There are several Arsenal players who can do just what Nani did and he is fully in his right to do it…but–as Gilberto put it–you can also fully expect someone that you’re taking the piss out of to give you a good kicking. Those are just unspoken rules amongst players and the ref was right for looking the other way when Gallas taught him a lesson. You wanna dance, then you pay the piper and take your chances. It will be interesting to see how he behaves in April. I would hazard a guess that SAF doesn’t play him in that game.

Oh come on, how is it disrespectful? Is it any more disrespectful to embarrass someone with skills than to go ahead and score lots more goals?

I’m an Arsenal fan but I’m a good enough loser to admit there is NOTHING wrong with showboating so long as it isn’t destructive for their own team (as in if a mistake could be costly). How many times did Henry embarrass people with kickups as he ran? All the time! And if our players can’t be embarrassed without resorting to fouls they need to grow up or get out.

Nani showed his talent yesterday, even if it was making a fool our of the Arsenal players. But the end of the day he should be critisied for his talent. The money Fergie spent on him was well worth it, he wants to put Anderson on on more aswell….
x

Let him do such things — he WILL pay — other players will not countenance such show-boating.

I’m an Arsenal fan and I had no problems with Nani showboating, it was quite cool actually. Even better when Flamini (legally) WIPED him out!

So thuggery wins the day. How dare Nani display such disrespectful skill. Perhaps if Arsen Wenker had fielded a full strength team in the first place then his team may of been show boating. Serves him right for disrespecting a formiddable opponent and disrespecting a wonderful competetion.

As for unwritten rules, I’d rather applaud joyous skills than see thugs win the day. The more flair, trickery the better.

the question here is not the fact that he has an abundance of skill that we would all enjoy him displaying. i certainly would much rather watch 22 skilful players than a bunch of goons or longballers.
the issue is perception. did he do it to rub their noses in it. even fergie percieved it that way. we all know if roy keane had been playing what his response would have been.
further - to class arsenal as thugs is ridiculous. every time they get kicked off the park by bolton or blackburn we say they’re a bunch of pussies, can’t have it both ways!

Lord forbid a bit of entertainment, in a game desgined for… errr… I forget sometimes. Quick question for the critics? Nani, juggling the ball or Chelsea vs Liverpool 0-0. I know which I’d prefer.

As an Arsenal fan, I see nothing wrong with what Nani did. It was really entertaining. He outclassed Justin Hoyte. Although I wonder if he would have been able to do the same against Sagna.

I hear what you’re say about being battered by the likes of Bolton etc but honestly what went on Saturday was petulant and pointless, lets face it at 4-0 down there was little gain to be had and kicking lumps out of the opponent was only going to lead to trouble.

I think there’s a bit of an irony when AW complains about the opposition playing ahhhh football.

This is football. Great show from Nani. I can’t understand why Gallas gets away with it. Shame on the English FA.

the article misses the point somewhat….how about highlighting Arsenal’s behaviour….yet again overlooked. Player juggles ball. Not an offence - far from it. In nearly 50 years of watching football this is the first time I’ve heard a team “offended” by a player juggling the ball. It had to be Arsenal didn’t it? All the media are going on about is Nani and his “outrageous” juggling of the ball but nobody mentions the Arsenal players lining up to cripple him - the referee stood by whilst one was hacking away at him from behind and another went in on him 10 minutes too late and missed (sums Arsenal up) had he connected Nani would now be carrying a serious injury. Only Arsenal or possibly Chelsea.

As a Gooner I see nothing wrong with what Nani did. Besides the fact that he was running at his own goal at the time I applaud it all. Both fullbacks were outclassed by miles and Nani had every right to give himself a task with a bit of practice since the opposition never showed up.

I am sad that Arsenal capitulated before the off and would like to see the rested players rebate the travelling support their costs out of players pockets. Won’t happen but perhaps we could buy some backup next time rather than bail out of competitions for a change.

Anyone remember PSV last year about this time?

as a lifelong gooner i was disappointed with some of our players behaviour. lets put some perspective on it. as i said earlier keano ruined more than 1 players career, many utd fans still gloat over the neville bros. kicking reyes from the british game. we have all had days of shame, but how short ur fans memories are.
sir alex was the coach that started the trend of fielding “weakened teams” and if memory serves even opted out of competition.
it is each teams right to field their team of choice. our so called reserve teams in the “careless cup” have been brilliant over the past three seasons. i don’t feel for a minute it would have mattered which 11 we had played on sat., utd were simply outstanding, maybe the best they have played in years, we never got a look in. so take the attaboys and stop bitchin.
as for the gallas incident - it was just a tap - historically it is the person that retaliates that gets the red card.
if i was a utd fan the thing i would be concerned about is the massive debt the yanks have incurred in building such a great team.

Nothing wrong with it, but I don’t think it’s wrong with our players going in with a hard tackle on him. If he did that to Tony Adams or Martin Keown or even if it was reversed and he did that to a Keane then that kid would have been going off on a stretcher. So lets look in the mirror before we run our mouths. Eh Manchester?

