Resilient United are worthy champions

Exceptional team spirit and resilience are the hallmarks of this United side

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, folks, but the title race is pretty much over. 

Despite the fact that Arsenal and Chelsea will not, and indeed cannot, admit it, and despite Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti's unwavering public adherence to the mantra of "it's not over yet", it feels as though a choir of fat women ought to be bellowing their lungs out somewhere after this weekend's Premier League results.

How can I be so sure, you may ask, when the Gunners only trail leaders Manchester United by seven points with a game in hand, and when Sir Alex Ferguson's side still face tough tests against both of the sides chasing them in their remaining seven matches?

It might be because, since Arsenal haven't beaten United in any competition since November 2008, with  United emerging victorious in eight of the last 11 meetings between the two sides, I don't think much of their chances of beating the Red Devils at the Emirates next month.

It might also be because, despite what Carlo Ancelotti says publicly, Chelsea have accepted they are now too far off the pace to defend their Premier League crown, and so will focus their efforts on salvaging a disappointing season by finally satisfying owner Roman Abramovich's desire to win the Champions League - thereby possibly making May's league clash at Old Trafford a dead rubber, and reducing Arsenal's chances of getting the United slip-up they will require to become champions.

But it isn't.

Ultimately, the reason why I can see no destination for the Premier League trophy other than Old Trafford has become particularly clear for all to see in recent weeks, and it is this: No matter how unconvincing they may be or vulnerable they may look, this Manchester United team will simply not allow this title to slip through their fingers, and their rivals are incapable of prising it from their grasp.

The month of March provided the last real opportunity for Chelsea and Arsenal to seize the initiative in the title race. Two defeats in a week, at Stamford Bridge and at Anfield, threatened to derail United's inexorable progress towards a 19th league title, and the time was ripe for the chasing pack to ramp up the pressure.

Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea did their bit, defeating the champions-elect, their 'noisy neighbours' and Blackpool to take maximum points from their three matches.

However, the horrendous crash in form they endured from November to February meant the Blues would always be fighting an uphill task to catch the leaders, and last week's draw at Stoke - while being far from the worst result of a difficult season - has provided the straw which breaks the camel's back in terms of their title chances.

If United's stutterings had momentarily left the door to the title slightly ajar for Chelsea, it had been swung wide open for Arsenal.

Had the Gunners beaten Sunderland and Blackburn at the Emirates and West Brom on the road - tough but limited opposition - they would currently trail Sir Alex Ferguson's men by a single point, as well as holding a game in hand over the leaders.

But the trauma of Carling Cup Final defeat to Birmingham at the end of February appears to  have sparked a fire which has engulfed the North Londoners' season and put paid to their trophy aspirations, with their only win in any competition in March coming in an FA Cup tie against Leyton Orient.

Arsenal's failure to turn up the heat on United in their moment of weakness means the Red Devils' lead at the top of the Premier League stands at seven points with seven matches remaining.

Although the Gunners can close the gap to four by winning their game in hand, any argument that they can still become champions rests on the assumptions both that they will drop less points than United between now and the end of the season and that they are capable of handling the pressure & adversity which must be overcome in a title race - assumptions for which there is little or no evidence.

Should United go on to win their fourth Premier League crown in five years, there can be no argument that they have done so partly as a result of the weaknesses of their rivals.

The inconsistency of Chelsea and Arsenal has been shocking and comical in equal measure at times, as has the lack of ambition shown by Man City boss Roberto Mancini, whose negative tactics and blinkered pursuit of Champions League qualification has stifled his side's ability to play a more active role in one of the most open title races of the past decade.

It is also undeniable that Sir Alex Ferguson's "Class of 2010/11" cannot compare, both in terms of individual or collective quality, either to the treble-winning vintage of 1999 or to the one which, propelled by the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, dominated English football for three years from 2006 to 2009 and reached two consecutive Champions League finals.

In fact, all of the Premier League's established contenders - with the possible exception of Arsenal - have declined over the last two seasons, and emerging powers Man City and Tottenham have proved themselves not yet ready to mount a sustained domestic challenge.

