Arsenal Midfield v United Midfield

After about 20 or so minutes in the Manchester United - Marseille game yesterday, it became very clear that neither side was prepared to take a risk going forward and give the opposition a chance to score. It was the kind of game that the commentators like calling "cagey". It was true - neither side wanted to give anything away, which resulted only in a tedious, drab draw which left pretty much everyone frustrated.

United's best effort was a Darren Fletcher snap shot which he hit into the ground proving awkward for the goalkeeper, but he dived well to save it despite seeing it late through a sea of flailing legs.

Then, probably the most interesting and curious event was Wayne Rooney looking up to see the keeper off is line only for him to attempt a Beckham style half way line goal that was easily caught.
Those two attempts were the only two that United managed to get on target - long range efforts that required no clever or defence cutting passing, no midfield creativity, no team imagination - simply a spur of the moment snap shot and an individual piece of forward thinking which in the end, both led to nothing.

Before the game, the Marseille manager Didier Deschamps claimed that this United team lacked "fantasy". Unfortunately, his comments were pretty well supported with clear evidence on the pitch last night (not that his team proved to be creative masterminds themselves).

A look at the starting midfield for Manchester United explains a lot. Darron Gibson, Darren Fletcher and Michel Carrick. They are all good midfielders, and they all do their own job - granted, not always well, but they can sure up the midfield, making it a steady area and so on. The problem is, they don't have that inventive artistry that makes Paul Scholes such a great midfielder with his superb vision, and ability to follow through that vision with his astonishing passing range. The midfield last night was left passing sideways to each other and could not find an innovative forward ball enough.

Compare United's central midfield triplet last night to Arsenal's three, Nasri, Fabregas and Wilshere, and no matter which way you look at it, even if you are the most avid United fan, the Arsenal midfield is far more dangerous, imaginative and attackingly productive.

This is why Paul Scholes is so important to United. He has the quality and vision to do what the Arsenal midfield do - find that clever ball, cut open the opposition defence - create a goal.

Unfortunately, when he came on yesterday, he was getting frustrated by the movement around him, and couldn't make the impact that was hoped for. He has been sitting on the bench all game watching the defence and midfield try hopeful long balls to no avail, with the penetrative "fantasy" that Deschamps was talking about woefully absent.

United can be better, they have proved it before this season, but unfortunately, they haven't shown it enough, especially away from home. Ferguson will certainly need to add to his midfield in the summer that is beyond doubt, especially if he is to be without Paul Scholes if he decides to retire. The United manager will also need to spend big on quality and not potential, as this is a problem that needs to be fixed sooner rather than later.

United have some tough remaining fixtures with two games against Chelsea, and one away game against Arsenal at the Emirates where the two midfields will come face to face. I still tip United for the win, as the defence is far stronger (Chris Smalling was brilliant with Vidic again yesterday), but Arsenal have a superior midfield, which is something that needs to be sorted out if the Red Devils are to challenge for all the trophies next season.

Ji Sung Park saves United, but Hargreaves' First Start Ends Badly

It should have been a great day for Owen Hargreaves - his first start since 2008, and he would have been raring to go again after so long out. The adrenaline would have been pumping, and when the Old Trafford crowd cheered his name, he would have been determined to prove the faithful fans his worth.

Unfortunately, his dream day did not materialise. After picking up an injury in the 6th minute, he left the field in the 7th minute, clutching his hamstring. Hopefully, it is just the hamstring that he has pulled, and it isn't the recurring knee injury that has kept him out for two years. That way, he would be out for a couple of weeks/months, however, that won't be of consolation to the United man, as he limped off to the all to familiar treatment room.

Luckily, the day didn't end as badly for his team. It was a pretty poor performance overall from Manchester United, who substituted Hargreaves with Bebe, and changed around the system that had been prepared for match day. Nani was absent after a groin injury he picked up against Bursaspor, and Obertan stepped in. Berbatov was also missing, so the little Mexican Javier Hernandez replaced him up front on his own.

The first goal of the game came in the 45th minute from the inform Ji Sung Park. Fletcher saw a gap in the Wolves defence and fed in Park with a deadly accurate ball, and the South Korean made no mistake with a brilliant finish.

The second half, like the first started slowly, and only half chances came to Hernandez, Obertan and Bebe, but they were all woeful in their finishing.

However, the former Manchester United striker, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake lit up his former home with a nice turn from a Miljas pass, before firing powerfully passed Van der Sar. It all became a bit desperate from then on. Bebe's bad game was confirmed as he was substituted for Macheda in the 74th minute, and Scholes came on for O'Shea, in an attacking move.

United found themselves inside the Wolves half, attacking ad attacking, but to no avail. Wolves didn't seem like cracking from the pressure, and were even able to create a few chances of their own on the break.

But as has happened so many times over the years, the immense surge at the end of United games when they need a goal became too much for Wolves, and the Red Devils punished them in the form of Ji Sung Park again.

Fletcher was again the link to Park, and the rest was a brilliantly individual goal. After beating four defenders in the area, he finished with a low drive into the bottom corner - in the 93rd minute.

Two points behind Chelsea in the League, and still unbeaten, it was a good result, but one that was very hard fought, and done by the skin of their teeth.