Arsenal 3-1 United - Community Shield Report
By Chris O'Brien
August 10 2004
The Community Shield curtain-raiser raised the curtain on what could be a disappointing season for United, as the Red Devils were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Arsenal. A great strike from Alan Smith was one of only few pleasing moments as the Gunners took the first silverware of the new season.

Disappointment as Arsenal Lift Community Shield

The new season got underway in very disappointing fashion as United lost the Community Shield and handed Arsenal a confidence booster ahead of the Premiership campaign in the process with a 3-1 defeat at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Alan Smith was on the scoresheet for the Red Devils with a fantastic long-range strike, but his goal was a rare shining moment on a miserable afternoon for United fans.

Sir Alex Ferguson picked a stronger side than expected with young starlets such as Chris Eagles and Jonathan Spector left on the bench. Injuries to Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Louis Saha, Kleberson, Wes Brown and Liam Miller, plus Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Heinze preparing for the Olympic showdown in Greece, meant the team was still some way from being United's best XI.

Tim Howard was behind a back four made up of Gary Neville, John O'Shea, Mikael Silvestre and Quinton Fortune, returning to action after a long lay-off with injury. United skipper Roy Keane was joined in the midfield by Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion and Ryan Giggs, whilst Paul Scholes got a much needed start in the red jersey, playing just off debutant Alan Smith up front.

Arsenal also fielded a convincing starting line-up, but were without a few big names including Sol Campbell and Patrick Viera. Reports suggest Viera will join Real Madrid before the start of the new Premiership campaign, and it would be hard to believe the reason he was really left out was because of injury. Thierry Henry was joined by Denis Bergkamp upfront, with Jose Antonio Reyes playing just behind the duo in a forward partnership that looked formidable.

The Gunners started the better of the two sides, and a good move involving Denis Bergkamp and Jermaine Pennant saw Thierry Henry have the first opportunity only minutes in. However, the Frenchman could only get a leg on Pennant's cross and his effort found its way comfortably into the arms of Tim Howard. The US international was in action against seconds later, holding a powerful drive from Bergkamp as Arsenal looked to grab the initiative.

United were struggling to create chances with the stout defence from the Londoners not letting much through. Paul Scholes found Ryan Giggs with a beautiful ball over the top, but for all his pace the Welshman couldn't beat Pascal Cygan who made an excellent tackle to prevent further danger. It was one of few opportunities United created in the opening period with Arsenal looking sharper and more composed for the majority of the half.

Arsenal's pace and slick attacking play continued to cause problems for United, and only woeful finishing from the Premiership Champions left the scores level at the break. Howard did very well to tip an Henry free-kick over the crossbar, whilst Bergkamp made a complete clown of himself by falling to the ground with only the United 'keeper to beat - it had looked a certain goal. Pennant, back at Highbury after a year loan with the sheep, also sent a shot wide as Arsenal continued to frustrate themselves in front of the target.

Alan Smith sent a shot over the bar towards the end of the half whilst Gary Neville forced Jens Lehmann into his first real save of the game, but despite a spell of United pressure towards the end of the half things didn't look good. You sensed it was only a matter of time before the Gunners broke the deadlock as the two sides went in at the break goalless.

Arsenal came out all guns blazing for the second-half, with Jose Antonio Reyes looking a real threat. The Spaniard left the Red Devils backline for dead but blazed a shot wide, before turning provider four minutes into the half as the team in blue shirts opened the scoring. Reyes latched onto a Bergkamp pass before cutting inside and squaring the ball to Gilberto who calmly slotted the ball home to send the Arsenal fans into delight.

To be fair, we saw a better showing from the Arsenal supporters this time around that at last year's Community Shield when gaps could be seen throughout their end. 63,317 witnessed the game at the Millennium Stadium, with spaces in both sections of the ground. It's sad to see this game losing its gloss a little, and most now class it very much as a friendly when it was almost regarded as a cup final years ago. Perhaps the return to Wembley next season will lease some new life into the much-belittled curtain-raiser.

The goal gave United the kick up the backside that was needed, and Alan Smith's stunning goal restored parity only six minutes later. The Yorkshireman, who made a controversial £7.5million move across the Pennines this summer, charged down a poor clearance from Arsenal's Kolo Toure and sent a tremendous drive towards goal leaving Jens Lehmann with no chance. Smith ran to the United fans as if to say 'how about that?'. It's going to take time - but the former United-hater could really make it big at Old Trafford.

Unfortunately, Arsenal recaptured a deserved lead only three minutes later. The United defence looked all over the place as we struggled to clear the ball from a Gunners attack, and Reyes punishes the sloppy defending with a powerful strike from only yards out. The attacker caused problems all game for United and looks set to have a great first full season in England - more worrying stuff for Red Devils supporters.

United started to look frustrated and challenges flew in. Eric Djemba-Djemba's challenge on Gael Clichy saw the midfielder booked and a brief melee followed. The Cameroonian international had one of his best games since his move to Lancashire from Nantes, showing grit and determination as he bruised much of the opposition! He could yet be a future replacement to Roy Keane, but will be hoping for more first-team games this season with no distractions such as the African Nations Cup in his way.

Arsenal were in cruise control after their second as the inevitable substitutions followed. United had already introduced Diego Forlan, again ineffective, Phillip Neville, later booked, and Darren Fletcher as Ferguson looked to rest big name players for Wednesday's vital European Cup qualifier in Romania. Youngsters Chris Eagles, Kieran Richardson and Jonathan Spector, who had been eagerly warming up from the start, were all introduced later in the game as the match took a reserve team feel.

The game was over as a contest with ten minutes to goal as Arsenal found a third goal. More defensive frailties saw Ashley Cole allowed time and space to send in a cross, which deflected off Mikael Silvestre and into the back of the net to hand the Frenchman an own goal. A section of United's travelling masses had already started a non-stop 'Busby Babes' chant ten minutes earlier, and kept singing until full-time, ignoring Arsenal's third completely. We may have been beaten by England's best team, but the best fans in the country award will never leave Old Trafford.

So a very disappointing start to the season, following on from a farce of a pre-season. Good points were a solid performance and a great strike from Alan Smith, and a few pleasing displays, but overall we were very much the second best. United have two massive games in under four days, starting in Bucharest on Wednesday, and improvements will be needed as the injury-ravaged Red Devils look to improve on last season's failures in Europe and in the Football League.

Full Time - Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
Attendance - 63,317

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Cygan, Cole, Pennant, Gilberto, Fabregas (Svard 87), Reyes (Hoyte 80), Bergkamp (Aliadiere 61, (Clichy 69)), Henry (Van Persie 45).
Substitutes Not Used: Senderos, Almunia.

Manchester United: Howard, Gary Neville, O'Shea (Spector 82), Silvestre, Fortune (Phil Neville 51), Bellion, Keane (Fletcher 51), Djemba-Djemba, Giggs (Forlan 51), Scholes (Richardson 74), Smith (Eagles 73).
Substitutes Not Used: Carroll.

 

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.