But to use any of this to argue that no one deserves to win the title this year is just plain wrong.

Sure, this United side will most likely not go down as one of the greatest in the club's illustrious history, but this group of players does possess one particular quality which is truly remarkable, one which sets them apart from every other team in the land. I'm talking about resilience.

Resilience is not simply coming back from a goal or two to win a match, or bouncing back from a bad defeat one week with a victory the week after. It is a mental toughness, an unshakeable belief that whatever the scoreline, whatever the opposition, refereeing injustice or any other setback you may face, you can - nay, will - find a way to win.

United's January comeback win over Blackpool may prove a defining moment

It is a quality which has become synonymous with Manchester United Football Club throughout Sir Alex Ferguson's long reign as manager, but never has it seemed so firmly entrenched within the collective mindset as with the current playing staff at Old Trafford.

Of course, the reason for this could be that, because this United side are more vulnerable than their predecessors, resilience is called upon more than ever before to get them out of bad situations which individual or team errors have gotten them in to.

But, to a large extent, the nature of the explanation is irrelevant as far as the basic point is concerned: it is United's stubborn refusal to lose which has enabled them to keep their noses ahead in the Premier League title race, and it is this same stubbornness which looks increasingly likely to see them over the line.

Manchester United's "never say die" attitude has become the stuff of footballing legend, but this year it also has a basis in cold, hard, statistical fact.

The Red Devils have gleaned 22 extra points from the second half of Premier League matches this season having been in losing or drawing positions at half time, while surrendering just nine from winning or drawing positions - meaning they are 13 points better off in the table as a result of second half performances.

When the same calculation is done for Arsenal and Chelsea, it is found that the Londoners are only five and seven points better off respectively. On average, United's second half performances have given them seven extra Premier League points more than their main title rivals - and seven points just happens to be  the current gap between United in first and Arsenal in second.

But the significance of United's late rallies goes beyond merely points. Their psychological impact can be devastating. One cannot underestimate the effect knowledge of United's overturning of a two goal half time deficit at West Ham had on Chelsea prior to their draw at Stoke - where it was being broadcast on the stadium screens - or on Arsenal before their frustrating stalemate at home with Blackburn.

These comebacks also have a profound influence on the mindset of United's prospective opponents. The reputation which Sir Alex Ferguson's men have earned for finishing matches strongly means that, even when they find themselves in front, teams rarely believe they can close the deal against United.

Consequently, their natural tendency tends to be to try to protect their lead by defending deep in the last twenty minutes of the match, which inadvertantly makes them more vulnerable to the Red Devil's late attacking onslought. In short, United coming back to win has become a kind of self-fulfilling prophesy.

If the Premier League trophy does find its way to Old Trafford in May for a record 19th time, it will not be United's typically formidable home record which sticks in the mind. It will be the comeback victories  away from home over Blackpool and West Ham, the earning of a point at Aston Villa when all seemed lost, or Dimitar Berbatov's 88th minute winner over Bolton at Old Trafford which gave a ten-man United side a much-needed three points.

It will be the fact that all of this was achieved in spite of Rio Ferdinand and Antonio Valencia's lengthy absences through injury, in spite of the ageing legs of the remarkable Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, and in spite of the worst year, on the pitch and off it, of Wayne Rooney's career. It will be the overcoming of all this adversity which may serve to convince Sir Alex that his 12th league title as United boss may be among the sweetest of the lot.

By concentrating on the mental strengths of this United side, I have not intended to denigrate its technical qualities.

Wayne Rooney's star may not have blazed this season as it did last, but Nani and Dimitar Berbatov have matured into performers of match-winning quality, Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling have made a decisive impact in spite of their tender years, and in captain Nemanja Vidic, United have probably the best centre-half in world football.

But, as the over-used sporting maxim goes, to win when not playing well is the sign of champions.

