MAN. UNITED AWAY. For every football
fan it is one of the highlights of the season. And even though we
have rarely got a result there over the years, it still remains my
favourite away trip.
Matches between
the sides these days may lack the passion and importance of the days
of Keane and Vieira but when the fixture list first came out last summer
and this was down as the last away match, I felt we could be set for something very special.
In the end all
that was a stake was the booby prize of avoiding the Champions League
play-off. A win would guarantee us third place while even a defeat
would not be a disaster with two potentially winnable home games to
come.
For young Emerson
this was to be his fourth trip to the Theatre of Dreams. As the
previous three had finished in 0-2, 2-8 and 0-1 defeats, he was
hoping it would be a case of fourth time lucky.
'Don't worry,
Son,' I said. 'I have only seen win here three times in about 35
years!'
When visiting Old
Trafford we always park in the Lowry Outlet Centre at Salford Quays,
opposite Media City. Apart from being just a 10 minute walk from the
ground, if you spend a fiver in the shopping centre you get four
hours free parking. Much better than the £10 some of the car parks
charge. So after a Burger King lunch, we headed for the ground.
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| Emerson soaking up the atmosphere at Old Trafford |
Having seen us go
off the boil since the FA Cup semi final victory over Reading;
drawing two blanks in the three games since, Emerson and I were not
confident of a victory. I felt it had 0-0 written all over it but
Emerson, always the optimist, predicted there would be goals.
'2-1 to us,' he
said. 'Just like in the FA Cup.'
Unfortunately we
had been unable to attend that memorable FA Cup success due to the
BBC switching it to a Monday night. Handy for them with their studio
literally over the road but not so good for an 11-year old with
school the next day.
Whatever you think
about Manchester United as a club, and I personally detest everything
about them, you have to say that watching football at Old Trafford
is an absolute privilege. It is like a theatre or a cathedral and is
one of the few classic stadiums left in world football.
Even though they
have packed the seats in the away end so closely together that if
everyone actually sat down you would literally be sitting on your
neighbours lap, it has an air of grandeur about the place. Steeped in
history, you can feel how special it is from the minute the stadium
comes into view.
It does take you
back to the old days of Highbury. That was also a classic old stadium
where the history of the club just poured from every corner. And as
much as love the comfort of the Emirates, it lacks the mystique of the old
place and the club is all the poorer for it.
Many football fans
criticise the atmosphere at Old Trafford but I have always found it
to be electric, even for a game lacking in the dramas of the past.
As is usually the
case here, we were poor in the first half and failed to even muster a
shot on goal. Phil Jones' headed tackle on Oliver Giroud summed up
our lacklustre attacking display. Meanwhile poor Hector Bellerin was
being given the run around by Ashley Young, no less; surely the nadir
in any footballers career.
When the goal
finally arrived it was no surprise that it came from our right
hand-side. Young skipped past the Spanish full back again and Ander
Herrera was left unmarked to volley past David Ospina. Having been
fairly quite until then, belying my earlier claims about the
atmosphere, the United fans suddenly came to life.
To be fair I was
relieved to be only 1-0 down at the break and as Emerson and I went
for a half time cuppa, we both felt we would play better in the
second half.
'We only ever play
well in one half,' said Emerson, with far more perception than many
of our fans seem to possess.
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| Father and son at the match |
It did not appear
as though as he would right in the early stages however as we were once again
offering very little but we suddenly flicked the switch. Giroud nodded
the ball on for Alexis Sanchez but the Chilean, who had been
anonymous until then, volleyed into the upper tier.
That seemed to
give us some belief and led to an exciting second half. Around the
hour mark things appeared to be going our way as Arsene Wenger,
usually reluctant to make changes so early, threw on Jack Wilshere
and Theo Walcott. Not for Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil as seemed
likely, but for Bellerin and Santi Cazorla.
At the same time
United goalkeeper David De Gea, who's incredible performances this
season have kept Louis van Gaal in his job, had to go off, being
replaced by Victor Valdes for his Premier League debut.
'We'll definitely
score now,' was Emerson's confident response.
Walcott has never
really convinced many Arsenal fans but Emerson and I have always
loved him. If nothing else, his pace gets you up off your seat and we
were sure he would make an impact on what was his 299th
appearance for the club.
His first action
however was to be pushed off the ball by United substitute Tyler
Blackett. This led to a guy behind me immediately getting on his
back.
'Give him a
chance, mate,' I said. 'He has hardly played for a year. Let him get
into the game.'
Wilshere was
having no such trouble, and with Ramsey now moved centrally, we
started to gain control of the midfield.
Chances came and
went, mainly through Giroud's lack of sharpness in front of goal. He
is another player who always seems to get stick. Many feel he is not
the sort of striker that will win you titles and while it is fair to
say he has not been at his best in recent weeks, even here his hold
up play was exemplary.
What he needs is
someone with a bit of pace alongside him. A Walcott or a Sanchez. The
Chilean has been employed in a wide-left position in recent months
and has become far too predictable; constantly cutting inside onto
his right foot.
It is no surprise
that many of Sanchez' goals this season came before Christmas when he
was playing through the middle in Giroud's absence. Playing the two
as a pair may just bring out the best in both of them. But Wenger
knows best and apart from in recent weeks, we have not been struggling
in the goals department.
There is no better
feeling than scoring a late equaliser, especially if it is at your
end and against one of your bitter rivals. So even though it was not
for the biggest prizes on offer, when Walcott's deflected cross went
in off Blackett to bring us level, the away end went ballistic!!
Emerson
disappeared under a sea of happy fans while I found myself hugging
Baso, the fan who always comes to games dressed in a half-and-half
home and away kit! Moments like this are the reason why we travel to
away games. Sheer unbridled joy!
And in the end we
could even have won it. Seconds after the goal, Giroud fired into the
side netting following a flowing move involving Wilshere, Ramsey and Ozil. Some in the away end thought it was in which led to the
typical mocking from the United fans but I think they were just
relived it hadn't gone in.
Speaking of
relief, there was just as much in the away end in stoppage time when Robin
van Persie, who was booed mercifully by the travelling Gooners from the moment
he came on, fired over the top from a good position.
I cannot for the
life of me understand why the Arsenal fans persist on singing that
disgusting song about him. Yes, he left us for one of our rivals but
you know what, good luck to him. He got himself a title medal and
after eight years loyal service to us we should not begrudge him
that.
Personally I still
admire the man and will never forget the great things he produced in
an Arsenal shirt. During his final season with us he was one of the
best players in the world and it is still a pleasure to watch him
play. Even more so when he misses chances like this against us. So cheers,
Robin.
So a draw, third
place virtually in the bag and Emerson finally seeing his losing
streak here brought to an end. Overall it was one of more enjoyable
trips here in the recent years. A bit better than the 8-2 at least, and a draw when you have been behind feels almost as good as a win.
Almost.
Of course the
negative, Wenger out morons will be out in force moaning that we will now finish
on less points than last season, even though we will have conceded
far less goals, got better results against the top sides and finished
one place higher. Not to mention a second consecutive FA Cup final on
the horizon.
This squad is on
the verge of great things. With the addition of a defensive midfielder,
a fox-in-the-box striker and another central defender, we will be
much closer next season. Who knows, we may even win the thing.
But for now we can
look back on another decent if not outstanding season and look
forward to Wembley in two weeks time. After a nine year wait for some
glory these are the good times and we should all be enjoying them.
Judging by Emerson's sing-along in the car all the way home, he
certainly is.
Now repeat after me, 'Alexis Sanchez baby, Alexis
Sanchez oohhhh...'
