Man United v Arsenal 16/11/96 3.00Man United (0) 1 Arsenal (0) 0 FT Winterburn 63 (og) A bizarre own goal by Nigel Winterburn brought desperately-needed relief to Manchester United and wrecked Arsene Wenger's Arsenal honeymoon. Fortunes turn on the strangest card and both clubs may look back on the 62nd minute at Old Trafford as crucial to their Premiership fates this season. England number one David Seaman, put under pressure by Martin Keown's back pass, tried to kill the ball but his first touch betrayed him and he steered it back temptingly towards Nicky Butt. The energetic Manchester United midfielder was forced wide as England's number one goalkeeper tried to recover, but when he drove the ball into a crowded goalmouth the diving full-back chested it across his own line when he might have been better to leave well alone. Down at the other end Peter Schmeichel, fiercely criticised during the mini-crisis, made a spellbinding injury-time save when in-form Ian Wright was left with the goal at his mercy by his superb control of Lee Dixon's sweeping cross. And on those two moments the whole game was decided to the massive relief to the champions who faced their worst league run for 18 years after three straight Premiership defeats before the international break. With Juventus due at Old Trafford on Wednesday for a match which may make or break Alex Ferguson's Champions League ambitions for another year, this was the boost United desperately needed. For Arsenal, it was their first defeat under their new French manager, their first in 11 Premiership games and wrecked their ambitions to climb to the summit. They deserved a point for their energy and enterprise, matching United in every department bar luck though David Beckham hit their post. Wright will curse himself. Recalled by England on the back of his sensational form 15 goals in 14 games he never misses from the sort of last-ditch position he found himself in. But he did not count on the savage determination of a great Dane made to look mortal in recent weeks who threw himself in to save a victory that puts United back in the title hunt. Before the game began Alex Ferguson told United's fans that the team that won in Istanbul and then lost at Newcastle and Southampton, at home to Fenerbahce and Chelsea had not gone from heaven to hell in a month. And with Ryan Giggs back in the starting line up for the first time in six weeks there were signs, however faint, of the old swagger. For the first time United had someone other than Eric Cantona from which to take their lead, and though the confidence still looked fragile David Beckham's ambition deserved better reward. He will not come closer without scoring than he did in the 11th minute as even the Frenchman caught the mood, controlling a sweeping Gary Neville cross from the right on his chest, juggling it down and delivering it along the edge of the area. The young England star connected with a superb right-foot half-volley that left Seaman standing but bounced back off his left-hand post. It was the clearest-cut chance of a combative first half that saw play fiercely condensed into midfield where another Frenchman Patrick Vieira stood out by a head. Not since the days of Liam Brady have Arsenal had such a cultured playmaker, but there is a hard edge to the Milan signing who is articulating Wenger's philosophy on the pitch. Arsenal had not scored in their last four visits, and last won in 1990, the year they went on to the title, but Wright buoyant they arrived full of hope. An early shot from Dennis Bergkamp had Schmeichel struggling and then the goalkeeper reacted angrily in the 44th minute when the England striker followed through after prodding Bergkamp's pass too far ahead. A booking produced a furious reaction from Arsenal assistant Pat Rice as the teams left at half-time. Ferguson has made great play about the decline in Old Trafford's atmosphere, probably in direct proportion to the rise in corporate hospitality. ``It's bad enough hearing the manager and players are useless without hearing that our supporters are finished as well,'' he said in his programme notes. At 3.36pm, came an electrifying moment when the crowd responded, almost every fan rising to his feet as they chanted, ``We're the champions, stand up.'' The problem is they simply do not sustain a wall of sound nowadays, but where does in these days of all-seater stadiums? They were roaring again after United scored but Arsenal fought back, Platt Platt driving a shot just over and then Schmeichel saving his side twice, able only to take the sting out of Dixon's piledriver but reacting quickly to block as Wright latched onto the rebound. But as Arsenal felt the effects of their efforts it could have been far more damaging a defeat in the later stages. Giggs played Cantona through in the 74th minute, clearly offside but with the flag staying down. But the Frenchman ran on and chipped over Seaman and the bar as Arsenal's defenders screamed at the referee's assistant. It became fast and furious, Platt booked for catching Butt after getting away with taking down Beckham, and United denied a clear penalty when Bould blocked Beckham's cross with his arm. Seaman needed treatment to his ribs and Arsenal began to look vulnerable, Bould booked for a foul on Cantona. Even after Wright's miss Poborksy should have supplied the last rites but he too ran clear but shot over. It was that close. 
Man United: (4-4-1-1) Schmeichel, G. Neville, May, Cantona, Butt, Beckham, Giggs, P. Neville, Poborsky, Johnsen, Solskjaer. Subs not used: McClair, Cruyff, Van Der Gouw, Scholes, Thornley. Booked: Johnsen. Arsenal: (3-5-2) Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Bould, Adams, Platt, Wright, Merson, Bergkamp, Keown. Subs not used: Linighan, Parlour, Morrow, Lukic, Shaw. Booked: Dixon, Vieira, Wright, Platt, Bould. Attendance: 55,210. Referee: G Poll (Tring). |