After 25 years at the top of the English game, no one knows this better than Sir Alex Ferguson. And it appears his current side know it too. They will win the Premier League, simply because they refuse to lose it. 

Arsenal and Spurs show their mettle

 

The Champions League roared back into action this week, as Tottenham and Arsenal produced performances of the very highest quality to deservedly claim the scalps of two of European football's giants. 

In doing so, they delivered the most emphatic riposte possible to those who like to claim that the steady migration of top talent to Spain in recent seasons has eroded the Premier League's status as the strongest in the world.

For while there may be an argument that Chelsea and even Manchester United have been weakened slightly in that period, there are currently more teams in this country capable of challenging Europe's elite than perhaps at any point in the history of the Premier League - a fact made evident by the fact that two of our top flight's chasing pack have just beaten the champions-elect of La Liga and Serie A.

Perhaps inevitably given the pedigree of their opposition, both Spurs and Arsenal went into their European ties widely regarded as underdogs. 

After all, Harry Redknapp's side were charged with taking on an AC Milan side staring down the barrel of their first Scudetto since 2004 in one of the most intimidating stadiums in world football - and without either Gareth "Scourge of Maicon" Bale or a fully fit Luka Modric.

Arsene Wenger, for his part, could be forgiven for having limited sympathy with his North London rivals, having drawn Barcelona - last season's conquerors, the La Liga champions and a team of such exceptional quality that their fiercest competition appears to be coming from the footballing annals of history rather than the pitches of the present.

But rather than wilt in the face of the challenge, both English sides arguably produced their most mature displays of the season.

Much of Spurs' success this term has been built on their ability to overwhelm their opposition in the final third, utilising the pace and direct running of Bale and Lennon on the flanks, the creativity of Modric and Van der Vaart in the middle, and the physicality of Crouch up front. 

Their expansive approach has made Harry Redknapp's side compulsive viewing in Europe this season, but it has often left them defensively vulnerable - never more so than on their last visit to the San Siro to face Inter, when a brilliant second half hat-trick from Gareth Bale papered over the cracks of a torrid first half defensive display.

And so, with Redknapp still perhaps sensitive to the sting of that particular defeat, Spurs this time set out to defend deep from start to finish, allowing Milan to have possession in safe areas and looking to use the pace of Lennon to land a sucker punch on the counter-attack.

The Italian giants were too slow and laboured on the ball to break down the organised Spurs defence, marshalled by a superb Michael Dawson, and the glamorous duo of Robinho and Ibrahimovic were never more than peripheral figures. Even on the rare occasion the Spurs defence was breached, the hosts found themselves confronted by Heurelho Gomes in world-class form.

When all attempts at incision failed, Milan resorted to blatant provocation of their opponents - led by Mathieu Flamini, who should have been sent off for a horrible two-footed lunge on Vedran Corluka, and captain Gennaro Gattuso, who could feasibly have acquired more cards than Clintons' in the 90 minutes he astoundingly remained on the pitch.

Spurs' level-headed response was to regard the Italians' anger as a compliment to the success of their approach rather than an invitation to retaliate, and their patience was rewarded with a superb goal ten minutes from time: Aaron Lennon showing blistering pace to leave several Milan defenders in his wake, and then remarkable poise to pick out Peter Crouch, who must have been delighted that the most important goal of his career was also one of the simplest.

In defeating Milan on their home turf, Spurs have shocked the footballing world for the second time. The first - the destruction of Inter at White Hart Lane in November - was impressive because it proved Harry Redknapp's team possess the talent to compete with Europe's best. The second is equally significant because it confirms they also possess the determination to do so. 

But of course, Tottenham weren't the only ones to shock the footballing world this week. In fact, they weren't even the only ones in North London.

In a match almost the entire footballing planet was watching, Arsenal produced a stirring second half comeback against Barcelona to save themselves from Champions League oblivion and even give their fans hope of pulling off an unthinkable upset over Pep Guardiola's "Dream Team".

Even more surprising than the result was the method by which it was achieved. Barcelona are universally acknowledged to be the best footballing team in the world, and consequently it was believed that any team foolish enough to attempt to outplay them would be doomed to failure. 

