For all the talent Arsene Wenger has nurtured in his arsenal team, for every promising young player with seemingly unflinching comfort in possession, what his side lacked on Sunday were experienced big-game players.
While it was one of Manchester United's (relatively) lesser lights who made the difference on the scoreboard at the Emirates, Nani was in the company of men who had done it all before.
The wingers thrilling exploitation of a lax double marking effort by Samir Nasri and the ever diminishing Gael Clichy, set up Manuel Alumunia's Crucial own goal as the hapless 'keeper palmed the cross backwards before it crept inside the post.
Just five minutes later Nani was on the gallop again, released by Wayne Rooney outside his own penalty area. The Portuguese player we knew two months ago would have chosen the wrong option. But as Arsenal's title charge was fading out with the month of January, he weighted the ball perfectly into the path of the England striker who appeared to be to only person in north London not gasping for breath when he clinically side footed into the corner after a 100 meter sprint to receive the return pass.
The Gunners were just short of imploding from that point on. While there was a chance they would claw a goal back, their northern rivals were consistently the more dangerous side in attack.
Andriy Arshavin is suffering from an acute form of second season syndrome, from February to may last year he had a Midas touch, but in the long stretch of a Premier League season, his inconsistency and frequent bouts of (very un-Arsenal) selfishness have possibly revealed why it took so long for a western European club to tempt him away from St Petersburg.
The Russian could have fired his side into the lead and heaped the pressure on the visitors but either froze on the big occasion or just did not bring his shooting boots.
Cesc Fabregas at one point with the scores level seemed like he would drive his team to victory for the umpteenth time this season, along the way, formally announce that he had taken the mantle of best passing midfielder from Paul Scholes. The Veteran was left sitting on the turf twice by the young Catalunyan but Sir Alex Ferguson took little more time to switch Michael Carrick with Scholes. Fabregas was rarely seen again in attacking positions until United had gone three goals up.
Fittingly it was Carrick, receiving a lay-off from Rooney, who provided the assist for the final dagger. His ball over the top to Park Ji Sung left the Korean in control of a three on one against Clichy whose schoolboy indecision allowed United’s lucky number 13 to advance into the area and slot home.
Patrice Evra, captain for the day ahead of Edwin Van Der Sar, had been accused of insulting Arsenal last season when he said the Champion’s League semi-final was a case of "men against boys."
There was nothing in yesterdays repeat score line to suggest Evra had said anything incorrect.
While it was one of Manchester United's (relatively) lesser lights who made the difference on the scoreboard at the Emirates, Nani was in the company of men who had done it all before.
The wingers thrilling exploitation of a lax double marking effort by Samir Nasri and the ever diminishing Gael Clichy, set up Manuel Alumunia's Crucial own goal as the hapless 'keeper palmed the cross backwards before it crept inside the post.
Just five minutes later Nani was on the gallop again, released by Wayne Rooney outside his own penalty area. The Portuguese player we knew two months ago would have chosen the wrong option. But as Arsenal's title charge was fading out with the month of January, he weighted the ball perfectly into the path of the England striker who appeared to be to only person in north London not gasping for breath when he clinically side footed into the corner after a 100 meter sprint to receive the return pass.
The Gunners were just short of imploding from that point on. While there was a chance they would claw a goal back, their northern rivals were consistently the more dangerous side in attack.
Andriy Arshavin is suffering from an acute form of second season syndrome, from February to may last year he had a Midas touch, but in the long stretch of a Premier League season, his inconsistency and frequent bouts of (very un-Arsenal) selfishness have possibly revealed why it took so long for a western European club to tempt him away from St Petersburg.
The Russian could have fired his side into the lead and heaped the pressure on the visitors but either froze on the big occasion or just did not bring his shooting boots.
Cesc Fabregas at one point with the scores level seemed like he would drive his team to victory for the umpteenth time this season, along the way, formally announce that he had taken the mantle of best passing midfielder from Paul Scholes. The Veteran was left sitting on the turf twice by the young Catalunyan but Sir Alex Ferguson took little more time to switch Michael Carrick with Scholes. Fabregas was rarely seen again in attacking positions until United had gone three goals up.
Fittingly it was Carrick, receiving a lay-off from Rooney, who provided the assist for the final dagger. His ball over the top to Park Ji Sung left the Korean in control of a three on one against Clichy whose schoolboy indecision allowed United’s lucky number 13 to advance into the area and slot home.
Patrice Evra, captain for the day ahead of Edwin Van Der Sar, had been accused of insulting Arsenal last season when he said the Champion’s League semi-final was a case of "men against boys."
There was nothing in yesterdays repeat score line to suggest Evra had said anything incorrect.
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