Still up for grabs – or is it?

United’s lack of goals in first leg encounter with Arsenal may mean more than Sir Alex is letting on, argues Ravin Sampat

“I invite you to the press conference next Tuesday after the game, and I’m sure you will see our strengths of character”, were the words of Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, at Wednesday night’s press conference following Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Arsenal in the first leg encounter of the much anticipated Champions League semi-final.

Sitting with an Wenger-esque grin on his face, Arsenal’s philosopher extraordinaire was clearly in defiant mood. For 30 minutes, Manchester United were perfect. For 60 minutes, Arsenal defended well. Clearly, the importance of an away goal was not underestimated by both footballing geniuses before the showdown. Sir Alex Ferguson had spoken of his worry of the such a goal (obviously seeing as Porto had managed to secure a dramatic draw at Old Trafford) whilst Arsene Wenger conceded before the game that Arsenal’s path to the final would require that all important aggregate goal before his side could take United on at the Emirates.

However, whilst most media pundits, podcasts and self proclaimed football analysts have claimed United’s superiority have got them one step into their second Champions League Final in an row, one shouldn’t underestimate the rather bizarre situation that is unfolding in this drama of the “All-English Semi”, with Tuesday’s showdown guaranteed to bring further drama.

It would be a mistake if anyone thought this tie was over. Despite Fergie’s claims before the match that he would take a 1-0 scoreline to the Emirates, it seems the scoreline has actually had an adverse affect on United.

With European games the away goal is important, but even more so is the home leg. Home legs are those which you dominate from start to finish, ensuring you have done enough for the opposition team to feel wary about. Arsenal, for the first 30 minutes, looked like they would collapse when wave after wave of United attack came from all corners of the United team – defenders, midfielders, forwards – until the unlikely source of John O’Shea popped up to score a goal (so unlikely that Sky Sports commentators Martin Tyler and Andy Gray kept reminding us it was his birthday). It was almost as if United had decided to repeat that 4-0 drubbing they gave Arsenal last year in the FA Cup, which adversely affected Arsenal’s whole season thereafter.

Had it not been for Manuel Almunia’s heroics in thwarting Tevez (twice), Ronaldo and Rooney, United would have tied up this game in the first half, with over 45 minutes and a second leg to play.

Arsenal most definitely rode their luck, visible in their rattled players during United’s high tempo in the opening 18 minutes.

Wayne Rooney ran triangles, Carlos Tevez upset Mickael Silvestre’s judgement on long balls, and Darren Fletcher’s high paced, high octane engine prevented Song and Nasri from making Arsenal pass the ball like they do.

But United’s lack of goals should not be seen as Arsenal getting out of jail like on a monopoly board; instead, United will feel that they haven’t done enough to ensure a safer passage. From O’Shea’s goal, United could only watch as Arsenal defended more resolutely, most noticably with the performance of 19-year-old Kieran Gibbs, who showed Ronaldo a thing or two in being fearless. And with Gibb’s confidence growing, Arsenal’s confidence grew too.

Even if Adebayor looked lacklustre and Walcott looked lost at times, Manchester’s United’s second half display only produced a debatable Ryan Giggs offside ‘goal’, Cristiano Ronaldo’s thunderbolt off the bar from 33 yards, and a late but timely tackle by Bacary Sagna on the goal-bound Wayne Rooney. United didn’t create so many chances, but rather hoped Arsenal’s makeshift defence would make more mistakes.

But be that the case, Arsenal of course have it all to do in the second leg. 2-1 (the result they got in Novembers mouth watering clash at the Emirates) won’t help Arsenal – of course because of that away goal. Yet Arsenal are capable performers at home. They put three past Villerreal in the last round, and managed to put four past Porto too in the group stage.

At home, Arsenal haven’t conceded yet in the Champions League, but this game isn’t about records. What Arsenal need is a bullish performance, but one in which they play to their strenghts. Most Gooners will still be realing from Wenger’s tactics against Chelsea in the FA Cup, with his choice of Diaby and Denilson ahead of Nasri and Arshavin being called into question. With Arshavin, Van Persie, Eduardo and long term absentee Rosicky unavailable, it’s not Arsenal’s personnel that one must question, but their approach.

From the start, they must concentrate on scoring and putting the ball into United’s court. They cannot think about defending because conceding sloppy goals like they have done in their last three matches against their big rivals (Chelsea 2-1, Liverpool 4-4, United 1-0) won’t send this young team into their second Champions League Final.

Arsenal must attack and Wenger must stick to his philosophy of gung-ho rather than playing reservist football. Arsenal aren’t a team like Liverpool, who can hold onto leads in European games; Arsenal aren’t Chelsea who can park the bus at the Nou Camp and claim it was a good result; Arsenal aren’t Manchester United and let teams attack them until the final third and then destroy them on the counter attack. Arsenal are Arsenal – a team that only knows one way, and that’s going forward. If anybody thinks this tie is far from over, its far from that, because with the scoreline at 1-0, Arsenal have to do what they know best how to do – attack.

In his closing remarks, Wenger, still bullish despite knowing it could have been a lot worse, claimed “There’s a final at stake and, don’t worry, when we are playing at home and can reach a final we will be up for it. I’m confident because I know we will be on top on Tuesday.”

Whatever happens on Tuesday, for Arsenal to progress, being on top will only be a minimum requirement as Wenger chases the European trophy that has eluded him for so many years.