I’ve just seen that the Mr Ego of the refereeing world, Howard Webb is our official for the Monday night fixture at Old Trafford. I truly think he is up there with some of the worst we have seen in recent years yet he’s supposed to be the best the English Premier League has on offer!

When he ref’s it’s all about him, he pumps out his chest for the pre match photo and if he had any hair I bet it would be gelled into a ‘just so’ style, in case the cameras sneaked a photo throughout the game.

With all the pre-match garbage being spilled from the mouths of the United players, Webb needs to put in one of his best performances and he needs to be fair. Tomorrow he needs to forget his was born in the Northern part of England and concentrate on the game, not Fergie, not Fergie time at the end, just good, fair and honest refereeing. One thing neither side need to be doing after one of the biggest and probably best fixtures that the Premier League hosts is to be talking about Howard Webb!

None of this Thank You!!

I still don’t understand why this fixture wasn’t on Saturday lunchtime or this afternoon, it’s crazy!

Times gone by…

Back in 1997/98 when we won the league, this fixture was pivotal in our success. Manchester United were nine points clear at the top of the league when we travelled to Old Trafford in March that season. Late on in the game, Anelka set up Marc Overmars to slot home for a 1-0 victory. The lead cut to six points and you know the rest.

In 2001/02 the same fixture but very late in the season, May 8th. We had just thumped the Chavs in the FA Cup and we were on course for the double. Sylvain Wiltord was the hero that night. I remember it like it was yesterday, what a moment it was when the ball hit the back of the net, we’d won the league and in the back yard of our most bitter rivals at the time.

Then came the notorious 2003/04 season, this time the away trip to Manchester was earlier in the calendar, September 21st 2003 to be precise, we didn’t win this one, but we didn’t lose either! What a game it was too, Paddy was sent off for trying to kick Ruud Van Horse Face, he was stood ten yards away at the time and the sending off was very harsh. Forlan took a tumble in the penalty area to earn the Mancs a spot kick and no doubt every Arsenal fans heart sank at that moment. What came next was a bit naughty but very funny, Van Horse Face blasted his penalty against the cross-bar and was immediately surrounded by a few of our players. Keown, Lauren and Toure all got themselves involved and the incident was to be looked into by the Football Association but all that mattered that day is we went to Old Trafford, hung on in there with ten players and walked away with a point.

Oh, and we won the league again that season.

If we look at the history, a win or draw tomorrow could see us win the league…

No, I don’t believe in all that stuff either, all I know is a win tomorrow will see us stay top and that’s what matters…..