So it’s finally over. The title chances are zero and Manchester United have taught us a lesson on our own pitch. It all started nicely, when Vieira and Keane got into a scuffle (verbal I think) in the tunnel before the game. That was a novelty. The fireworks usually go off afterwards!
In the first half, Arsenal started well (apart from a shocking dive by Cole) and took the lead through Vieira. Some poor defending by Campbell allowed United to score, then the impressive Bergkamp put Arsenal ahead again before half time. I knew that we had to keep our momentum up in the second half, but feared we would let it slip. I knew the next goal would win the game. And it was United who scored it.
Scrappy defending allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to score twice and then, with Arsenal chasing the game, O’Shea scored a humiliating fourth for the visitiors. I could not believe that a game that had started so well would end in such a disaster. But I shouldn’t have been surprised. It’s not as if this is the first time it’s happened this year.
Where to now? Wenger obviously needs to spend money, but I’m not sure we have enough for him to buy the quality of player we need, just to stand still. Some of the players are past their best and the younger ones aren’t quite ready for what has been asked of them this season. In the short term, the defeat doesn’t hurt so much because the title was gone anyway and we were fighting for second place. Nothing has changed.
That doesn’t really help me feel much better, however.