Manchester United 1 Arsenal 0 Semi Final Champions League 2009

Champions League Result - Semi-Final 1st Leg
MAN UTD 1 ARSENAL 0

A convincing home performance by European champions Manchester United gave them a 1-0 lead to take into the 2nd leg of the Champions League against English Premier League rivals Arsenal.

In the first half Man Utd dominated and scored with John O’Shea, where Arsenal were caught flat footed chasing the ball and not closing down man for man. Almunia was tested numerous times and pulled off some good saves, Man U would have hoped to have made it 2-0 in the first half so at this stage you’d imagine that Wenger would have been philosophical about the 1-0 deficit.

In the second half it was more one way traffic. Christiano Ronaldo smacked the crossbar with a long range shot that dipped viciously towards the Arsenal goal. Manchester United bossed the midfield possession with neat passing between Scholes, Carrick and Giggs driving on the other big game players.

Nicholas Bendtner had a great opportunity to equalise towards the end of the match and Arsenal tried to put the home team under pressure in the final few minutes but Manchester United were just too strong for them.

So will a 1-0 lead be enough for the champions to take to the Emirates next week in order to progress to the Champions League final? I think so, as Man U seem to be peaking again just at the climax of this exciting season. If they don't Fergie will definitely look back at this match and think they should have capitalised on the form they showed with more goals...

Man U vs Arsenal Champions League News

Although previous encounters between Manchester United and Arsenal have been very heated affairs, both on the pitch between players and off the pitch with a war of words between Fergie and Wenger, the build up to this tie has been characterised by the mutual admiration from both managers towards the opposing team. The Scotsman has described the tie as the “perfect semi-final . .. full of terrific footballers” and in particular has heaped praise upon Cesc Fabregas. In return Wenger has paid homage to the 18 year top flight career of Ryan Giggs.

There is however no doubting the desire of both managers to win this tie. Manchester United could and want to be the first European champions to successfully defend their title and Wenger is only too aware that the one big gap in Arsenal’s trophy cabinet and indeed in Wenger’s glittering career is Europe's most prestigious club competition. Wenger came close to winning in 2006, losing to Barcelona in the final and is determined to go one better this time around and admits he will be giving his all in pursuit of this honour. "I had the luck to stay at the same club for 12 years and I also know how much it means to the club and the players. I am just focused to give every bit of energy I have to the team.". Wenger has also made it clear that his strategy will not be to play a defensive game away with the hope of overturning the red devils during the return leg at the Emirates. "The modern rules in Europe encourage the home team to be cautious and the away team to be audacious," he said. "That's why I believe to score an away goal will be very important for us.”

Ferguson shares Wenger’s view that both teams will be playing an attacking exciting game for both legs. "It won't be decided on Wednesday," says Ferguson. "I feel sure of that. I think that there is a lot of football left at the Emirates.

As well as the similarities between the two managers’ approaches and respect for the opposing team, both Manchester United and Arsenal are finishing strongly to the season and appear to have the mental strength necessary to succeed at the top level. Arsenal have kept their nerve despite a very average start to the season and are currently undefeated in 20 league games. Manchester United came back from 2:0 down on Saturday to thrash Spurs 5:2.

Looks like an exciting night of football tonight. Hopefully at least a goal apiece with no red cards or pizza throwing in sight!!