00:00Philip Neville and Ronnie Johnson and gives the starting place to a very quick 19-year-old
00:05John Curtis who captained his country in last year's youth championship in Malaysia
00:09and has subsequently played twice for the England under-21 side.
00:14Arsenal are unchanged from Wednesday's win at Wimbledon,
00:17the importance of which can only be truly measured after today.
00:21But they arrive here with a record of just one defeat in 18 games in all competitions.
00:28Arsene Wenger, like his opposite number, playing it cool and complimentary,
00:32is saying that a draw would be enough.
00:35But surely it's Ferguson who really believes that.
00:41Christopher Wray gets the game underway.
00:44And Old Trafford awaits its 50th goal by the home side this season,
00:50which, should it come, will be the 150th in home games against Arsenal.
01:19Goal down the middle.
01:21Beckerman for if never wide.
01:26Beckerman immediately draws Winterberg.
01:29Overmars, Bergkamp looks for Overmars and Schmeichel committed.
01:36Nobody in the middle.
01:37Oh, and he's so unlucky.
01:43Really good piece of play.
01:44Schmeichel, having made his decision, stuck with that decision.
01:50But Mark Overmars is very unlucky that the angle beat him.
01:54Just.
01:56Made a good run, but opened it up for Overmars, who struck it well.
02:04Good play by Arsenal.
02:08And they've still got possession.
02:09Ray.
02:11Challenge on the edge of the box.
02:12Fiera thought it might have been a foul, but nobody else did.
02:24Cole.
02:28And only the crowd thought that was a foul.
02:37Oh, given away by Dixon straight to Cole.
02:42Sheringham.
02:43Good save, Manninger.
02:47Saves the embarrassment of the far more experienced Lee Dixon.
02:52What was he trying to do?
02:58Keown did well.
03:00And again.
03:02It's warming up.
03:04Kuti.
03:08Curtis and Overmars.
03:10And Overmars gets away.
03:11Curtis makes the challenge.
03:12The Arsenal players look at Mr. Moerke, who turns and runs back.
03:18Got away.
03:20Did he get a bit of the ball first?
03:22Coming in slightly from the side.
03:25But mainly from the back.
03:28Referee was well placed.
03:29Had a good view.
03:31And just moved calmly away.
03:38Adams.
03:40Vieira.
03:42Keown.
03:46Ray.
03:47Oh, nice touch.
03:48Parler.
03:51Overmars.
03:54Takes them all on.
03:56Oh, and he's unlucky for the second time.
03:59With the stab shot having got through two.
04:02That was brilliantly done.
04:04And he was unlucky with the finish.
04:07Between Curtis and Neville.
04:09Bumped by the second.
04:11The third challenge came in.
04:13He's still got the shot in.
04:15Just the wrong side of the post.
04:17Although Schmeichel might reasonably claim.
04:19And had it have been further in.
04:21He would have deflected the ball.
04:27Vieira.
04:30The Frenchman in each other's way.
04:34So often Vieira.
04:35Appears to have lost control of the ball.
04:37And then gets an extra stretch from his limb.
04:43The team.
04:45Adams.
04:50We've had half an hour.
04:53After taking about six or seven minutes to warm up.
04:57Arsenal proving themselves definite challengers.
04:59Here's Parler.
05:03Went for the shot.
05:04And Ray was in the middle.
05:06Unmarked.
05:08And Ray may be making that observation.
05:11Good attempt by Parler.
05:13They've got behind the United defence again.
05:16Schmeichel off his line.
05:17But Ray.
05:19Coming in.
05:22Fairness to Parler.
05:23But he didn't miss by much.
05:37Scheringham.
05:40Everything left of Curtis.
05:42Through Winterburn.
05:44But not Vieira.
05:46It's Cole.
05:47Winterburn back to challenge.
05:48Cole.
05:49Doesn't make the opportunity count.
05:52Two men back on the halfway line.
05:55Took a pace forward.
05:57And the linesman refused to concur with what they were trying to do.
06:01Well, he went from his own half of the field just.
06:04But at what point did they appeal?
06:07What's for sure is that the chance wasn't taken.
06:09And that Alex Manninger has served his side well again.
06:14Comfort.
06:16But the linesman is on the far side.
06:18And it was blind from the referee.
