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Overmars opens up the race
By Colin Malam | |
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Man Utd (0) 0 Arsenal (0) 1 THIS was the day and the game that confounded all who were foolish enough to believe the title race was over as early as Christmas. The only consolation for the pundits who crowned Manchester United as champions so prematurely is that, unlike a generous Manchester bookmaker, they do not have to count their mistake in hard cash. Fred Done, the local bookie who has already paid out on United winning the title, could yet be proved right, of course. They still enjoy a six-point lead over Arsenal with the sands of the season running low. Their goal difference is also so superior to Arsenal's that it is worth an extra point. Yet only the very committed or the very brave would bet against the London club catching then now. The late goal by Marc Overmars that brought Arsenal a richly deserved victory here means they are in a position not simply to draw level with United but to overtake them. They will do so if they make the most of the three games they have in hand, and their current form is such that there is every chance they will exploit them to the full. The team George Graham built, and Arsne Wenger has refined so impressively, have lost only one of their last 18 games. As Wenger said afterwards: "What we've done since January shows consistency, and consistency for me is quality. This result is a big satisfaction for me because we look a real team now." United, by comparison, are in disarray. They have won only four of their last 13 matches in all competitions, are playing without confidence and are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the weight of their heavy workload. Yesterday, manager Alex Ferguson admitted that even a squad as extensive as his were not strong enough to offset the effect of injuries to key players such as Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Gary Pallister and Nicky Butt. Worse still, further damage was sustained yesterday. Peter Schmeichel pulled a hamstring making one of his late forays upfield in an attempt to help out his forwards and will miss the second, delicately poised leg of United's European Cup quarter-final against Monaco here on Wednesday. The injury could be bad enough to keep the influential Danish international goalkeeper out of action for five weeks. In addition, Phil Neville and Ronny Johnsen aggravated existing injuries and are doubtful for the second of the two matches - yesterday's and the return against Monaco - that Ferguson said in the match programme would shape United's season. Not only that, but the result itself - the second defeat they have suffered at home this season - was hardly calculated to lift their spirits. More worrying still, if this match was regarded as a full dress rehearsal for the renewal of hostilities with Monaco, United found it extremely difficult to breach Arsenal's magnificently solid defence without the aid of the recuperating Giggs. Lacking the Welshman's verve, pace and vision, the defending champions' attacks rarely rose above the predictable; so it was hardly surprising to hear that Ferguson may gamble on Giggs' hamstring on Wednesday. United's loss yesterday was underlined by the menace given Arsenal's attacks by the pace and trickery of Overmars on the left. The Dutch international might easily have had a hat-trick as he tormented the right side of United's defence, especially in the first half. For some reason, Ferguson elected to mark Overmars with the young and inexperienced John Curtis, and a measure of control was not established until the job was handed over to Phil Neville late in the first half. Going outside or inside Curtis with equal facility during the first 45 minutes, Overmars chipped a shot a foot wide of the far post, surprised Schmeichel with a swerving shot of sudden violence and then jabbed the ball into the side-netting after bursting between Curtis and Gary Neville. He should also have won a penalty when the desperate Curtis clearly brought him down without punishment from the referee, Alan Wilkie. While Ray Parlour might also have scored after being put through by Dennis Bergkamp, United were reduced to preying on Arsenal's mistakes for a sight of goal up to the interval. Alex Manninger had to come off his line twice, to block shots from Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole, after Lee Dixon had given the ball away and then when he and Nigel Winterburn unwisely tried to catch Cole offside on the half-way line. United acquired a better balance and a greater sense of purpose in the second half, after seven minutes of which the naturally left-sided Ben Thornley came on to end Curtis's miserable second start for the club. Yet, for all the hot air that was generated, Tony Adams, Martin Keown and the other partnership at the core of Arsenal's victory, Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira, made sure Manninger, 20, did not have a real save to make. As United committed themselves more and more to winning the game, Arsenal began to exploit the space opening up at the other end. Schmeichel had to save well from Remi Garde and Nicolas Anelka, the substitutes used to freshen up the Gunners' midfield and attack, either side of the decisive thrust by Overmars 11 minutes from the end, when United were trying to regroup after the loss of Phil Neville and Johnsen. The winning goal started with a flighted pass from Keown inside his own half. Bergkamp's head flicked it on and Anelka's head offered Overmars a clear run at goal. Heading the ball forward himself, the little man accelerated away smoothly from all challenges and calmly steered the ball into the far corner as Schmeichel came out in vain to challenge him. Game on, as they say. _________________________________________________________________ Man Utd (0) 0 Arsenal (0) 1 Overmars 79. Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen (May 79), Beckham, Cole, Sheringham, P. Neville (Solskjaer 77), Scholes, Berg, Curtis (Thornley 52). Subs Not Used: McClair, Van Der Gouw. Booked: G. Neville, Sheringham. Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Adams, Bergkamp, Overmars, Wreh (Anelka 66), Keown, Parlour (Garde 70), Petit. Subs Not Used: Grimandi, Lukic, Hughes. Booked: Anelka, Adams, Dixon. Att: 55,174 Ref: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street). _________________________________________________________________ March 15 1998 FOOTBALL Overmars swoops to conquer Joe Lovejoy at Old Trafford Manchester United 0 Arsenal 1 ONE-NIL to the Arsenal for the second time in four days, and now you had better believe them - they could well win the League. Marc Overmars settled the crunch before lunch with his 11th goal of an increasingly influential season, thereby trimming United's lead at the top of the table to six points. The Gunners, having zeroed in on their target, possess the potentially decisive advantage of three matches in hand. By deservedly completing the double over the defending champions, whom they beat 3-2 at Highbury in November, Arsène Wenger's confident, combative team have thrown open a title race on which the book was closed a fortnight ago. It was not lost on Tony Adams, and the other survivors of the George Graham era, that the last time they won at Old Trafford, in 1989, they went on to win the League. There was more than a hint of a sea of change about a thoroughly entertaining match which, for once, lived up to the hype and hullaballoo. Arsenal's last defeat in the championship was back on December 13, whereas United have won only four of their last 13 in League and cups. The strengthening impression is that the marathon men in the leaders' slipstream may well go on winning - and that the front-runners are just as likely to go on dropping points. Alex Ferguson accepted that this was "a major result". A dispiriting afternoon for the United manager and his players was compounded by an injury to Peter Schmeichel, who damaged a hamstring in a desperate late foray upfield and will be out for at least a month, starting with the second leg of the European Cup quarter-final at home to Monaco on Wednesday. In many ways, it was a tale of two wingers, one who played and one who did not. United cannot replace Ryan Giggs, who gives them, in manager-speak, an extra dimension with his pace, guile and sheer unpredictability. Without his trickery to complement the more straightforward skills of Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole, their attacks are comparatively easy to read and contain. In the Welshman's absence, Arsenal had the cleverest forward on the field in Overmars, who is beginning to look like a snip at the £7m Wenger paid Ajax last summer. Already lacking Giggs, Gary Pallister and Roy Keane, United had also lost Nicky Butt with a calf injury, and Ferguson had to shuffle his pack again. He left out Brian McClair, and played Paul Scholes and Ronnie Johnsen in midfield, only to have them muscled out of it by Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and Ray Parlour. By moving Parlour in from his customary station wide on the right, Wenger won the numbers game in the central crucible. John Curtis, another youth-scheme product, was drafted in for only his second start in the League, but the decision to play the novice at right-back was a puzzling one, exposing him to ordeal by Overmars. The 19-year-old had a chastening 52 minutes before substitution put him out of his misery. After their battling victory away to Wimbledon in midweek Arsenal were, in the vernacular, "up for it". Brimming with self-belief from the start, it was apparent that they genuinely thought they could win. Like Graham's champions of '89 and '91, they are not the prettiest team to watch, but they are impressively competitive, and they do not lose many. Four in fact, to United's seven. As ever, their success is founded on an organised, resolute defence. In Martin Keown and Adams, both superb here, they possess the best pair of centre-halves in the country, and Lee Dixon, at right-back, is playing at least as well now as when he was winning caps for England. The European Cup may be the Mancunian priority, but the 55,000 inside Old Trafford begged to differ. They arrived yawning, but a bristling atmosphere soon blasted the sleep from those tired eyes. First out of the traps, Arsenal might have been two goals to the