Over the last few seasons, we've got the better of City and so it was almost certainly that a very important FA Cup semifinal would go their way---and so it did. It's how sometimes things work. Likewise Le Arse have been on the receiving end against us for a while now so I must say I had the gut feeling that they were due a win against us. I prayed that that win would wait till next season but in vain because Arsenal, in the end, got the win.
So it leaves the title race in the most exciting position right now---at least as far as the neutrals and media are concerned. It has also made next week' clash between United and Chelsea at OT virtually the title decider.
This is where as fans and as a club we have to put things into perspective. For starters, we have been in such situations time and time again so there shouldn't be any nerves or talk of cracking because for all intents and purposes, we are still in charge of the destiny of the title. Contrast this position to the one we were in last season. We were in Chelsea's position now heading into that crucial game at OT. It was never really about what we did but what they did. They'll be desperate to get all three points next week so as to put themselves level with us at the top so we should exploit that next Sunday. I also feel that by the time this fixture comes around, they'll be no other midweek commitments (besides Neville's testimonial on 24 May) so if we could see out the 90 minutes against Schalke on Wednesday with minimum energy used, we could leave ourselves fresh enough for one last hurrah in the league on our own pitch---a ground we've won all but one of our games this season---with the ultimate prize of sealing that 19th title.
The frustration at not coming away from the Emirate with at least a point will lead many to forget that back in August, after signing Bebe, Smalling and Hernandez, we would all have taken the position that we find ourselves in. We've played our part in keeping the title race candle burning for a while now but I think its time we blow it out and start thinking of how we are going to win the Champions League final.
Of course the result means that the title cannot be won until the final day of the season but beating Chelsea would restore that six point gap that we could use in the last two games against Blackburn and Blackpool.
At the moment, Chelsea would gladly swap positions with us. So its up to the lads to see out the '90 on Wednesday and put an end to proceedings in the league next Sunday.
Onwards and Upwards!
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