The Gulf ain't as wide as it seems to be

The final grand slam weekend of the season has drawn to a close. Bookies certainly got it right. And Macca is developing amazing consistency in predicting the scoreline in Arsenal- Manchester United clashes.

Both United and Chelsea suffered contrasting defeats away at the Emirates and Anfield respectively. Chelsea were decimated in defence, flowless in midfield and toothless in attack. Carragher in particular nullified Drogba's threat. Ballack still is in no man's land and I'm finding it difficult to decide the slowest to adapt to EPL, Ballack or Sheva. Liverpool were organized, but Chelsea's makeshift defence was hassled by the industrious Kuyt and at-times-annoying-at-times-brilliant Crouch. And one thing I can't stand is Jose whining about squad size and complaining that he cannot play with school kids.It just simply infuriates me. But for someone who got Maniche as back-up for half a season, this should have not been the most shocking words we would hear. I believe Jose doesn't know a s*** about academies and home grown talent. And Shameless Kenyon says they would become the biggest club by 2014. Worse for Jose, Roman also feels Chelsea should nurture academy players. I read a lot in recent times about their young attacking Israeli, Ben Sahar. He ain't getting a chance. And Wenger himself admits Lassana Diarra would have been a player he would have liked to have. He is not in the scheme of things. All Chelsea did was present their best buy for $12 million, stolen from Manchester United, the next Djemba-Djemba, Obi Mikel. Swapping Gallas for that thug would be the worst mistake Kenyon did all his life.And I pray B****** Cashley spend his Chelsea career like Beckham did at Real Madrid, no silverware.

Moving on to real footballing teams, all those who expected a goal feast including me were disappointed as it was a scrappy affair predominantly for as many as 60 minutes. United were quick to move off the blocks and started confidently. Fergie also got his tactics right by playing a fluid formation allowing United to have 5 across midfield at times. This stifled Arsenal at times and Carrick very much did "the Invisible Wall" Gilberto does for Arsenal so many times. He was quietly demonstrating his distribution skills. Though great things were expected of the hottest player in EPL currently, except for the pass to Evra, Cristiano Ronaldo was a damp squib. And whoever says he doesn't dive need not rewind their memories to more than 24 hours. Earlier in the season, a similar dive in Riverside set United up for victory with a penalty and good Samaritan Fergie backed his protege. Atleast two seasons back, the young lad was puny and there was some logic behind him getting muscled out. But he has developed good physique (anyone read that article in the Sun on the biggest book on ManU where Ronaldo is shown strutting his stuff) it is an ultimate shame.

Coming back to the game, a cagey first 40 minutes saw both sides enjoying equal possession before Rooney's long ranger and Larsson's subsequent header from the corner in the final few minutes of first half caused some flutters in the Arsenal camp. The second half started brightly for Arsenal with Cesc firing straight at Edwin from 25 yards. As they have done umpteen number of times, United caught Arsenal on the counter attack with Eboue and Cesc losing their mand Evra who delivered a crisp cross for Rooney to convert expertly with his first headed goal. But for one, I didn't expect United to sit back on the lead which cost them probably a point. When everybody was thinking from where gunners would get a goal, what with midfield being clogged with Blue shirts, Cesc atoned, with his perseverance paying off and Rosicky's perfect cross expertly screwed up by Henry evaded Neville and was into the top corner of the net from Van Persie's left foot. With six minutes to go, you could see clearly that the home side had the hunger to win. Their perseverance paid off again in the dying moments, when Henry scored one of the most memorable goals of his career, has to be the best headed goal of his career. Vidic, who had an excellent match till that point and Eboue who had a very average match till then saw a contrasting change in their fortunes.

Any thoughts that United were lucky to not get a point would lose some cognizance, when Neville escaped in the first half in what looked to be a standard penalty decision. Definitely if Rooney rapping his own knees and coming down like a house on fire in September 2004 was a penalty, this was definitely a penalty.

And how many times have we seen United nick it in the last few minutes or get lucky?Liverpool beaten by Ferdinand header in OT last season in stoppage time. Most recently, how United avoided an FA cup replay against Villa when Kiraly's clanger enabled a stoppage time win. Or the most famous Champions League win in 1999. Fergie must now realize how Bayern felt as quoted by Sun. You don't always get it your way Fergie. It's a cycle and would definitely come back to haunt you. Sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted.