EPL 2001/02 - Manchester United vs Arsenal

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Transcript
00:00It was a cruel twist of fate for Manchester United that Arsene Wenger's
00:04Arsenal were the visitors to Old Trafford in May 2002. A single point was
00:10all the Gunners needed to take the Premier League title off the club that
00:13had been champions for three years running.
00:18Sir Alex Ferguson named a Ruud van Nistelrooy on the bench while Diego
00:23Forlan started with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer up front. Arsene Wenger could have been
00:30excused a degree of confidence going into this match. His team had scored in
00:33every game of the season so far and were unbeaten away from home. With Thierry
00:37Henry unavailable, Kanu started up front alongside Sylvain Viltord. Officially
00:43still champions going into the match, could United keep hold of their title
00:47beyond the next 90 minutes? Your commentator is Ian Darke.
01:17And the Arsenal fans being made to feel a long, long way from a hybrid.
01:30This is aimed towards Kanu who beats Silvestre in the air and it falls to Ray
01:36Tala, scorer of that great goal in the FA Cup final and Viltord! Oh my goodness me!
01:41It took a deflection on the way through and Arsenal were very nearly ahead here
01:47as early as one and a half minutes in. It came off Laurent Blanc. It was on its way
01:55too, it was superbly struck.
02:01Mistake by Keown, lets in Diego Forlan and how he could do with a goal.
02:06He'd have quite a time to score it, wouldn't he?
02:10Solskjaer. Good football, United. Play on since the referee, as Scholes plays this in
02:18to Kean who's turned up here wide on the left. A bit of fluidity about the United
02:25line-up here. Forlan, laid off towards Scholes, who strikes it beautifully but
02:31just over the bar.
02:35And that took a deflection on the way through too. It's a United corner, the corner is
02:41taken quickly. Driven in towards the near post and he just needed a little touch
02:47on the way through. It came off an Arsenal head and it'll be another United
02:50corner. Wes Brown in there, causing the danger.
02:57Scoles, Manchester United showing signs of slipping into gear here.
03:10This is Vero. Back to Scholes. Thought about the shot instead, plays Giggs.
03:19He's asked a lot of Roy Keane, too much.
03:24I wonder what he's thinking. 36 goals, how come I'm not in the starting line-up, boss?
03:33They're making as much noise as they can, the 3,000 Arsenal fans.
03:40I think we've seen already that if Arsenal are going to pick up the championship tonight, they're going to have to do it the hard way against the very fired-up Manchester United now.
03:50Phil Neville could be in a lot of trouble for that.
03:55He went right through on Wiltor. And this is going to be at least a yellow, I would say, for Philip Neville.
04:07The United look more than stoked up at the moment.
04:14I think the referee, bearing in mind the stakes, is probably going to err on the side of caution.
04:23And by caution, I mean yellow card, rather than red.
04:29No booking. Away goes Giggs. Free kick to Manchester United.
04:38Switch up the decibel level again.
04:46And the Red Cavalry are arriving, and many of them in that Arsenal penalty area.
04:541, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 United players. And look at this, stuff going on with Scholes and Keane.
05:01Now, Scholes really has to be careful. He has been booked.
05:06The referee was lining up the free kick at the time, probably didn't see it.
05:16He's trying to keep the lid on this.
05:20Neville! Neville! Neville! Neville!
05:27And Keane's got it. It's not David Hill, I'm getting a sense of that a couple of times.
05:34Driven in low by Veron.
05:36Skidded rather nastily, too.
05:40Seaman watched it all the way through a crowd of players.
05:50Veron.
05:52So, Keane, he must be thinking, I'm not doing the right thing when I chose Arsenal.
05:57But he's got himself into a bit of a mess here.
06:00And he's rescued by Ray Parlott.
06:03Oh, you won for that, mate, I'm sure he's sane.
06:06Parlott, so much the unsung talent, has been with the club for a decade or more now.
06:13And it won't quite fall for Veron, who was on the far side.
06:19Scholes battling away, there's absolutely no doubting Manchester United's passion.
06:24And it won't quite fall for Veron, who was on the far side.
06:30Scholes battling away, there's absolutely no doubting Manchester United's passion.
06:35APPLAUSE
06:46Ball out.
06:51Van Averaam working so hard to try to make things happen.
06:54It was a glorious ball for Veron, who tried to ban one, took a deflection on the way through.
06:58Corner to United.
07:06There's no Beckham out here.
07:08Various players trying to fill the role, Veron's among them.
07:14And an Australian Beckham-style corner there.
07:18Giggs with the corner for Manchester United.
07:22FULL-TIME WHISTLE
07:28Stay, stay!
07:33Phil Neville, good little run here from Solskjaer, but very, very quickly read by Campbell.
07:51FULL-TIME WHISTLE
07:54Wall, Keane huffing it forward.
08:00Keane, on the volley, speculative, on target, but right down David Seaman's throat.
08:07It's going to be two minutes of added time at the end of the half here.
08:15I'm sure we're going to see him later at some point, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
08:21FULL-TIME WHISTLE
08:28FULL-TIME WHISTLE
08:30Nothing really quite rhyming for either side.
08:34It's been a battle being won by the tacklers and coverers, but here's Ashley Cole.
08:41Jungberg, Cole again, into a good area, but nobody that far forward to attack it.
08:51FULL-TIME WHISTLE
08:56We're going to get the whistle any time now.
09:01FULL-TIME WHISTLE
09:02That's it, Arsenal at the moment on course for the one point they need to complete the double tonight.
09:11It's been gritty, feisty, back-to-the-wall kind of stuff, particularly from Arsenal,
09:17who've defended very, very well. Burning commitment from Manchester United,
09:22but so far they are being denied.
09:25But at half-time here, Manchester United nil, Arsenal nil.
09:31FULL-TIME WHISTLE
09:34FULL-TIME WHISTLE
09:41No changes for either side at half-time, as Wiltor makes a really penetrating run
09:47right at the start of the half.
09:49And he's caught United by surprise for a moment there,
09:52it was Scholes who bit in with the challenge.
09:57Wiltor who scored a hat-trick against Manchester United.
09:59Manchester United reserves, really, in the league cup earlier on in the season.
10:10Edou with the corner kick, which almost reached Keownan.
10:13Missed cue by Wiltor.
10:18United, of course, love to break, but Arsenal seem wise to that
10:22and are not pushing too many players forward.
10:26Arsenal who won the corresponding fixture at Highbury by three goals to one.
10:31Two from Thierry Henry and one from Freddie Youngberg,
10:35after Paul Scholes had given United the lead.
10:38That was during that phase of the season when Manchester United
10:41just did not look themselves at all.
10:45The phase of the season which, indeed, is now costing them so dearly.
10:50Scholes just about beat Youngberg with the fastball,
10:53Neville down the line and Forlan is onside.
10:56Played it towards Veron who couldn't quite find his feet
10:58and it fell nicely for Seaman in the end.
11:02That was a sweeping Manchester United move.
11:06Of some quality.
11:20Youngberg got in with an interesting little challenge.
11:25Here is Youngberg.
11:27Feeds Wiltor.
11:30Youngberg again.
11:32Two of them working it between them and they've still got it, too,
11:35with Wiltor this time.
11:38Another player is beginning to arrive, one of them is Edou here.
11:41On his left foot as well and it nearly broke in the middle there for Kanu.
11:49And it took a deflection somewhere along the line off a United boot
11:53because it's a corner kick.
11:55You could hear a pin drop, I would think, around here if Arsenal score.
12:01Except for those little 3,000 fans locked away in the corner of the ground.
12:05Gunners fans.
12:07Bartosz.
12:08Looked like he was foul on the way through.
12:10It was Giggs who completed the clearance.
12:13And a free kick given to the challenge on the goalkeeper.
12:20Manchester United, remember, were in ninth place just before Christmas.
12:24Ten to one shots for the title.
12:26Since then they've won 18, drawn one, lost two.
12:30An amazing run, but it looks like it's not going to be quite good enough for them.
12:34Here's Silvestre.
12:37Good-looking ball in, two towards Forlán.
12:39Did that come off Campbell? Giggs.
12:41They'll get the corner this time, Manchester United.
12:50Five corners apiece as Giggs takes this one for Manchester United.
