From The Touchlines

Controversies on and off the field, goals and bad refereeing. Yes, never ever play down the significance of a match such as Manchester United versus Arsenal. If you don’t believe me, you should have been at the Pelita nasi kandar restaurant to have a look for yourself.

It was jam-packed with fans from both sides. Some were dressed in their favourite teams’ jerseys, while the rest were just looking to watch a good match while enjoying their meal. But one fact was very clear: Man United versus Arsenal is still as hot and fiery as ever.

Sure, Chelsea versus Manchester United game would seem to be more crucial now. Sure, Chelsea could very well win the title no matter how Man United try to play catch up. And sure, at least to some, a match of this stature is surely nothing more than to decide who will secure the second automatic spot into the upcoming season’s UEFA Champions League.

Aha, one would also think that with the absence of influential midfielders like Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira, the match would lose its appeal. But if the recent match between the Red Devils and the Gunners is anything to go by, the match is far from being just another game.

Arsenal brought their hot European form to the Theater of Dreams, but with in-form striker Thierry Henry and Swedish midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg on the bench. That meant newcomer Emmanuel Adebayor would be alone up front, supported by Dutch midfielder Robin van Persie

Fifteen minutes into the cruncher, Arsenal looked the more likely to come out with something from a match that has always made the headlines for both the right and wrong reasons.

But, as always, United settled down and began creating openings for themselves, with Cristiano Ronaldo first testing Germany’s new no. 1 keeper Jens Lehmann with a free kick and man-of-the-match Wayne Rooney with a thunderbolt shot off a Ryan Giggs free kick which forced Lehmann to punch the ball away from danger.

Van Persie tried his luck at the other end, only to see his shot saved by fellow countryman Edwin van der Sar’s left hand. A counter attack followed and Ruud van Nistelrooy was just inches away from putting United in the driver’s seat but instead his shot was wide off Lehmann’s right-hand post.

Just when it seemed the first-half would end in a stalemate, with the Arsenal defenders ball-watching, Rooney got clear of Lehmann and his defenders. With the defence in disarray, he lashed out a shot goalward, but instead saw it come off the upright after what had seemed to be a goalkeeping effort by defender Kolo Toure to protect the goalmouth. But no penalty, said match referee Graham Poll, who, apparently didn’t spot the handball. That meant Toure escaped a red card. Then again, the same as every other United-Arsenal fixture, never shy of talking points.

United finished the half stronger and also began the second half the better side. Arsenal were having the lion’s share of possession, but always found themselves wanting in their poor finishing, even in the first half. That form carried into the second half.

Both United and Arsenal continued to create chances, but were let down by poor execution and also timely saves from their keepers. Arsenal continued to dominate with their sleek passing in midfield, with Robert Pires, Francesc Fabregas and Gilberto Silva marshalling well.

However, barely 10 minutes into the second half, a timely tackle by United centreback Nemanja Vidic on Pires in Arsenal’s own half paved the way for another United defender, Mikael Silvestre to pass an inch-perfect cross into the penalty area.

With a fine first touch, Rooney gladly obliges, lashing a powerful shot into the right-hand corner of Lehmann’s goal, as Philippe Senderos and Mathieu Flamini are rendered helpless.

The stadium, with a record crowd of 70,908 spectators, erupts. So did the patrons at the restaurant. We all screamed till our voices were hoarse. And almost every United player on the pitch jumps on top of Rooney, who spread himself on the ground in celebration. Arrogant? He has every right to be.

As though stung into life, Arsenal responded quickly with Pires passing the ball to Adebayor in the United half, and escaping Gary Neville’s marking the latter lashes a powerful shot that just goes over the crossbar.

Later, after some fine work by Arsenal rightback Emmanuel Eboue to get the ball deep into United’s penalty area, Arsenal yet again rued another missed chance when van Persie completely miskicks the pass and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

With 20 minutes left Henry is brought on along with Vassiriki Diaby to replace van Persie and Fabregas respectively, while Ljungberg replaces Alexander Hleb, but they too, would prove to have much less a part to play in the match.

As a result of a corner kick, United fullback Rio Ferdinand caused a goalmouth scramble as United went in search of the decisive second goal that would kill off the match for good. They didn’t have to wait long.

Twelve minutes from time, Rooney escapes his marker Senderos, and with Lehmann well out of position, he glances quickly enough and passes the ball to the onrushing South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung, who scores his first and probably the most important goal of his United career.

The screams got even louder this time. We, the United fans, knew that the match was well sealed and that there was no way back for Arsenal. Even my friend, who is an Arsenal fan, was speechless, as he finished his food. I believed he silently agreed that indeed, there was no way back.

In the end, United sent out a clarion call to Chelsea, who had earlier crushed West Ham United 4-1, that the title chase is far from over. Only seven points separate them, and many believe the title will be decided when these two sides meet at Stamford Bridge two games from now.

But till then, consider this. There were no spats prior to the match, no war of words between Sir Alex Ferguson and Wenger in the press, and there were definitely no pizza and soup thrown this time around after the match. But look at the faces of the United players and you will see that, no matter what people say, Man United versus Arsenal will always remain a fiery affair.