I have not understood why fergie benches Nani for Giggs. Giggs if I were a manager would only play when the versatile, penetrating, tallented, energetic, creative and thrilling Nani is injured. He is wonderful. He is better than veteran Giggs who age has caught up with.He can not penetrate this days. Simillarly, in big matches like those against chelsea, Arsenal, Lyon, I would prefer G-Sung Park to Ronaldo. Ronaldo phases off in big matches and shines in small matches. Have u noticed it ? Park shined in the Arsenal match, Ronaldo may be would not have. He gives accurate passes to strikers. He doesnt waste chances shooting like Ronaldo when he should not, he willl give it to a striker. Also Using Nani behind Rooney is better than using Tevez. I saw it in the Arsenal match. Think about it!

Nani is a great player,if he is 2 b crashed after displaying his very rare skill then thats not fair,it would mean 4 him 2 change,4 Ronaldo 2 change,Ronaldinho,Robinho and other great teasers 2 change play!if Arsenal(and any other team)cant cope with such control and skill,then perhaps they should try playing Chess instead..pull up your socks boys and stop crying over such

Tell yuo this kid should really watch his steps for his future may just be is jeopody. Ronaldo of Ac milan knows what happened to him when he was cahllenged by nesta while playing for city rivals Inter

Madigu. Give your head a shake you complete prat. Lets all threaten a footballer for being good you IDIOT. Just for the record about as intimidating a threat as Roma and the Roman invasion of Manchester mate

eamon, as a lifelong red… thanks for the perspective but… OK how many players careers did keano actually ruin and who the hell were they? Alfie Haaland (arguably) and erm… Kieran Richardson?

Reyes got the same treatment from the Neville brothers that is meted out to Cristiano Ronaldo every single weekend. The difference is that Cristiano has his little whine at the ref, gets up, and sticks the free kick in the corner of the net. What he doesn’t do is hawk himself around any club in his home country that will have him because he’s desperate to escape those nasty ruffians in England (and the club he represents there).

You’re right that we all have days of shame. Arsenal have had at least their fair share of them (step forward Martin Keown) but I don’t see that Arsenal had anything to be ashamed about on Saturday. Embarrassed, yes; but not ashamed. Time and again Wenger has put out weakened teams who have played out of their skin and Gooners have lapped it up (on the slightly dodgy premise that it must mean their first team will play even better). On Saturday, they just found their level against a decent United team. Must be disappointing, but no reason to be ashamed. It happened to us a few years ago in the Carling Cup at Highbury when we fielded a youth team and you fielded a reserves team. Result: 4 - 0.

So, you’re right that Fergie has fielded weakened teams in the past. Not usually in the FA Cup (at least not against top level opposition) but certainly in the Carling Cup. No one can blame Wenger for having his priorities sorted. The only blame that lies with him is in completely failing to motivate his players in either half of the game.

By the way, memory (in your case) does not serve. Sir Alex did not opt out of the FA Cup. The club did not comptete in the FA Cup (in 2000) only after vociferous and sustained pressure from the FA itself and the government.

Anyway, Nani… I don’t think he was trying to rub anyone’s noses in it. He was shielding the ball in the best way he knew how. If I had the skills to do that I’d never but the ball on the ground!

Chris, Nani is bloody brilliant but not yet ready to displace Giggsy. Look how many times Giggs gives the ball away. Look how often he wastes a pass. It’s a real rarity these days.

Hope ur still tuned in MaryStalin, some excellent points - nice to meet a sensible debater.
I don’t usually dwell on negatives which is why I give all the praise to utd rather than moan about how crap we played. Much as I wish it were not so - I agree with fergie that this team is better than that of 99, better rounded and more versatile and exciting with it. we also may have the opportunity in the near future to fufill the same promise with the current squad.
If I were in power players would be more protected and given the freedom to entertain, which is what most of us pay for. there are those - fat sam and others - that do not share this. they believe flair should be curtailled by aggression rather than endeavour. i am aware what ronnie endures and he handles it better now with some maturity.
my point about reyes was that this was a chosen tactic for the whole game - not befitting a team of utd’s stature.
the moments of shame i referred to were historical not about the performance on sat., the keown incident & others - hounding refs - and even wengers’ winges. i believe him to be the best coach in the modern game but almost classless in defeat.
Hate to finish on a neg., but keano “arguably”. did u read his bio? no argument. maybe u could u-tube him - quite a few there. oh and if u didn’t realise i’m irish - always loved his effort and drive - hes always someone u wanted in ur team, but along with souness 1 of the nastiest players i’ve ever seen.
long live the rivalry - hope u beat chelski in the final.

Let’s see if I got it right:

You’re told off by your coach and aggressively addressed and kicked at by the adversary for letting your talent loose?????????

And they’re not even punishing the players who intentionally kicked you????????

WHAAAAT?!?!?!?!

Was it a show-off? So what!!! That’s the stuff great football is made of…

RESPECT? Who didn’t respect who, really?

[…] rated number one on the globe. His fantastic goal against Tottenham early in the season and the impudent skills he demonstrated versus Arsenal suggest he has the temperament to become one of Manchester […]