Champions League Result - Semi-Final 1st Leg
MAN UTD 1 ARSENAL 0
A convincing home performance by European champions Manchester United gave them a 1-0 lead to take into the 2nd leg of the Champions League against English Premier League rivals Arsenal.
In the first half Man Utd dominated and scored with John O’Shea, where Arsenal were caught flat footed chasing the ball and not closing down man for man. Almunia was tested numerous times and pulled off some good saves, Man U would have hoped to have made it 2-0 in the first half so at this stage you’d imagine that Wenger would have been philosophical about the 1-0 deficit.
In the second half it was more one way traffic. Christiano Ronaldo smacked the crossbar with a long range shot that dipped viciously towards the Arsenal goal. Manchester United bossed the midfield possession with neat passing between Scholes, Carrick and Giggs driving on the other big game players.
Nicholas Bendtner had a great opportunity to equalise towards the end of the match and Arsenal tried to put the home team under pressure in the final few minutes but Manchester United were just too strong for them.
So will a 1-0 lead be enough for the champions to take to the Emirates next week in order to progress to the Champions League final? I think so, as Man U seem to be peaking again just at the climax of this exciting season. If they don't Fergie will definitely look back at this match and think they should have capitalised on the form they showed with more goals...