It is a theory which has been widely accepted in the wake of Barca's beautiful destructions of Arsenal in last season's Champions League and of Real Madrid in last November's Clasico. But it is false.

Of course, no one in their right mind would claim that Arsenal played Barcelona off the pitch on Wednesday evening. But they stayed true to their attacking philosophy - Arsene Wenger is too much the footballing purist to ever attempt the perceived "anti-football" employed by Mourinho's Inter at the Nou Camp last year, for better or worse - and it was these attacking instincts which underpinned the Gunners' remarkable comeback.

In order to stay true to their identity, the Arsenal players knew they would have to absorb considerable punishment against the possession kings of world football. They remained dogged in the face of prolonged periods chasing shadows, and even sucked up the body blow dealt by David Villa's opener - a work of surgical precision as much as beauty.

They also rode their luck at times, on several occasions relying heavily on Lionel Messi's uncharacteristic profligacy in front of goal to remain in contention. But in coming back from a goal down against such exceptional opposition, Arsenal managed to ally sheer determination and mental toughness with the technical excellence more regularly associated with their game.

This attitude was epitomised by Jack Wilshere who, at 19 years of age, more than held his own against perhaps the greatest midfield in history, and seemed completely unfazed by the occasion. 

It is an understatement of monumental proportions to herald him simply an exceptional young prospect. By demonstrating such poise and ability at the highest level and at such a young age, Wilshere has shown he has the potential to become the greatest midfielder England has ever produced.

Of course, Barcelona had a hand in their own downfall. They were guilty of not finishing off the game despite creating more than enough chances - a criticism with which Arsene Wenger will certainly empathise. The decision to bring on Seydou Keita for the dangerous David Villa also surrendered the initiative precisely at the moment when Pep Guardiola's side needed to keep control.

However, while the Spanish giants may have left the door ajar for Arsenal, the Gunners still deserve all the credit they have received for being able to walk through it - not only did they drive their illustrious visitors back through sheer force of will, but Robin Van Persie and Andrey Arshavin took their chances brilliantly.

Ultimately when all is said and done, what do these results actually mean for two of the Premier League's finest?   

Harry Redknapp will certainly be mindful of the fact that a team of Milan's quality can never be counted out. The Italians are unlikely to play so poorly again, and the mercurial duo of Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are more than capable of ending Tottenham's European adventure if afforded time and space. 

That said, Spurs now carry a priceless lead into the home leg in three weeks' time, where they will hopefully have Bale, Modric, and what will undoubtedly be an electric White Hart Lane atmosphere to spur them on to victory. They are now firm favourites.

For Arsenal, much, much work remains. Arsene Wenger will remember all too well what Barcelona are capable of at the Nou Camp, and that David Villa away goal remains a significant cause for concern. Then there is also the fact that Lionel Messi does not have too many bad days, and may have used up his quota at the Emirates.

But unlike last year, Arsenal have a lead - albeit slender - to protect, coupled with the belief that they can beat the Champions League favourites. Key to their gameplan in the Catalan capital will undoubtedly be the searing pace of Theo Walcott, who ran Maxwell ragged in last season's fixture. Gunners fans will hope his contribution will be even more decisive this time around.

Whatever the future holds, keep the evenings of the 8th and 9th of March free in your social calendar. If the contests at White Hart Lane and the Nou Camp yield anywhere near the amount of drama and quality this week has delivered, we are in for quite a treat.

Can Arsenal end their trophy drought?

The transfer saga of the summer is finally over. Well, for now at least. Despite the best efforts of several prominent Barcelona officials and players, Arsenal's refusal to negotiate with the Spanish giants has prompted talismanic captain Cesc Fabregas to commit his immediate future to the club. 'I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal's prerogative not to sell me', he stated after joining up with the rest of Wenger's squad for pre-season training. 'I owe a lot to the club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal.' The news will undoubtedly be music to the ears of Gunners fans, who would otherwise understandably have been dismayed to lose their most influential player. But replacing these fears in the minds of the Emirates faithful will be the familiar, nagging question which has plagued their thoughts in recent seasons: will this be the year that Arsenal end their trophy exile?

