by a mistake on someone’s part. That or a stroke of luck. Park Ji Sung’s header, which was the difference between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday night, had a little bit of all three factors.

Gael Clichy tried to intercept Nani’s cross from the right. He managed to deflect it a little, which was a pity really as otherwise it may not have fallen for Park. But even then the South Korean skipper had to improvise a great deal to send a looping header goalwards. Arsenal keeper Wojech Scezney, making his Premier League debut, had done well till then but was unlucky to be caught in no man’s land. He leapt backwards, stretching full length to try and parry it over the crossbar but the ball evaded his hand and crept into the top corner. Not the best of goals, but a goal nevertheless and three points as a result.

United had a couple of other chances in the entire match. Nani’s early shot went just wide and Anderson’s shot was blocked well by Scezney. Arsenal’s only chance worth talking about was when Samir Nasri’s effort from distance was parried by Edwin van der Sar into the path of Marouane Chamakh. The Moroccan lacked the composure to beat Nemanja Vidic, who managed to clear.

It was always going to be a tight affair as United approached with a game plan of neutralising the Gunners attack. Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky were given no room to work around and the in-form Nasri was subdued. Chamakh got no service whatsoever and Jack Wilshere didn’t have the best of evenings either.

Nani and Park seemed to have acres of space everytime they got the ball, as did Anderson through the centre and Darren Fletcher on the right. Wayne Rooney saw a lot of the ball and had a few chances but strayed offside a great deal.

The match was not a feast of football by any means but saw two great sides involved in a tight encounter where not conceding was primary focus. Manchester United kept toiling and took the only chance that came their way. Arsenal, on the other hand, did not.