12:54A miscue really by Kanu.
12:57There's to Philip Neville.
12:59Véron, deft little flick.
13:01Neville does want to make something of it, there's nobody that deep in the redshirt.
13:20That's a mistake by Bartosz.
13:22It's fallen to Wiltor.
13:23Great recovery challenge by Wes Brown,
13:26who needed to make that.
13:27Bartosz there, almost led Arsenal in.
13:32It's only going to take a moment like that, you sense,
13:35to decide things here tonight.
13:38Here's Parler.
13:40Is he going to let another of those long shots go like he did in the cup final?
13:44He was shaping that way, it was about that range too.
13:47Down goes Giggs.
13:49And the referee was just waiting to see whether any advantage accrued.
13:58Giggs.
14:00Giggs.
14:02Giggs.
14:04Giggs.
14:06Kanu is one of those who's been booked.
14:09Only Arsenal playing back so far.
14:14Here's Forlan.
14:18Lovely quick feet from the Uruguayan.
14:22They finish disappointing.
14:25And Arsenal fans, I'm sure,
14:27are starting to count down the clock now,
14:30and are leaving their 35 minutes away
14:34from winning the championship to go with the FA Cup.
14:39If it happens, it'll be the second time that Arsene Wenger
14:42has done it for the club.
14:45Now then, here's Giggs.
14:49Giggs.
14:51Giggs.
14:53Now then, here's...
14:55Wiltor.
14:57Jungberg.
14:58It's broken from him, it's Freddy Jungberg!
15:00And Wiltor must score, surely, and does!
15:03And gives Arsenal the lead!
15:05And Arsenal now,
15:07the championship is so close
15:09that they can smell it.
15:14Manchester United got themselves in a mess.
15:17Jungberg, who hadn't been in the game at all,
15:20his shot was blocked,
15:22and Sylvain Wiltor has finished it off.
15:28And almost from the exact position on this ground
15:32from where Marc Overmars scored for Arsenal in 1998
15:38on Arsenal's way to the championship,
15:40it's Wiltor who's done it.
15:43His 17th goal of the season,
15:45and a priceless one.
15:48Hugh Ruud van Nistelrooy.
15:51It's Veron who's going to come off.
15:54He is struggling with an injury.
16:04This is not what he had in mind
16:06when he signed on for another three years
16:08a few months ago.
16:10He was hoping he'd be off to Hamden next week
16:14and his beloved Glasgow for the Champions League final.
16:17That isn't going to happen.
16:20And it does begin to look here as if Manchester United
16:22will end without any trophy this season.
16:28Giggs.
16:32Keown getting it away.
16:34He's got it.
16:41Tala for Arsenal who at the moment are in the comfort zone.
16:46Vieira.
16:47Youngberg's in a lot of space wide left,
16:49he hasn't been picked up.
16:53Just about keeps it in play, does he?
16:57Mane was in the middle and Vieira
16:59almost got past Wes Brown but grounded well enough.
17:03At the moment Manchester United very much on the back foot
17:06and Arsenal standing to play here
17:08with a bit of swagger even.
17:12Loughran.
17:19Sol Campbell.
17:21And Freddy Youngberg who in three and a half weeks
17:24will be facing England in the World Cup.
17:27He's been here in Ericsson.
17:30Coach says he's a bit worried about Youngberg's form
17:33as well he might be.
17:36He hasn't scored for Sweden for three years.
17:41A trend one or two of us have continued for another month or so.
17:52He's done pretty well up there tonight, foraging away.
17:57Got the goal of course, now here's Quinton Fortune.
18:06Sculls.
18:11Youngberg.
18:13His pace is quite deceptive.
18:20Dito Cano here who engineers an opportunity
18:24and finds it just wide.
18:26Time is running out here for Manchester United.
18:29Eight minutes to go.
18:32Arsenal so close to the league and cup double
18:36and how they would love to do it here
18:39at the home of their great rivals.
18:42The side who have frustrated them so often in recent years.
18:51Sometimes for fans who suffer those frustrations
18:54the weight can make the triumph all the sweeter.
19:00And he's had enough triumphs.
19:06Still time for Manchester United though.
19:11Seven minutes to go.
