Arsenal back in contention?

The way Arsenal started their match with Manchester United, it doesn't look like they are still struggling for their first win of the season. Coupled with the fact that their talismanic leader, Thierry Henry, is missing out on the action, this is a very commendable performance from Arsenal.

It is hardly comforting to their opponenets that Arsenal has risen from the ashes and is now exhibiting their usual flowing football. Manchester United on the other hand was not impressive. Ryan Giggs and Park Ji Sung was sidelined due to injuries and this may have affected the forward thrust of the team.

Arsenal got the better of the opening exchanges and were dominant in midfield. They pressed the United defence relentlessly and had a penalty as well as several goal-mouth actions denied in the first half. Adebayor had a fairly good game as a lone striker and his speed was a constant threat to the United backline. However, he will need to display more tenacity and consistency if he is to fill the boots of the great Henry.

On the United side, their talented duo, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo did not display the excellent partnership which can tear apart defences at will but instead struggled to link up. Rooney was extremely disappointing and he was substituted towards the end.

Immense expectations were resting on his shoulders for this crunch match but unfortunately, he did not rise to the occasion. Granted that the three-match hiatus had blunted his sharpness and the Celtic match has taken its toil on him but if he wants to go down in history as a great player, he has to show his killer instincts in the big matches and finish off the opponents clinically.

He still has time to blossom but he is in no way the finished product and Ferguson will do well to develop more aspects of his game and constantly remind him that he needs to improve, instead of resting on his laurels.

Soccer Pundit is disappointed that United had slipped and given up their advantage so easily. This is not championship form, period. Arsenal and Chelsea, at their dominant best, would not have made such mistakes.

It is still too early to talk about championships, but United looks shaky and the race for top spot come Christmas is still wide open....