I suppose I better get it over with.
Once again, Arsenal are the architects of their own demise. Just as in midweek, when a slow and casual start almost saw us come a cropper against Huddersfield, I knew then that if start like that against better teams that will be it. And so it proved.
Instead of getting straight at a United we all knew would sit back and wait for their chance, we pushed the ball languidly around the midfield with a frightening casualness and lack of concentration. Those traits meant that within 11 minutes, we were 2-0 down from Manchester United's only two ventures into our half. Possession is everything, until you lose it - with Arsenal we lose it because we give it away.
At 2-0 down I still believed we could win this, so did the players no doubt because from then on it was Arsenal all the way. On any other day we would have come away at worst with a point, more likely the win but what Arsenal players seem to forget - unlike supporters - fate often conspires against you and yesterday, thats what it did.
Not only were we thwarted by a ten man defence and a keeper in inspired form, it was arms and legs and heads and torso's and posts and crossbars and even ourselves - fate decided that game wasn't going to go our way no matter how hard we tried.
The stats show that rarely if ever would you find a team lose with such impressive figures:
Arsenal - 75% possession - 12 corners - 33 shots - 2 keeper saves
United - 25% possession - 1 corner - 8 shots - 14 keeper saves
Like I've always said, the best stats in the world mean fuck all if you don't win.
We can blame our defence for the errors which led to the goals but I can't fault our effort and determination trying to rectify the situation, again it must be very rare to say your team played brilliantly for 80 minutes but lost a game 1-3.
Once again, Arsenal now have to settle for a challenge on top four and not the title, it's no wonder our supporters get so irate.
