Republik Of Mancunia

Was Van Persie wrong to celebrate after Arsenal goal?
Van Persie: United fans are absolutely unbelievable
GIF: Van Persie’s celebration vs Arsenal
VIDEO: Van Persie’s goal vs Arsenal
CONFIRMED LINE-UP: United vs Arsenal
What would a defeat against Arsenal mean for United?

Was Van Persie wrong to celebrate after Arsenal goal?

Posted: 10 Nov 2013 01:38 PM PST

Robin van Persie gave the best years of his career to Arsenal, his boyhood club, but even when he was the Premier League’s top scorer, winner of the PFA and Football Writer of the Year awards, he had no medal to show for it.

The only trophy he won in his time with the North London club was the FA Cup at the end of his first season when he came on as a sub when United were robbed at Cardiff. Van Persie was just 21-years-old then and probably expected this medal to be the first of many but, after spending a further seven seasons at the club, won nothing else.

As a 29-year-old and with just one year remaining on his contract, Van Persie knew that it was time to leave. He didn’t have many years of his career remaining and couldn’t take the risk of never winning the title. Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus were the clubs interested in signing him and thankfully for us, the Dutchman had his heart set on a move to United.

When asked why he chose United over rivals City, who undoubtedly would have paid him a larger salary, Van Persie claimed it was an easy decision.

“It is always quite difficult to find a perfect match but I do feel that this is perfect for me,” he said. “Manchester United breathe football and if you look at all the players, the stadium and the manager, my choice was made very soon in my mind if you were basing it on those two clubs. I always listen to the little boy inside of me in these situations – when you have to make the harder decisions in life. What does he want? That boy was screaming for Man United.”

So that was that, Van Persie was a United player, and started the season wearing the ’20′ shirt. “I took the No.20 shirt because I’m here to win a 20th title with United,” he explained.

Van Persie won the title at the end of his first season and yet again was the league’s top scorer. He contributed massively to our success as United cruised to their 20th title.

Along the way, he played against his former club twice and scored in both games. The first came at Old Trafford and put United 1-0 up in the third minute. The second came on his return to the Emirates, as a champion, and he was given a guard of honour by his former team mates when he walked out on to the pitch. After Arsenal took the lead, Sagna brought Van Persie down in the box just before half-time and the Dutchman calmly dispatched the resulting penalty.

For both goals, Van Persie refused to celebrate, showing respect for the fans of his former club. Being honest, I’m not a massive fan of the non-celebration. Whilst honouring your former fans you are doing your current ones a disservice by showing no emotion.

Still, a player’s decision to celebrate or not should be dictated by their relationship with the fans of their previous club. For example, I would fully expect Carlos Tevez to celebrate a goal against us, as much as it would piss me off, but I would be surprised if Cristiano Ronaldo did.

In the three games Van Persie has played against Arsenal since joining United they’ve booed his every touch and sung about him being a cunt/rapist all game. In his first season as a United player he still was courteous towards them, holding his hands up with an expressionless face, but in today’s game he celebrated properly. It was a huge goal for us, which sealed three points against the league leaders, and it’s no surprise he was happy about scoring.

When I got in to the car after the game the big debate on one of the football call ins was questioning whether Van Persie was in the wrong for celebrating.

Even if you are of the opinion that players shouldn’t celebrate against their former club, there surely can’t be any denying that the player is fully entitled to when on the receiving end of the bile Van Persie is from Arsenal fans. That’s not a criticism of them either. I completely understand why they hate him and take no issue with them giving him shit. But if they are going to give him shit, they should be prepared for him to celebrate like any other United player would after scoring against them.

That’s three goals in three games against his former club now. Not sure whether Arsene Wenger should refer to Van Persie as an “Arsenal man” anymore.

