da bet7k： As the final whistle blew and both Manchester United and Arsenal took a point from their ‘Super Sunday’ clash it confirmed both clubs entries into next year’s Champions League. However, the overriding feeling as fans flocked out of Old Trafford was that these these two giants are pale shadows of their former selves.
da bet7： In the late 1990’s to early 2000’s these two were the dominant forces in English football winning all seven titles between 1997 and 2004, Arsenal with three and United with four trophies to their name.
When the two clashed it was almost a guarantee for fireworks, the lasting images of those matches were almost always ones of hostility; whether that was between Keown and Van Nistelrooy or between Vieira and Keane, whenever the two met it invariably decided a title and it invariably filled front and back pages.
A decade has now passed since The Gunners have won the domestic title and the rivalry between the two has almost ceased. Ferguson and Wenger were the fiercest of foes but Arsenal’s lack of success led the two to a burgeoning friendship, because Arsenal were no longer a threat.
Whilst Arsenal were trying to re-find the formula that led them to three league titles, Manchester United continued to dominate, the gap between two became more of a chasm. In the last ten years Arsenal have won once in the league at Old Trafford, failing to take maximum points in 12 of the last 13 meetings between the two outside of the capital.
However, since Sir Alex’s time at United came to its glorious crescendo, they have now begun their own slippery slide to mediocrity. Although this term under Luis van Gaal has been a marked improvement from the disaster under David Moyes, the gap between them and title challengers Chelsea and Manchester City is beginning to resemble the Grand Canyon.
Both sides now find themselves at the level below the top two and that difference must be addressed in the summer; this game was one that decided who will finish third, a damning indictment of where the two currently find themselves.
Both sets of fans must watch their sides and wish for days gone by, the days of Henry and Bergkamp leading the line for Arsenal rather than Giroud ploughing a lone furrow; the days of Ferdiand and Vidic patrolling the United defence instead of Smalling and Jones haplessly going about their work.
Chelsea against Manchester City is now the fixture that decides titles; the rivalry of the early parts of this millennium is no more. Both teams need a taste of success to reignite the spark between two of the most successful teams of the Premier League era.
The days of these two battling it out alone for the title may be over for ever, this is a new era; Chelsea and Man City’s money will ensure they can never be counted out and Mourinho is commited to building a legacy of success at Stamford Bridge.
The target for both clubs must now be to simply find themselves back in the conversation.
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