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Do not read too much into Manchester United's home loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup 5th Round yesterday. For all the drama churned out by the match, the result has not much bearing on the Premiership title race after the match ended 0-2 to Arsenal.
The match got up to an explosive start as Paul Scholes, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Patrick Vieira got their yellow cards from rash challenges within 7 minutes from the start. Man U particularly resorted to rough play to intimidate Arsenal's players but their tactics backfired when Arsenal's players reacted positively to the rough challenges.
Ryan
Giggs' miss of the season at 31st minute was the highlight of a tense match.
Giggs controlled the ball beautifully at the edge of the box from a David
Beckham long pass from midfield. The Welsh Winger then showed pure
wizardry skills when he evaded David Seaman and then Sol Campbell with another
clever flick. Giggs was left to face an open goal but only to volley his
shot over the bar to everybody's bewilderment.
Then Arsenal hit the 1st nail into Man U's coffin when Brazilian Edu's freekick took a heavy deflection and flew into the left corner of Fabien Barthez's goal while the Keeper was left stranded on the right. Man U was unable to stage a comeback during the 1st half and the game went into the half-time break at 0-1.
Barely minutes into the 2nd half, Edu was proving to be a menace to Man U again. At 51st minute, Edu managed to squeeze a difficult pass between Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand to find Sylvain Wiltord who evaded Wes Brown's tackle and drilled a low shot past a helpless Barthez.
Man U has to recover fast from the FA Cup defeat as it prepares to take on Juventus in the Champions League at Old Trafford in 3 days' time. With Man U still in the pursuit of the Worthington Cup (Cup Final Stage), the Premiership and the Champions League (2nd Phase - Group Stage), the defeat in the FA Cup might proved to be a blessing in disguise. Man U will be the favourites to clinch the Worthington Cup and after which they will be vying for the crowns of the Premiership Champion and the Champions League.
As for Arsenal, they will be careful not to impose themselves with any unnecessary FA Cup match resulted from any match ended in a draw en route to the Cup Final. They too will be keen to retain the Premiership title and add a Champions League title to their collections.
Man U's loss to Arsenal was all but too easy. Man U may be hoping that Arsenal will choked themselves off the Premiership title race with their congested schedule of coming matches, which will be to Man U's advantage.
Soaring Magpies
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