19:14Giggs doesn't quite get the header he needed.
19:16Sculls has picked it up though.
19:17Van Nistelrooy wants it.
19:20Doesn't get it.
19:24No he does.
19:26It's Ruud van Nistelrooy.
19:29De Gea getting the foot in this time.
19:33Arsenal making sure that every road is a cul-de-sac.
19:55Arsenal are a goal to the good
19:57and remember a point is enough for them.
19:59They can even now afford to concede one
20:02and still be champions.
20:07Some very thoughtful faces among the Manchester folk.
20:14This I think is a knowledgeable enough football crowd
20:17to know what they're watching.
20:25And what they're watching is a very disciplined away performance
20:30by Arsenal.
20:39Here's Van Nistelrooy.
20:44Here's Ray Parler now.
20:46He's wanting Loughran to overlap down this right-hand side
20:50which he does.
20:54Philip Neville who's switched to the left-hand side now.
20:58Of the defences even pushing into midfield.
21:01Just leaving Wes Brown and Laurent Blanc and Sylvester back there.
21:06So it looks like United have switched to a three at the back.
21:13And Loughran is getting a yellow card.
21:16And it makes it six on the night.
21:20I must say I thought the sending off was almost inevitable
21:22the way it was going in the first half.
21:24Keown, difficult bounce.
21:26Falls for Solskjaer.
21:27Maybe something for United here.
21:31Comes out to Wes Brown.
21:33Who if he'd gone down there
21:35that might well have been a valid claim for a penalty.
21:38But he stayed on his feet.
21:42Well that was interesting.
21:47Brown again.
21:49All credit to him for doing that.
21:51But I just wonder whether a penalty might have been given
21:54had Brown gone to ground.
22:00They still believe.
22:01As Giggs swings in the corner.
22:03Seaman doesn't really get there.
22:05And Keown with the attempted header
22:07can't direct it goalwards.
22:10We've played over a minute and a half
22:13of the three minutes being added.
22:15It's celebration time for the fans.
22:17Not for him yet.
22:19He's seen too many matches and too many dramatic finishes.
22:25Colt will parade this into the arms of David Seaman
22:28and a few more seconds are eaten up.
22:34Arsenal are so, so close.
22:40This is a famous night in their history.
22:43An Old Trafford of all places.
22:46Giggs in towards Wes Brown.
22:49And I don't think Manchester United have got a chance
22:52to score two now.
22:53And it's Wiltor.
22:54Arsenal are going to rub United's noses in it with a second.
22:59Wide for Parler.
23:02And it deflects a bit crazily but into the arms of Fabian Barthez in the end
23:06who then gets himself involved with Lee Dixon of all people.
23:15And a million tears of emotion.
23:26Fortune the final whistle blows and Arsenal
23:29runners-up for the last three seasons
23:32are champions this time.
23:34And Arsene Wenger completes a league and FA Cup double
23:38for the second time.
23:40Backs to Sylvain Wiltor's winner.
23:44Praise be.
23:46Congratulations to the Gunners
23:49who do it on the turf of their fiercest rivals,
23:54Manchester United.
23:56Now how sweet is that
23:58for everybody connected with Arsenal
24:01who, to be fair, are getting a generous round of applause
24:05from the Manchester United fans as well.
24:09Hard for United to swallow
24:11but they've had many, many glorious successes of their own
24:15and they will not begrudge Arsenal this moment.
24:20They just wish it was happening on some other ground.
24:25Arsenal are the FA Barclaycard champions
24:30and well they've deserved it.
24:32They've scored in every game this season.
24:34They've gone through the entire campaign
24:37unbeaten away from home.
24:39The first team to do that since Preston North End in 1889.
24:47Well you just can't overstate what it means
24:51for Arsene Wenger and his players.
24:54The fulfilment of a season's work.
24:58This had been a vintage season for Arsenal
25:00who were emerging as true challengers
25:02to Manchester United's domination of the Premier League.
25:05In the end they took the title by seven points.
25:08United 10 points off the pace
25:10slipped to a disappointing third.
25:12So at Old Trafford of all places
25:14it was Arsene Wenger's night
25:16as he and thousands of the club's fans around the country
25:19celebrated the coming of a hero.