VIEW: United vs Arsenal. 1-0

Seven things we learnt from last night’s game…

Where was all that ‘beautiful, attractive football’? Can’t everyone – from neutrals to Gooners – see that it’s getting embarrassing to hinge on that pathetic statement whenever referring to Arsenal? Whichever way you wish to say it: ‘they play the best football in the league’, ‘their style is the best’ ‘I’d rather watch them play than anyone else’, all it does is politely hide the fact that they’re actually at times thoroughly unproductive, even if they can pass a bit. Its a bit like calling an Allardyce side ‘a great defensive unit’ rather than ‘dirty c*nts’. Admittedly I’ve not seen an awful lot of Arsenal this season, but I was shocked at how poor they were off the ball and how incapable they were of dealing with United when we were in possession. So much so that their constant lack of attractive football yesterday resulted in 16 foals committed and four bookings. Classy.

And how about when they got the ball (that's when they thrive, isn't it...)? Their wonderful, seductive passing was rewarded by a measly six shots on target (compared to our 10); genuinely threatening us only once when vds's save and Vidic’s last ditch defensive genius denied Chamakh an equaliser.

As satisfying as it is to slate their lack of ambition, I am genuinely disappointed that they didn’t give us more of a game.

Winning without playing well… as the modern cliché goes, is the sign of a title winning side. Of course average performances and scraped victories don’t define your season, nor are they sustainable. But for now, as we sit pretty at the top of the table – two points clear and a game in hand – ‘we’ll do what we want!’

Anderson and Nani can win us the league. Last night both players dominated the game. Nani’s runs, distribution, possession and determination to win the ball, along with Anderson’s runs, distribution, possession and determination to win the ball(!) meant one of the best teams in the country – with the best away record to boot – couldn’t come close to breaking us up. We know about Nani’s impact this season (assisting yet another goal last night, this time for Park), and for that we commend his work ethic to come back from the brink. But Anderson has literally come out of nowhere, reminded us all that he can do a lot more than f*ck up expensive motors, and instead show of his talent, skill and sheer class. The boy’s finally starting to realize his potential, and for that we are truly grateful.

Rooney can NOT play as a lone striker. Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve brought this point up. There was a time last season when I made it every single week, however thanks to players like Nani, Berbatov and Hernandez stepping up on the creative/goalscoring front, the over-reliance towards Wazza has massively diminished. I thought he played well last night, however he really came into his own when he roamed free – drifting wide to allow Park to move inside, or coming in deep – however when we needed a centre forward, he was disappointing and slightly clueless. As for the penalty. Well......yes. That is all.

Does anyone take Wenger seriously anymore? Moaning about the state of the pitch when your team played that badly?! Are you for real. I get the genius tag, but after five seasons-and-counting without winning a trophy, I reckon its time to shut up, look at what you have in front of you and ‘manage’ them.

Shockingly, we’re storming! Who would have thought it after those awful draws earlier in the season against Everton and Fulham? A better points total, goal-difference and record against the top sides than anyone else. Plus we’re a game behind everyone (bar Blackpool, of course). Plus it’s not even the second half of the season yet. This could be an awesome campaign.

And finally…

Still unbeaten!