good, and should certainly have had a penalty, before the first half reached its mid-point. Having identified young Curtis as United's Achilles heel, they channelled nearly everything down the left, where Overmars slalomed through at will. Early on he rounded Schmeichel but shot tantalisingly wide of the far post. The 'keeper then parried his explosive shot from 25 yards and a third incursion was terminated by a clip of the ankles - rash evidence of Curtis's discomfiture. The refusal of an obvious penalty was almost as culpable as Mike Riley's reaction when Gary Neville scythed down Barnsley's Andy Liddell in the FA Cup. Overmars, darting between Curtis and Gary Neville, shot into the side netting from close in and Parlour blasted wastefully over with Christopher Wreh unattended in front of goal. Phil Neville was forced to change places with Curtis, and only Arsenal's inaccuracy was keeping United in it. When Overmars spurned another good chance, hooking the ball wide of the gaping net with Schmeichel stranded off his line, even Wenger started to wonder whether his team might be punished for their profligacy. The continuing absence of Ian Wright points up their one obvious weakness, the lack of goals from other positions. The winning goal came after 79 minutes. Keown's long clearance was headed on by Bergkamp then Anelka to Overmars, who slotted it coolly across Schmeichel and into the far corner. A dramatic finale had something of everything before David Beckham fired a last-minute free kick just over, and that was that. Ferguson was "very disappointed" but admitted "they deserved it". Wenger had no doubts where the match had been won and lost: "They [United] were without Keane, Butt and Giggs in midfield, three very important players." And the championship? "There is great confidence and spirit in our team now. Mentally, as well as physically, we are very strong. But I don't think United have lost the title today." Watching the talismanic Schmeichel hobble away, the departing hordes were not so sure. Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, Irwin, Johnsen (May 79), Beckham, Cole, Sheringham, P Neville (Solskjaer 77), Scholes, Berg, Curtis (Thornley 52). Unused: McClair, Van Der Gouw. Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Adams, Bergkamp, Overmars, Wreh (Anelka 66), Keown, Parlour (Garde 70), Petit. Unused: Grimandi, Lukic, Hughes. Booked: Anelka, Adams, Dixon. Scorer: Arsenal: Overmars (79 min) Booked: G Neville (27min), Anelka (86min), Keown (89min). Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street) Attendance: 55,174. Copyright 1998 The Times Newspapers Limited. _________________________________________________________________ News Update March 15 1998 FOOTBALL Hugh McIlvanney on the injury crisis that is threatening to destroy Manchester United's challenge for glory at home and abroad Ferguson has to break the pain barrier SUDDENLY a season that many had seen as a triumphal procession is fraught with dark possibilities for Manchester United. If they are granted no respite from the bombardment of injuries that has distorted the shape and form of their team, the promise of glory could dissolve into a nightmare of frustration. Obviously Alex Ferguson is the last manager to give house room to such pessimistic imaginings, but the realist in him will recognise that he is coping with the beginnings of a crisis, some crucial days in which the physical damage suffered by key players could make a casualty of his dreams of combining a fifth Premier League title with the crowning achievement of success in the European Cup. Yesterday's defeat at Old Trafford not only left the championship, at least theoretically, at the mercy of Arsenal but alarmingly increased the injury problems threatening United's prospects of gaining the victory over Monaco in Manchester on Wednesday night that would earn a place in the semi-finals of the greatest continental competition. Even the 79th-minute goal with which Marc Overmars put Arsenal just six points behind the leaders in the table, with three matches in hand, may not be remembered more painfully than the later moment when Peter Schmeichel's attempt to impersonate a striker around the opposition's penalty area ended with him so severely disabled that he is likely to be out of action for five weeks. Schmeichel's decision to charge upfield to compete for a corner as part of the frantic search for an equaliser was perhaps acceptable (such sorties express the extreme competitiveness that helps to raise him above the standards of other goalkeepers), but it was absolute folly to continue scuffling in an advanced position, and his badly judged challenge on Dennis Bergkamp may prove destructive to much more than a hamstring. The depth of United's fitness difficulties was demonstrated by the fact that they had already used the three substitutes permitted when Schmeichel was hurt. There were only four minutes of stoppage time remaining and the cripple managed to hop and limp through them without any material cost to his team. But his absence on Wednesday could be a savage blow to the confidence of United, especially as Ferguson already knew he would have to juggle his reduced outfield squad desperately against