Manchester United 2 - 1 Arsenal

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Sunday Apr 13 2008 04:00

Manchester United overcame the second biggest hurdle in their bid to retain the Premier League title when they came from behind to beat Arsenal in a pulsating game at Old Trafford.

Arsenal had to win to stand any chance of pipping United to the title and they came out with all guns blazing.

But United withstood the blitz and came roaring back themselves to take the points and go six clear of second-placed Chelsea, who entertain Wigan on Monday.

United now go to Chelsea in just under a fortnight sure of being ahead of the Londoners when the teams meet.

The game was a classic with the usual animosity between the sides so often apparent giving way to some brilliant football as both these titans of the English game battled to the end.

Arsenal dominated the early exchanges but United were twice let off the hook by Emmanuel Adebayor's profligate finishing. United had their chances with Wayne Rooney also going close twice.

But if the first half was mouthwatering, the second was a feast of magnificent football.

The stage was set when the Gunners took the lead three minutes after the interval.Alex Hleb found Cesc Fabregas who rolled the ball on to Robin van Persie on the left side of the United box. The Dutchman's cross into the centre was missed by Rio Ferdinand and, with United goal keeper Edwin Van der Sar and Michael Carrick leaving the clearance to each other, Adebayor nipped in to head home his 26th goal of the season.

Back stormed United and when Carrick's innocuous ball into the Arsenal box was handled by captain William Gallas, referee Howard Webb pointed to the penalty spot.

Up stepped Cristiano Ronaldo to drive the ball right-footed into the top right corner of the net, but Mr Webb ordered the kick to be retaken when it appeared that United's Ji-Sung Park had encroached into the box.

The Portuguese star kept his nerve with the second kick again right-footed only this time low and into the bottom corner of the net beyond Jens Lehmann's despairing dive. It was Ronaldo's 38th goal of the campaign.

Van der Sar saved well from Ferdinand's attempted clearance of an Adebayor cross, while at the other end Lehmann's fine save with his legs denied Rooney.Gael Clichy's cross from the left was deflected onto the United post by Wes Brown but in the 72nd minute Old Trafford went wild.

Gallas brought down Patrice Evra two yards outside the Arsenal penalty area in a central position. Ronaldo shaped up to take the kick but Owen Hargreaves stepped in to curl a glorious right-foot free-kick just inside the right post with Lehmann standing glued to the spot.

In the closing stages Van der Sar produced two tremendous saves to keep out headers from Nicklas Bendtner, but time finally ran out for Arsenal's dreams.

Live Commentary

90
Full time at Old Trafford and Manchester United take the three points.

90
Wayne Rooney is frustrated about something and he almost paid the price for a very strong challenge on Adebayor.

90
There will be four minutes of added time.

90
Yet another great save from Van Der Sar as he crawled over to stop Bendtner's header. Thats game over for Arsenal now.

89
Owen Hargreaves is replaced by Ryan Giggs.

88
Nicklas Bendtner did well to turn towards goal and play the ball wide to Alexander Hleb but his cross was unbelievably poor and United regained possession without even trying.

86
Arsenal almost find their last ace of the pack as Fabregas played a delightful ball over the top for Bendtner but the striker's header was poor and easily saved by Van Der Sar.

85
Justin Hoyte replaces Kolo Toure.

84
The pace of the game has completely dropped and Arsenal look drained of energy and struggling to get the ball from United.

81
Wayne Rooney is caught just offside after a great ball from Hargreaves almost put him through on goal.

78
Arsenal's confidence has disappeared and it's only a matter of time before United score a third goal.

76
Robin Van Persie is replaced by Nicklas Bendtner.

75
This will be a great test of character for Arsene Wenger's young team, they will be most definately out of the title race if the scoreline remains the same.

72
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 2 - 1 ARSENAL (HARGREAVES) Owen Hargreaves scores a top draw free kick to give United the lead.

71
Howard Webb awards a controversial free kick to United after Patrice Evra claimed to be fouled right on the edge of the area.

70
A great save by Jens Lehmann from Wayne Rooney who drilled the ball straight down the throat of the Goal despite being in acres of space.

67
A fantastic save from Van Der Sar with yet another lightening reaction from one of his own players, this time it was Wes Brown who deflected the ball goalwards but United survive again.

65
Almost a fantastic goal from Carlos Tevez as the Argentinian picked the ball up around 30 yards out and struck a powerful shot inches past the post.

63
Emmanuel Adebayor is booked for a very rash challenge on Anderson.

61
Theo Walcott replaces Emmanuel Eboue.

59
Michael Carrick is booked for a late tackle on Robin Van Persie.

57
Almost a mix up in the Arsenal penalty area but Wayne Rooney's shot spun up in the air and somehow Arsenal managed to clear it.

