In the stands, Sir Alex is grinning as “Glory, glory, Man United” resounds loudly. Could Louis van Gaal’s team’s performance in that encounter represent a turning point? There, United was outstanding—wholehearted, astute, innovative, bold, and inventive. A shell of a team earned the incredible goals from Rashford in the first half and Herrera’s goal in the second, and most astonishing of all was how they reacted each time Arsenal equalized. They never appeared intimidated or rattled, and it must be acknowledged that veteran players like Carrick, Mata, and Blind did an excellent job of guiding players like Rashford and Varela through the game. In many respects, this was a far cry from the United we’ve seen this season.
Arsenal, too? Oh, the Arsenal. Let’s not mince words: their performance was incredibly disappointing. This was a big chance, and they blew it, but by now we should know what to expect. Throughout, they were uninteresting, slow, and subpar; even when they managed to get back into the game, they were hardly dangerous. Of course, you can’t rule them out of the battle for the championship, but do you really think this team can win? Their followers must be furiously frustrated by those false dawns.
You now have a cup final to grit your teeth for. As always, I appreciate your company. I apologize for the technical difficulty that caused today’s live score on the blog to become locked at 2-1. Salutations, and have fun