Monaco in pursuit of the fluency and penetration so conspicuously missing yesterday. He felt that, although Arsenal's win was merited, the makeshift formation he was obliged to field could have held out until the end but for the enforced removal of Phil Neville and Ronny Johnsen in the 77th and 78th minutes respectively. It was, Ferguson said, the period of confusion caused by a double flurry of positional adjustments in defence that produced vulnerability. "Our failure to regroup quickly enough was the decisive factor in the match," he insisted. "You cannot deny Arsenal's right to the victory. They deserved it. But basically this match was about strength. "Injuries had left us with a midfield which was not, by any stretch of the imagination, the kind we would have been expected to put out there. And even one of the regulars who played until the end, Paul Scholes, was carrying the effects of his knee injury. I felt sorry for the players. They did quite well in the circumstances but they just didn't have the strength to beat Arsenal." Nothing he said was intended to obscure the essential superiority the opposition exhibited through most of the game, particularly in the middle of the park, where Patrick Vieira was consistently powerful and his French compatriot Emmanuel Petit dominated with stylish authority. At the front, too, Arsenal were more direct and penetrative, never more so than when Overmars had the ball. He was immeasurably the most menacing attacker on the field, and with a shade more luck might have settled the outcome before half-time. Overmars was richly entitled to both his goal and the tribute from his manager, Arsène Wenger, that defined him as "a big player" who performs best on the most demanding occasions. Copyright 1998 The Times Newspapers Limited. _________________________________________________________________ March 15 1998 FOOTBALL Up for grabs TITLE RUN-IN WHISPERS of an Arsenal League and FA Cup Double have blossomed into lusty cheers after their 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, writes Jim Munro, football editor. United's lead at the top of the Premier League was reduced to six points when their would-be usurpers plundered the narrowest of victories in a tight and testy game that had been billed as the battle for the championship. Marc Overmars became the looter-in-chief 11 minutes from time, sprinting onto a flicked header from Nicolas Anelka to fire a low, accurate drive through the legs of Peter Schmeichel in goal, securing the win. To heighten United's anxiety, Schmeichel limped from the field at the final whistle having torn a hamstring. He will miss the European Cup quarter-final with Monaco on Wednesday, but of more importance to United's title aspirations, he could be an absentee for much of the remainder of the season. Schmeichel was left stranded in the Arsenal half, clutching his right leg, having moved upfield for a corner late in the game. "There was nothing wrong with Peter coming up for the corner," said Alex Ferguson, United's manager. "He has often done that before when we have been losing. "But when they broke, he had to chase back and although he's fast and fit, he injured his hamstring and it is likely to keep him out for five weeks. He is definitely out of Wednesday's match against Monaco. It is a terrible blow for us." In the title run-in, Arsenal have three games in hand with nine points available, enough to overhaul the leaders, but Arsène Wenger, their French coach, was typically level-headed in his summary of a day's work well done. "Manchester United have a small advantage because we have to take the points available from the games we have in hand," he said, "and that won't be easy. Every game is very difficult, but the most important job is done. "We had more chances than Manchester United and put in a solid defensive performance. Both teams lacked sharpness because we've played many games in recent weeks but if you count the chances we had we deserved the three points." And on the possibility of Arsenal wrestling the championship from United's grip: "I have believed it always and the players believe they can do it. It makes it very exciting for everybody in England now." While Arsenal maintained the momentum of their pursuit, the chasing pack did little better than stumble through the afternoon. Liverpool were put on the rack at White Hart Lane, but snatched a dramatic equaliser a minute from time through Steve McManaman in a 3-3 draw with Tottenham, Chelsea lost the lead at West Ham to go down 2-1, and Blackburn were beaten 1-0 at Everton. TITLE RUN-IN Manchester United March 28 Wimbledon (H) April 6 Blackburn Rovers (A) April 10 Liverpool (H) April 18 Newcastle United (H) April 27 Crystal Palace (A) May 2 Leeds United (H) May 10 Barnsley (A) Arsenal March 28 Sheffield Wednesday (H) March 31 Bolton Wanderers (A) April 5 Liverpool (A) April 11 Newcastle United (H) April 13 Blackburn Rovers (A) April 18 Wimbledon (H) April 25 Barnsley (A) April 29 Derby County (H) May 2 Everton (H) May 10 Aston Villa (A) Copyright 1998 The Times Newspapers Limited. _________________________________________________________________ Man United v Arsenal 14/03/98 11.15 Man United (0) 0 Arsenal (0) 1 FT Overmars 