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Van Persie: United fans are absolutely unbelievable

Posted: 10 Nov 2013 01:09 PM PST

The atmosphere at Old Trafford during United’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal, particularly in the second half when the team were really hanging on, was fantastic. There has been a distinct improvement in the noise made by the home fans so far this season, particularly in those big games against Liverpool and Arsenal today, with the crowd seemingly not taking for granted their team’s ability to win. Under new manager David Moyes, the fans have taken on a bigger role in supporting the team.

Robin van Persie, who scored the only goal of the game, has sung the praises of the fans.

"The fans were incredible, they really lifted us and were the twelfth man. Since I've been here, they have been absolutely unbelievable, so thanks again to them."

GIF: Van Persie’s celebration vs Arsenal

Posted: 10 Nov 2013 12:39 PM PST

VIDEO: Van Persie’s goal vs Arsenal

Posted: 10 Nov 2013 11:30 AM PST

Goal van Persie Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal… by Sport-Today-2014

CONFIRMED LINE-UP: United vs Arsenal

Posted: 10 Nov 2013 07:17 AM PST

De Gea; Smalling, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Jones, Carrick, Kagawa; Rooney, van Persie

Bench: Lindegaard, Giggs, Chicharito, Nani, Cleverley, Fellaini, Januzaj.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud.

What would a defeat against Arsenal mean for United?

Posted: 10 Nov 2013 02:51 AM PST

United take on Arsenal this afternoon and, for the first time in a decade, approach the game as supposed underdogs. Ryan Giggs has disputed this title but the eight points between them and us suggests they have clearly been superior, even if they’ve yet to play many tough games.

Some fans and sections of the media have said that if United lose today, falling eleven points behind Arsenal, there is no way we can retain our title. The Gunners would have to lose four more games than us over the course of the season and the way they are playing right now, it’s hard to imagine that happening.

After ten games, United don’t look like they’re capable of winning the league and Arsenal look unstoppable. Fortunately for us, we’re only a quarter of the way through the season and history tells us that Arsenal won’t be the team for us to worry about.

The North London side have started other seasons strongly but then haven’t been able to carry their form across the entire year.

At the start of the 2007-2008 season, for example, they amassed 26 points after their first ten games (more than they have after ten games this season) but went on to finish 3rd, 4 points behind United. We lost more games than them that season but, crucially, we won more too.

Their recent League Cup defeat against Chelsea at the Emirates tells you a lot about the strength of their squad. Both sides made considerable changes to what they would regard their strongest XI for the Premier League, yet Chelsea easily beat them 2-0.

Arsenal may very well go on to win the title. They have some great players. What they are missing though is a striker. That’s why they were so keen to sign Wayne Rooney or Luis Suarez in the summer. What they have up front, like Chelsea, does not come close to matching the strength of the teams in Manchester. If their midfielders keep scoring as many goals as they are doing, then a lack of a world class striker won’t cost them, but it’s rare for midfielders to be able to maintain that goalscoring form for a whole season.

For me, the teams to beat are the teams we tipped as the strongest sides at the start of the season, Chelsea and City. The money they’ve spent is incredible, with both bringing in quality new managers to boost their chances. I’m far more concerned with the difference in points between us and them than I am Arsenal. At the end of the season, that may look foolish, but for now, I just don’t fancy them.

A defeat against Arsenal would put us 11 points behind them, but just 4 points behind Chelsea and potentially 5 points behind City (assuming they win today). In November, that’s nothing to worry about.

Of course, I’m going in to the game wanting a win. We have some quality players who are capable of really switching it on, so if they all manage to do that today, we’ll look good for the win. But having seen how we fell apart against City, it’s always a worry when we come up against a strong offensive team.

But for me, a defeat against Arsenal wouldn’t rule us out of the title race. Not just because we’re only a few games in and it’s foolish to judge the table at this stage. Does anyone seriously think Southampton will be playing Champions League football next season? As it stands, they’re better than Chelsea, City, Spurs and us. But also because I don’t think Arsenal are the team we’ll have to finish above to win the title this season.

Time will tell…

Monday, 11 November 2013

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