United win tips scales

Shirt shrift: Ruud van Nistelrooy celebrates his strike

14 April 2012

Seven weeks ago Arsenal enjoyed an eight-point lead at the top of the Premiership but by the time they face Leeds at Highbury on Sunday, Manchester United could be the team with an eight-point lead.

This remarkable swing of the Premiership pendulum in the last two months means that United are now almost certain to reclaim the title from Arsenal.

Their 2-0 win over Tottenham yesterday, following Arsenal's 2-2 draw at Bolton, suggests that this weekend may turn out to be the defining moment in the Championship programme.

If, as expected, United beat Charlton at Old Trafford on Saturday, the title will be theirs unless Arsenal win their remaining three games. If Arsenal follow a United win with anything less than three points against Leeds, Sir Alex Ferguson will be able to claim his eighth Premiership trophy on Sunday afternoon.

The manner in which Ferguson's United gradually dismantled Tottenham at White Hart Lane encapsulated United's Premiership season. Patience and persistence underpinned yesterday's win, and those qualities have figured hugely in their bid to overhaul Arsenal.

"I told the players at half-time that perseverance was necessary," said Ferguson. "But you could sense in them the determination to win." United's victory, which ended Tottenham's hopes of a UEFA Cup place, stretched their unbeaten run to 16 Premiership games. While Arsenal stutter, United have the momentum. Only some unforeseen catastrophe can stop them from regaining the title.

Spurs were not up to the job. They hardly had a shot worthy of note and had it not been for the excellence of their goalkeeper Kasey Keller, United's Ruud van Nistelrooy could have scored a hat-trick before half-time. Keller treated the fans to his full repertoire, though such was the compelling nature of United's attacking game one felt that, on the law of averages, he must eventually concede.

He did in the 69th minute when Paul Scholes, having played an important role in linking David Beckham's cross from the right to Ryan Giggs on the left, surged unmarked into the Spurs area where he met a centre from Giggs with a firm downward header. It was a fitting reward for the persistence shown by the dogged Scholes.

Although Tottenham's downfall on that occasion could be traced back to their Japanese midfield player Kazuyuki Toda, who gave the ball away, an inability to keep possession gnawed at Glenn Hoddle's team throughout the game.

It was hard enough for the likes of Tottenham's Gus Poyet and Teddy Sheringham to win the ball, but the frequency with which they squandered possession will trouble Hoddle. "We gave the ball away cheaply on both occasions when United scored," he said.

United's second goal came in injury time. This time it was Stephen Carr who lost possession and the United substitute Quinton Fortune exploited the situation, setting up van Nistelrooy for a 40th goal of the season.

Thousands of Tottenham fans immediately sprang from their seats and began filing towards the exits, their only consolation being that at least they had contributed to the discomfort of their north London rivals.

United's jubilant followers, meanwhile, acclaimed the imminent return of the Championship trophy. Only Charlton or Everton can now halt United's charge.

Realistically, Arsenal retain a faint hope of retaining the trophy.

Hoddle sympathised with the recent injuries to players that have beset his mentor, Arsene Wenger. But after witnessing the determination of Ferguson's team he believes the trophy is on the way back to Old Trafford. "United could still throw it away, but they're in pole position," he said.

MORE ABOUT

Arsenal

United win tips scales

Read More