06:20Petit got away with that for me.
06:28Here's Parler.
06:30Ray.
06:32Bergkamp coming in from the far post.
06:35This is Petit.
06:37Would have been a picture goal.
06:45And it's going wide.
06:49Just a little hesitation then from the Dutchman.
06:54He lost the trajectory just for a moment.
06:56And it was crucial.
07:04Nobody wants to lose it.
07:05Defeat for Arsenal would surely end their chance.
07:08And just about everybody else's.
07:10They've got more supporters today than they usually can call upon.
07:13And the Manchester United conscious.
07:16If they maintain the gap between the two sides.
07:20That will probably be good enough at the end of the championship.
07:26Here's Jonsson.
07:28Shooting chance.
07:33Dixon is hurt.
07:36And over the top.
07:37Rather wildly by Paul Scholes.
07:47Had his eyes on it well enough.
07:48Said himself well enough.
07:52Adams.
07:53Vieira.
07:57Paces quickened again.
08:08Thornley Cole.
08:10Wonderful challenge by Adams.
08:12And then wide.
08:14By Thornley.
08:16And on by Anelko.
08:18Delay with the challenge.
08:19Winterburn has got nobody up to help him.
08:21Now Bergkamp on this side.
08:23Long run here by Winterburn.
08:25And again only one up.
08:28Well they're not risking enough Arsenal.
08:31In a match that they surely need to win.
08:35It's a good break by Winterburn.
08:37But the support was conspicuous by its absence.
08:41Petit.
08:46Anelko.
08:47Shooting chance.
08:50And the fact that he was allowed a strike at the ball.
08:53Did not please Peter Schmeichel.
08:57The best of challenges.
08:59Is that one by Adams?
09:08And Anelko.
09:11And Overmars.
09:13Scores.
09:15What if any man has deserved a goal?
09:17It's Mark Overmars.
09:19Finally the luck turns his way.
09:22Finish well.
09:25They're gone.
09:27Bergkamp and then Anelko.
09:30And Overmars.
09:31Gets in.
09:32And gets it home.
09:37Neville tried to get back to him.
09:38And the ball steered wide.
09:40Of Peter Schmeichel.
09:43Who in the end sat it out.
09:44Doing a semi-splits.
09:47Gary Neville.
09:48Gary Neville.
09:50Cole and Keown.
09:54Cole is right for the 10th.
09:57It was meant to be a shot.
09:59Beckham.
10:03Sheringham.
10:03Good challenge by Petit.
10:06Vieira.
10:07Anelko.
10:07Bergkamp.
10:09Anelko.
10:10Still Anelko.
10:12He's got the legs of Irwin.
10:14Good save.
10:16Really picked up pace then.
10:18The teenager.
10:21And here's Cole.
10:23And that man.
10:25Martin Keogh.
10:26And across.
10:27Yet again.
10:31Two minutes remaining for Manchester United.
10:34Schmeichel is up.
10:37Challenge Bergkamp.
10:38Back by Neville.
10:39Schmeichel again.
10:41Bergkamp.
10:42Long way to go.
10:43He's going to be challenged by Schmeichel in his own half of the field.
10:46And Schmeichel has pulled.
10:49Well it looks as though he's pulled the muscle in the back of his thigh as a result of that.
10:54Now that could be really costly for Alec Ferguson.
10:56And a European chance.
11:00Irwin.
11:01Scholes.
11:07Arsenal have the victory.
11:09The gap is closed.
11:11The championship race is open.
11:15Alec Ferguson.
11:17With injuries to add to the loss of points.
11:20Could be crucial injuries.
11:21But a big smile.
11:22The biggest is on the face of Mark Overmars.
11:24Scorer of the only goal.
11:28Peter Schmeichel's chance of playing on Wednesday looks in considerable doubt.
11:34But that's not Arsenal's concern.
11:36They have closed the gap.
11:38And they have deservedly won the contest.
11:44Excellent week for Mark Overmars.
11:46Made the goal on Wednesday at Wimbledon.
11:49Scored the goal on Saturday at Old Trafford.
11:52Arsenal very much in the thick of things.
11:55Final score at Old Trafford.
11:56Manchester United 0-1.
11:58Manchester United 0-0.
11:59Arsenal 1.
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