Saturday Vision, September 3, 2011 English Premiership football 4 Comment Aldrine Nsubuga WENGER OWES IT TO Manchester United’s Anderson (left) challenges Gunner Andrey Arshavin Carrick, the Rafael twin brothers over his head. There was no hiding from his starting line up, knowing place. There was no way he could that Nemanja Vidic, AntonioVa- change the story afterwards. This If Wenger lencia and Darren Fletcher were was the night when he would stop already ruled out by injury. Equal making a fool of himself and admit had taken FERGUSON terms. that his best is not good enough. If Arsenal were going to have score line as football ethos and personality of Robin van Persie, Andrey Ar- The seven-year lie this route deafening as 8-2 the man in charge. shavin, Tomas Rosicky and Theo He had sold a lie to the world in the Premier If Wenger had taken this route Walcott, then United would avail for seven years that Arsenal have two seasons Peague is enough two seasons ago, maybe Fabregas Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Luis the best youth project in England. to last a Big Four and Nasri would still be around. Nani and Ashley Young. Johan But Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverly, ago, maybe club like Arsenal, Maybe, they would have won some Djourou, Laurent Koscielny and Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Evans who were at the tail silverware. Maybe, Wenger would Aaron Ramsey, those Gunners with and David de Gea made a mock- Fabregas and Aend of it, in the news for the entire still have his place among the elite relative experience would mix it up ery of Wenger’s preachmony. They season. But not for Arsene Wenger managers in Europe. with Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones exemplified the influence that Fer- whose penchant for headlines is and Jonny Evans. Ferguson was guson has. They played with smiles Nasri would without end. Following his burial Credit to Ferguson determined to lay Wenger bare. It’s on their faces - running, fighting, on Sunday by eternal nemesis Alex Thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson who why from where he sat transfixed in shooting, ball-winning, working still be Ferguson, he pulled off a “Jesus” on left Wenger in a trance on Sun- the stands on the visitors technical tirelessly - just like their predeces- transfer deadline day and started day and the man who bears first wing, there was no disguising the sors Paul Scholes, David Beckham, around. September with Andres Santos, witness to the Frenchman’s talents gory details of the humiliation that Phil Neville, Gary Neville and Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta and since he first arrived in England 15 he suffered at the hands of the man Nicky Butt. Yossi Benayoun. years ago, the Frenchman is start- he was once talked about in the Sir Alex had always had reserva- We are talking of a Brazilian left ing to look as though he will shed same breath. tions about the claim that Wenger back as good as Roberto Carlos, off his foolishness. If this would One moment he was biting nails, is the benchmark for youth and he a German centre back as domi- constitute a nomination, Ferguson another he was biting lips. There used this as the perfect opportunity neering as Thomas Vermaelen, a would be mine for the FIFA Fair were seconds he couldn’t bear the to punch holes in the theory. He Spanish creative midfielder as Play Award. This is one individual sight and chose to examine his would have no mercy. By the time accomplished as Cesc Fabregas accolade missing from his col- shoes instead. Arms were folded Welbeck, Rooney, Young, Nani and and an Israeli attacking play maker lection. As soon as he learnt that as though he was suffering a fever. Park were through with the eight as exciting as Samir Nasri. Great Arsenal’s line-up would not have His eyes looked teary, his hair was goals, Wenger had seen enough. experienced signings which not Fabregas, Nasri, Alexandre Song, looking greyer by the hour. He His ego was not bruised, it was only address some of the sicken- Jack Wilshere, Gervinho, Bacary didn’t say a word to Pat Rice who battered. His reputation was not ing gaps that subjected Arsenal to Sagna, Vermaelen and Abou Diaby sat alongside him like an obedient injured, it was irreparably damaged. their worst defeat in 115 years but he decided to be a man. And so servant, embarrassed to witness His philosophy of youth was not also, which could bring back an he withdrew Dimitar Berbatov, the torture of his master. This time, found out, it was destroyed. element of respectability to a squad Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Javier there were no water bottles, no that bears no resemblance to the Hernandez, Park Ji-Sung, Michael grass to stamp, no raincoat to pull [email protected] Arsenal’s performance reminds me of the infamous Comical Ali ake no mistake epicentre of it. His hat-trick was the region of £150m to improve his tion Dzeko could ask for. In the end about it; this phenomenal even if it did include a side so it was little wonder that City their 5-1 win was well deserved. was one of the late penalty. went into this game as favourites. Otherwise it is hard to believe greatest Pre- There are no two ways about it. Spurs for their part started well that Kenny Dalglish only took over mier League This is the lowest point in Arsene again with Luka Modric and Nico as Liverpool boss eight months ago. performances Geoffrey Wenger’s time as Arsenal manager Krancjar pulling the strings in Since then Liverpool have liter- of all time. and he is now learning that his central midfield and they actually ally rocketed up the table and with MYou may argue that Arsenal had Bukohore transfer policy is a very flawed piece carved out the best chances of the certain Champions League rivals little more than a B team out there of strategy. opening 30 minutes. But once Edin in disarray the Reds really do have and you would be right but the way Elsewhere Manchester City Dzeko scored his first, he would a great chance to put some day- Manchester United went about travelled to White Hart Lane to score four altogether, Harry Red- light between them and Spurs and their business and the speed, skill, take on Spurs in a game that many knapp’s team literally fell apart. Arsenal. precision and attitude they showed thought would be very tight. Credit to City who brushed Andy Carroll was surprisingly has set a high bar for the rest of the tional as they won 8-2. Since Spurs piped City to the Tottenham aside without breaking dropped for Dirk Kuyt as the Kop season. As with any great Manchester Champions League at the end sweat as Gareth Barry impressed in beat Bolton 3-1. In short, Arsenal was shocking United performance of recent years, of the 2009-10 season Roberto midfield while Samir Nasri and Da- Geoffrey Bukohore is a former but Manchester United was sensa- Wayne Rooney was at the very Mancini has spent somewhere in vid Silva provided all the ammuni- Uganda international defender.