79 Who said it was all over? Not Arsenal, and after this the Premiership could be ending up in North London after all. The Gunners had not triumphed in the Theatre of Dreams since the 1990 ``Battle of Old Trafford'' - the season which ended in George Graham's side being crowned as kings of the championship castle. But now Arsene Wenger must begin to believe the glittering prize in within his grasp after the most deserved of triumphs over a United side who have lost their way. Marc Overmars was the agent of United's destruction, the flying Dutchman ghosting through to plant his 11th of the season past Peter Schmeichel 11 minutes from time. Yet nobody at Old Trafford could really begrudge Arsenal their victory after a match which they had dominated from the start, showing real quality, real belief, United out-thought and out-fought. Only poor finishing had kept United in it as Alex Ferguson's side were a pale shadow of the side who had seemed on course to romp home just weeks ago. But with time running out, Dennis Bergkamp and substitute Nicolas Anelka linked up to put Overmars into the box with United caught square. Overmars had missed three great chances before hand, but not this time, drilling low past into the net to clinch the points and leave Wenger's men six points behind with three games in hand, their destiny in their own hands. United have now lost seven Premiership games - one more than Ferguson's ``maximum'' - and as Arsenal celebrated their triumph, Ferguson's fears increased, Phil Neville damaging a hamstring and Peter Schmeichel hobbling off with a knee problem sustained augmenting the attack. And make no mistake, Arsenal deserved it. Before the game the usual cocksureness of the United fans was missing, a slight sense of foreboding floating around Old Trafford. The absence of Nicky Butt contributed to that, and without the England man Ferguson drafted in John Curtis at right back, shoved Gary Neville into the centre and put Ronny Johnsen in midfield. But what United clearly lacked was width and with Arsenal typically rugged, resilient and resourceful, that looked to be a crucial factor. When the home side did push forward they foundered on the defensive rocks of Tony Adams and Martin Keown, while the Gunners were everything the champions were not. Simple balls over the top, looking to exploit the pace of Overmars and Christopher Wreh, unhinged United with worrying ease, watching Monaco coach Jean Tigana justified in a quiet smile of anticipation. While Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira were quietly effective, blocking the holes and throttling David Beckham and Paul Scholes' creative impulses, Ray Parlour's work down the right emphasised what United were lacking. Although it was down the other flank that Arsenal came closest, Curtis' inexperience exposed by Overmars. In the 14th minute an exchange of passes with fellow Dutchman Bergkamp sent the winger away clear, Overmars nipping the ball beyond Schmeichel but taken too wide and drifting his effort from an acute angle across the face of goal. It was a warning shot, but one not heeded by the home side, Overmars, given too much space, testing Schmeichel from 25 yards. United, with Phil Neville looking like a converted full-back on the left, were getting nowhere, yet might have been gifted the lead when Lee Dixon unaccountably passed across goal straight to Andy Cole. Adams moved across to block, but only for the ball to fall perfectly to Sheringham, who knew he should have done better than drive at the quick-rushing Alex Manninger. Within a minute Bergkamp's super ball inside Curtis for Overmars should have brought a penalty as the England under-21 man mistimed his tackle, Arsenal furious at Alan Wilkie's shake of the head. But still the Gunners were in charge, and Wenger must have wondered how they failed to go in ahead. Wreh's flick to Parlour was fed on to Overmars, who sped between Curtis and Gary Neville to poke past Schmeichel but into the side-netting, and then Parlour ghosted on to Bergkamp's header but again failed to hit the target. The misses might have been costly if Cole, released by Schmeichel's long throw with Arsenal expecting a flag, had not struck at Manninger, but still the visitors were on top. And the half ended with a move that summed them up. Adams ended a United attack and five passes later Wreh, fed on the right by Parlour, pulled back for Petit's first-timer to fly a fraction over the top with Schmeichel a spectator. Ferguson acted at the break, sending Phil Neville to right-back with Curtis swapping to the left, but only for the seven minutes before Ben Thornley entered the fray, and at least United, now with a natural left-sider, had more conviction. No more penetration though, Manninger superbly protected as Arsenal held with relative ease, still probing for the chance themselves. It came - and went - in the 62nd minute, Vieira caressing a dinked lob over the top for Overmars, who momentarily lost the ball as it dropped 12 yards out before touching over Schmeichel but wide of the gaping target. Wreh made way for Anelka with 24 minutes left, although it needed an outstanding tackle by Keown to prevent Cole finding Sheringham in front of goal. Wenger clearly