55
Ji-Sun Park and Paul Scholes are replaced by Carlos Tevez and Anderson.

53
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 1 - 1 ARSENAL (RONALDO) Christiano Ronaldo puts his second penalty in the same corner of the goal but Jens Lehmann still couldn't get his hands to it.

52
Jens Lehmann is booked for unsporting behaviour by Howard Webb.

52
William Gallas is booked for his handball in the penalty area.

52
Christiano Ronaldo puts his penalty in the back of the net but is forced to retake it by Howard Webb after completely stopping his run up.

52
William Gallas is penalised for a handball inside the penalty area.

51
Arsenal almost double their lead after Rio Ferdinand almost turned the ball into his own net only for Edwin Van Der Sar to make a great save down to his right.

48
GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED 0 - 1 ARSENAL (ADEBAYOR) Emmanuel Adebayor somehow turns the ball into the back of the net with what seemed to be his arm.

46
Manchester United get us back underway for the second half.

45
Half time at Old Trafford and all square at the break.

45
There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

44
Man United this time almost created something special after Michael Carrick's inch perfect ball across the box, but Wayne Rooney's shot was saved by Jens Lehmann comfortably down to his right.

42
Arsenal almost found that killer ball moments ago though, it was Cesc Fabregas who almost found Adebayor as he played a clever ball across the face of goal.

41
Manchester United are now enjoying a good period of possession but once again they can't find that killer ball.

39
Both teams have had an equal amount of chances but both have lacked the quality in the final third of the pitch.

38
Robin Van Persie is booked for a foul on Wes Brown.

36
A frantic 30 seconds as Arsenal missed the best chance of the game and Wayne Rooney went broke through at the other end of the pitch and missed an even better chance. However more credit should be given to Lehmann who made a fantastic save.

35
The best chance of the game has just fell to Adebayor as the Striker opened up his body but shot straight at Edwin Van Der Sar.

33
There is a break in play while some treatment is given to Emmanuel Eboue.

30
The away side are clearly lacking the cutting edge in the final third of the field, something they will need to improve on if they want to reignite their title challenge.

29
Arsenal are looking the better side once again and unlike Man United are making the most of their possession.

27
Emmanuel Adebayor done the hard work by getting past Wes Brown but his shot ballooned way over the bar.

26
Manchester United are getting into the groove now and starting to look more threatening going forward.

23
Jens Lehmann has just showed why he believes he should be Arsenal's first choice Goalkeeper with a great save from Rooney after some brilliance from Ronaldo.

20
A chance for Wayne Rooney to score as United attacked on the counter again, but he miss hit his shot and it bounced wide of the goal.

18
The game is end to end at the moment but neither side have been able to capitalise on the counter attack.

15
Wes Brown is the first to go in the referee's notebook.

15
Another chance for Arsenal after a mix up in the Man United penalty area lead to Van Der Sar dropped the ball at Gilberto's feet, but the Brazilian's effort bounced off his own team mate Song.

13
A great chance for Arsenal to take the lead, only for the intervention of Gerard Pique to block Adebayor's effort from just inside the penalty area.

10
United waste a free kick in a good position with Ronaldo's effort smashing off Arsenal's wall.

8
Arsenal are on top in the opening 8 minutes of the game, but how long will it last for?

6
A let off for Manchester United as Wes Brown passed the ball sloppily across the penalty area to Fabregas, but again the Spaniard disappoints with a shot that blazed over the cross bar.

4
Arsenal did well to intercept the ball and advance up the field quickly but Cesc Fabregas' shot was poor and trickled along the floor into the hands of Edwin Van Der Sar.

2
A scrappy start to the game, with neither side keeping possession for more than 4 passes.

1
Arsenal get the game underway at Old Trafford.

0
The referee this afternoon is Howard Webb (South Yorkshire).

0
Gilberto Silva comes into replace the injured Mathieu Flamini, Robin Van Persie returns to the starting line-up while Theo Walcott has to settle for a place on the bench. Jens Lehmann also replaces the injured Manuel Almunia in goal.

0
Patrice Evra comes into replace Mikael Silvestre at left back of United's defence, and Paul Scholes returns to the starting line-up in place of Carlos Tevez who drops to the substitutes bench. Gerard Pique also continues at the centre of defence.

0
Arsenal Line-up: Lehmann, Toure, Gallas, Song Billong, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Silva, Hleb, Van Persie, Adebayor

0
Manchester United Line-up: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Pique, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Park, Rooney

Statistics

Manchester United

Shots on target	8
Shots off target	6
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	12
Offsides	2
Corners	6

Arsenal

Shots on target	11
Shots off target	7
Shots off bar/post	1
Fouls	7
Offsides	2
Corners	5

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