Arsenal lack Man United's resolve

Difference ... Former Gunner Robin van Persie helped tilt the title in Man United's favour. Source: Jon Super / News Limited

They had stood motionless in the middle of the Stadium of Light awaiting the news. As each second ticked by the hope grew that an unlikely title was beckoning.

Then it was snatched away. There would be no 20th Barclays Premier League title. That would have to wait.

The noisy neighbours had stolen their crown and many sensed it would be a near impossible task to reclaim it. Sir Alex Ferguson was not amongst them. The recovery would begin on the bus journey back to Manchester. The message from Ferguson to his players on the trip home was simple - relish this moment and use the pain for the next campaign. 

He followed his own advice and signalled Manchester United’s intent on re-claiming the title when he went head-to-head with City in the battle for Robin van Persie. When the Dutchman chose United a blow had been struck in the battle for the league title before a ball had been kicked.

The signing of Van Persie would turn out to be the decisive factor in United winning back the title.  "In terms of impact he has had as big an impact as anyone I can imagine,” Ferguson said of the former Arsenal Captain after Monday’s victory over Aston Villa sealed their 20th League title. "I remember Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger saying to me 'he's better than you think' when we concluded the deal. He was right."

Whilst the signing of Van Persie as a response to losing the title seems noteworthy, it is hardly the first time Ferguson has reacted this way, rather it is his default setting.

When Arsenal won the title in 1998 Dwight Yorke was recruited and United went on to win the Treble. When Arsenal won it again in 2002, Rio Ferdinand was signed for a world-record fee for a defender and the league title was regained. The pattern has become clear and nothing seems to ignite Ferguson’s competitive instinct like losing.

On Monday Morning (EST) when United travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal, Gunners fans will be left to rue their inability to respond to disappointments in the same way. As Arsenal players honour the champions with a guard of honour, the hurt will not be from United winning the title but rather the confirmation of how far they are themselves for once again challenging.

Having been United’s biggest rival for trophies throughout much of the Premier League era, the 21 points that currently separates the two sides illustrates the fall of Arsenal. The thawing of relations between the two managers even more so. “When we were rivals, we were no longer friends.

"When we were 20 points behind Manchester United, he liked me," Rafa Bentiez said of his relationship with Ferguson. The current Chelsea coach’s remarks have also proved to be true in the case of Ferguson’s relationship with Arsene Wenger.

"They say he's an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I've got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages," Ferguson said of Wenger in 1996 when Arsenal were ready to challenge United for trophies.

With Arsenal not a threat to United in recent seasons the tone has changed. "If you look at Brian Clough, myself and Arsene, it proves longevity brings rewards. His team play the right way and he has a stadium that is full every week. He has been an incredible manager for that football club. There is no question about that.”

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	34	27	3	4	43	84
2	Man City	33	20	8	5	29	68
3	Arsenal	34	18	9	7	30	63
4	Chelsea	33	18	8	7	31	62
5	Tottenham	33	18	7	8	17	61
6	Everton	34	14	14	6	13	56
7	Liverpool	34	13	12	9	19	51
8	West Brom	33	13	6	14	-1	45
9	Swansea	33	10	12	11	1	42
10	West Ham	34	11	9	14	-7	42
11	Fulham	34	10	10	14	-8	40
12	Southampton	34	9	12	13	-7	39
13	Norwich	34	8	14	12	-20	38
14	Sunderland	34	9	10	15	-7	37
15	Stoke	34	8	13	13	-11	37
16	Newcastle	34	10	7	17	-17	37
17	Aston Villa	34	8	10	16	-27	34
18	Wigan	33	8	7	18	-23	31
19	QPR	34	4	12	18	-27	24
20	Reading	34	5	9	20	-28	24

The problem for Arsenal has been that acceptance rather than resolve has become the usual response to disappointments. The result has been that blips like the trophy-less campaign United endured last season have become the norm and they have now gone eight years without a trophy.

Big name players are now far more likely to be exiting the club then they are to be coming in, despite the impressive financial performance of the club.  The perception of the club has been allowed to change and that was perhaps the masterstroke of Ferguson’s decision to sign van Persie. It confirmed that United would be true to Ferguson’s word – "we’re not going away."

When asked whether United could have ever gone eight seasons without a trophy, the response from Ferguson was emphatic. "I wouldn't have allowed that to happen. You know, I don't contemplate these things."

On Monday morning as the Arsenal players provide the champions with a guard of honour, the proof of Ferguson’s ruthless will to win will once again be evident. Arsenal fans on the other hand will be left to contemplate how the acceptance of disappointments has now come to characterise the club.

Follow me on Twitter @beaubusch 

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