Saturday 16 May 2009 |
Manchester United v Arsenal: Match report
Carlos Tevez seemingly waved goodbye to Old Trafford as Manchester United claimed their 18th league title with an uneventful 0-0 draw at home to Arsenal.
Mutual respect: Sir Alex Ferguson embraced Carlos Tevez at the final whistle
Farewell: Carlos Tevez waved goodbye to the United fans when substituted
Champions: Manchester United have won their 18th league title Photo: AP
Tevez, whose future remains shrouded in doubt with his advisers and United unable to agree on a permanent deal that will replace his two-year loan period at the club, appeared to signal his farewells by waving to all corners of the ground when replaced by Ji-sung Park on 67 minutes.
And although United play their final game of the season at Hull next Sunday before facing Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome on May 27, this is likely to have been Tevez’s last game for United at Old Trafford. Prior to the game, Sir Alex Ferguson had voiced fears that playing for a point could actually trip United up as they attempted to confirm the title.
But subconsciously, being so close to retaining the championship, Ferguson’s players lacked the edge required in the first half to banish any fears that Arsenal could spoil the party by claiming the victory that would leave the title up for grabs.
United struggled to find any momentum and Robin van Persie should have given Arsenal the lead on 14 minutes after being teed up by Andrei Arshavin.
The Russian’s cross found Van Persie unmarked at the far post, but the Dutch forward wastefully headed over the bar when it appeared easier to score.
It was a warning that United heeded, but they proved equally profligate at the other end moments later when Wayne Rooney, picked out by Michael Carrick, headed wide from six yards under the challenge of Bacary Sagna.
Arsenal, with Arshavin causing United problems with his direct runs into their territory, were putting up much more of a fight than they had during the 4-1 aggregate Champions League semi-final defeat against Ferguson’s team.
And the combative approach began to boil over with Van Persie, Arshavin, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri all booked for dangerous challenges.
United full-back Patrice Evra in particular, who was critical of Arsenal following the Champions League victory, was subjected to some heavy-handed treatment by Arsene Wenger’s players.
Considering the quality on both sides, it was a poor game and one that needed a goal to bring it to life.
But chances were thin on the ground and, when they did emerge, too often spurned. Tevez should have scored after being released by Darren Fletcher on the hour, but he took too long to control the ball and the chance was wasted.
Seven minutes later, the Argentine was replaced by Park and he milked the adulation from the crowd as he trooped off the pitch, with ‘Fergie, Sign him up!’ being chanted from the stands.
Barring a late effort from Fabregas that struck the post, United were untroubled as they held out for the point that confirmed their latest title triumph