felt the extra pace of his young protege might be the key, and Anelka had, after all, scored the opener in the November win at Highbury. United seemed, at last, to be putting it together. Adams robbed Cole in the act of shooting, Thornley's effort when the ball fell to him not far wide, and when Remi Garde replaced Parlour, Wenger seemed to be settling for a draw. Not so. Anelka showed what might be when rifling a drive over the top and then Garde sprinted down the right to thud one at Schmeichel from Overmars' pass. Phil Neville went off feeling his hamstring with 15 minutes left, Johnsen briefly reverting to defence as Ole Solksjaer came on before David May replaced him. And perhaps that was the crucial error. May had not touched the ball when Bergkamp's touch found Anelka, whose overhead pass sent Overmars into the box. This time, at last, Overmars was decisive and clinical, the finish brooking no argument. Anelka, racing past Dennis Irwin, could have finished it off five minutes later, Schmeichel saving with his legs before joining the frantic late siege. But the Dane only succeeded in damaging his knee trying to chase back from the Arsenal, and even a pitch protest - ended by Nigel Winterburn grabbing the miscreant - did not unhinge the visitors. This time United could not rescue themselves. The title race is alive again and Ferguson's Champions' League worries are massive. All changed, changed utterly. Man United: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen (May, 79), Beckham, Cole, Sheringham, P. Neville (Solskjaer, 77), Scholes, Berg, Curtis (Thornley, 52). Subs not used: McClair, Van Der Gouw. Booked: G. Neville, Sheringham. Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Winterburn, Vieira, Adams, Bergkamp, Overmars, Wreh (Anelka, 66), Keown, Parlour (Garde, 70), Petit. Subs not used: Grimandi, Lukic, Hughes. Booked: Anelka, Adams, Dixon. Attendance: 55,174. Referee: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street). _____________________________________________________________________ Overmars fires Gunners to victory over United LONDON, March 14 (AFP) - The race for the English Premiership title took a fresh twist on Saturday when a late goal by Dutchman Marc Overmars gave Arsenal a dramatic 1-0 win over leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford. Winger Overmars, a constant threat to United throughout the game, coolly buried the winner on 80 minutes after a neat flick-on by substitute Nicolas Anelka sent him clear through on goal. Arsenal's victory, their first at Old Trafford since 1990, puts them firmly in contention for the title and they are now just six points behind United with three games in hand. Arsene Wenger's side were up against the best home record in the league. United had conceded just six goals in the Premiership at Old Trafford and the Londoners had not scored at the 'Theatre of Dreams' since 1991. But Overmars' goal proved a fair reward for the Gunners, unbeaten in the League for three months, who were much the better side for most of the match. United have not won any of the four matches they have played this month. Arsenal almost scored after 13 minutes when Dennis Bergkamp released his compatriot Overmars down the left and the winger dribbled past United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel before shooting just inches wide from the acute angle. Overmars went close again 10 minutes later with a powerful drive which Schmeichel did well to keep out. But a clumsy error by Arsenal's veteran full back Lee Dixon almost gifted United a goal they didn't deserve. Dixon gave the ball away to Andy Cole, who was tackled by Tony Adams, but the ball fell to Teddy Sheringham who saw his low shot superbly saved by rising Austrian star Alex Manninger in the Gunners' goal. Bergkamp then released Overmars down the left again and the Gunners unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty after he went down under a challenge from Curtis. Overmars went close again on the half hour when he tricked his way through the United defence only to shoot into the side netting. The visitors, who beat United 3-2 at Highbury in November, continued to create most of the chances and a minute later, Ray Parlour broke down the right but lifted the ball over the advancing Schmeichel and the United goal. Cole was in an offside position when he received Schmeichel's long kick on 38 minutes, but the assistant referee did not flag and the United striker ran through only for for Manninger to save impressively. After 61 minutes Overmars was again just inches away from opening the scoring after Emmanuel Petit found him in the box with an exquisite chipped pass. Ronnie Johnsen fired just past the angle from a fine United move before Scholes blazed over from Thornley's cross. But Overmars finally broke the stalemate 10 minutes from time when he burst on to Anelka's flick to score past Schmeichel in the bottom corner. It was his 11th goal of the season. United, who face Monaco in a European Cuip quarter-final on Wednesday night, must be worried by their slump. In their last nine Premiership matches they have scored only nine times and taken only 11 points. |
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