The 2005 FA Cup trophy is the most recent piece of significant silverware that currently resides in the Arsenal FC trophy cabinet at the Emirates stadium. The Gunners have not won a major prize since they moved into their new multi-million pound home, and nowhere is this barren spell more apparent than in the commemorative list of achievements that adorns the base of the top tier of the stadium, which sports a gaping hole after 2005.

Yet there is cause for Arsenal fans to be optimistic about their sides chances this term. Fabregas' continued presence is surely a massive boost, both in terms of his influence in the dressing room and on the field. Opta's Premier League statistics for last season show that the Spaniard created a scoring chance from open play, on average, every 29 minutes - better than anyone else in any of the top European leagues. Even for a squad with the creative talent which Arsenal possess, that level of productivity would be sorely missed. But the sale of Fabregas would have also had a profound impact off the pitch. Arsene Wenger has sold big players before - Marc Overmars, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry to name just three - but invariably when their best years were deemed behind them, and their departure considered beneficial to the development of a new generation. The sale of Fabregas would be the sale of a player who likely has his best years ahead of him, and would therefore leave the north London club open to the accusation that they lack the ambition to continue to challenge for top European and domestic honours. Whilst the overriding impression is that the Spaniard's return to Catalonia is a matter of 'when' rather than 'if', his presence in the Arsenal side this season is crucial for the Gunners' hopes of immediate success.

In addition to playing a vital role in keeping Fabregas at the Emirates, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has also had a significant impact on other areas of the Arsenal playing squad this summer. In defence, the volatile and divisive figure of William Gallas has been jettisoned, along with the release of veterans Mikael Silvestre and Sol Campbell. Replacing Gallas in the Arsenal backline is Laurent Koscielny, a £10m signing from Lorient who, despite boasting only one season's experience of top flight football, is an adept reader of the game and possesses good technical ability, not too dissimilar to his new defensive colleague Thomas Vermaelen. Croatian frontman Eduardo has also departed, having failed to live up to his early promise after the horrific leg-break he sustained against Birmingham in 2008. In his place is Marouane Chamakh, one of the stars of Bordeaux's surprise Ligue 1 title win in 2009. A skilful, mobile target man, the Moroccan should provide a different dimension to the Gunners attack - a suggestion apparently borne out by the fact that 11 of his 16 goals in all competitions last season were headers. The lack of a top-level keeper remains a concern, but rumours linking Arsenal with a move for Cagliari and Italy's World Cup number one stopper Federico Marchetti indicate that Arsene Wenger is seeking to remedy the problem. Whilst Koscielny and Chamakh are not exactly marquee names, they are astute purchases that should aid the North Londoners' push for trophies this season.

There are other reasons why Arsenal fans can reasonably expect that, circumstances permitting, Arsene Wenger will head into the new season with a stronger squad than in recent years. For starters, there is hope that perennial injury absentees Tomas Rosicky, Robin Van Persie and Abou Diaby will enjoy better fortune now that they have returned to full fitness. Rosicky in particular looked extremely sharp in the Emirates Cup, and the impression I get with Van Persie is that all he needs to establish himself as a genuinely world-class frontman is an injury-free season. The fact that the Dutchman's return of 10 goals was the best of any of the club's frontmen, despite his injury problems, indicates how much the Arsenal attack missed his cutting edge when absent. Diaby, at his best, adds much needed physical presence and drive to the Gunners midfield - a particularly useful asset on away days against the more robust teams in the Premier League, such as Blackburn or Birmingham, who both took points off Arsenal last season. There are also the 'rookies' in the squad - Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Emanuel Frimpong among others - who are a year older, wiser and better. They all looked extremely accomplished in the Emirates Cup, and should be expected to provide reliable service if called upon.

