Manchester United Vs . Arsenal

Vieira was dismissed amid a frantic finale to the match which culminated dramatically when Sir Alex Ferguson's side looked poised to clinch victory with just seconds left.

However, after Diego Forlan went tumbling under pressure from Martin Keown, van Nistelrooy crashed his penalty against the underside of the bar, his third spot-kick miss of the season already.

The net result, though, was that Arsenal had managed to restate their Barclaycard Premiership title credentials when it mattered most.

Just four days after a damaging 3-0 home Champions League defeat by Inter Milan and in the wake of a home draw against newly-promoted Portsmouth, Arsene Wenger's side had stood up to be counted.

They may not have seriously threatened to snatch victory, as they managed in their previous title triumphs in 1998 and 2002.

However, Wenger had insisted it was how his side responded to their comprehensive defeat by Inter that would show their true character.

Even without their most influential defender, Sol Campbell, they refused to succumb to United's attacking pressure and proved they are still their equals in domestic terms at least.

Arsenal's already thin defensive resources were further stretched by Campbell's understandable decision that he could not focus on a game even of this magnitude after the death of his father.

In came Keown but, perhaps more importantly, Ray Parlour replaced Robert Pires in midfield and, with Dennis Bergkamp also battling hard in a withdrawn role, Arsenal held their own early on.

They had been outmuscled at Old Trafford in the league last season and it was clear that Wenger was determined not to allow it to happen again.

The visitors therefore pressed high up the pitch, but without over-committing themselves forward at any point.

United's main danger, predictably enough, came through Cristiano Ronaldo, selected on the right flank to pressurise Ashley Cole.

However, Cole gave a sound performance and was offered considerable support from not only Fredrik Ljungberg but also Vieira, who kept a watchful eye over the young full-back.

Ronaldo still managed to threaten, bamboozling Gilberto Silva with one step-over and Ryan Giggs' free-kick flew across the penalty area and clipped the outside of the far post.

Ronaldo was then fouled by Cole, with Giggs' next delivery also causing Arsenal problems as van Nistelrooy directed a looping header onto the roof of the net.

However, while United were starting to turn the screw, Wenger's side are at their most dangerous on the break and, when Cole burst forward onto Thierry Henry's pass, his shot was only inches wide.

That was Arsenal's only real threat of the first-half, although they achieved their first objective in being comfortable enough at the back.

Indeed, while Jens Lehmann saved a flicked header by Quinton Fortune and a tame shot by Ronaldo, the Gunners were by no means undaunted.

Then, Arsenal momentarily lost concentration, Gary Neville's long throw enabled van Nistelrooy to bear down on goal only for Lehmann to save from a tight angle.

The match was delicately poised, but the bookings continued and when Vieira was shown his first yellow card, the second caution soon followed.

But in the final minute, England right-back Neville floated over a cross which substitute Forlan looked likely to reach but was felled by Keown.

A spot-kick was awarded, which van Nistelrooy strode up to take, only to send his shot thundering against the crossbar.

***THE FA HAS PUT OUT A STATEMENT IN WHICH IT LETS EVERYONE KNOW AND INVESTIGATION OF SUNDAYS EVENTS HAS BEEN OPENED AND WILL LET US KNOW THE RESULTS ONCE THE TAPES HAVE BEEN WELL EVALUATED**

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