But undoubtedly the biggest asset available to Arsenal in their quest for trophies remains their manager. Arsene Wenger is arguably the best technical coach of players in world football, and consequently his teams win over many neutrals with their crowd-pleasing style. But he is also a winner, experienced in competing for some of the biggest prizes in the sport, and always instills this winning mentality into his players. Whilst the Frenchman may not have had his reward in the way of silverware recently, his volatile reactions when confronted with his team's failings in high profile matches over the last few seasons at least show that he has not grown accustomed to losing. Wenger will certainly believe whole-heartedly going into this season that his Arsenal side can succeed on the biggest of stages, and if this cast-iron conviction filters through to his players, then the North Londoners will certainly have a chance. The Arsenal manager's faith may also be strengthened by the relative inactivity of both Chelsea and Man Utd in the transfer market. Both sides possess aging squads, and despite the fact that both will probably give youth more of a chance in their first-teams this term, Wenger will hope that the younger legs of his charges will be decisive over a long and demanding season.

But in spite of the fact that Arsenal head into this season in a stronger position than in previous years, it is remains hard to back them for major silverware any time soon. The Gunners finished 12 points off champions Chelsea in the Premier League last season, losing all four of their head-to-head meetings with the Blues and Manchester United in the process. Furthermore, with the exception of United's last gasp victory at Old Trafford, Wenger's side were not only beaten in these fixtures, but outclassed. In Europe, Arsenal were humbled by an exceptional Barcelona side, and in the domestic cups their young guns were bested by Stoke and Manchester City.

In one sense, it is harsh to use Arsenal's results against Barcelona, Chelsea and United as a stick to beat them with, as these three sides have been a cut above everyone else in the last few seasons, in terms of their consistent level of achievement at the top of European football. But the reality is harsh, because this is the level of opposition which Arsenal will almost certainly have to overcome in order to win the Premier League or the Champions League. In Europe, Barcelona show no signs of slowing down, Real Madrid will surely be a formidable contenders under Jose Mourinho, and Inter Milan possess a talented squad now helmed by another experienced Champions League operator, Rafa Benitez. On the domestic front, the tightening of purse strings at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, coupled with the rise of Manchester City and Tottenham, should ensure a slightly more competitive title race, but the fact remains that Chelsea and United still possess stronger starting XIs and squads than their rivals, and I would be surprised if neither John Terry nor Gary Neville are holding the Premier League trophy aloft in May.

The fierceness of competition that Arsenal face in their quest to win the Champions League or Premier League makes it reasonable to suggest that the FA Cup or Carling Cup may represent a better opportunity to get their hands on a long-awaited trophy. But in these competitions their chances have been fatally undermined in recent seasons by Wenger's stubborn insistence that they be used as an opportunity to provide the Gunner's numerous talented youngsters with valuable first-team experience. The Frenchman's commitment to this philosophy is admirable, and indeed sensible, in the early rounds of cup competition, since these initial games provide a unique opportunity for youth academy products to gain first team experience in a lower pressure environment. But any side with aspirations of winning a cup competition must overcome quality opposition sooner or later, and it is on these occasions that Wenger's unwillingness to turn to the more experienced members of his squad has been detrimental to his side's prospects of silverware. A clear example of this was the 2007 Carling Cup final against Chelsea, where a second string Arsenal side, packed with youth, took to the field against their London rivals' strongest XI. Despite putting up an admirable fight and even taking a first half lead through Theo Walcott, the greater experience and quality of the Blues proved decisive in the second half, and they ran out 2-1 winners. The Gunners haven't reached a final since, and Wenger would be well advised that the older heads in his squad represent the best chance of reversing this trend.

Cesc Fabregas has given Arsenal another chance to prove that their ambition matches his own. Despite having some astute new signings and promising young talents at his disposal, Arsene Wenger faces a tough task if he is to avoid disappointing his captain, and may even have to go against some of his most vehemently held principles in the process. It may, then, take time before Gunners fans once more have something to shout about, and a new era of success is ushered in at the Emirates.