Title tilt years away for United or Arsenal

BEFORE Keane-Vieira and Pizzagate came the Battle of Old Trafford — a 21-man brawl, sparked by Brian McClair kicking Nigel Winterburn on the floor, which saw Arsenal and Manchester United docked points and started three decades of hostility. Those involved in the October 1990 episode were indeed from a different era, from alpha-male managers Sir Alex Ferguson and George Graham to on-pitch warriors like Tony Adams, Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce. How supporters would love the current United and Arsenal teams to have some of that, instead of watching a couple of underachieving Europa League sides face each other on a Monday night. ‘I’d been fascinated by Alec coming down to England. I knew about his success at Aberdeen and was desperate to see off this new challenger,’ says Graham, reflecting on the start of the rivalry. ‘As Scots, we were very welcoming to each other in personal terms, but extremely passionate about doing the best for our clubs. I remember Alec being so keen to rebuild United he tried to get all the best kids from the south. ‘This particular game, the stakes were high because we were unbeaten and pumped up. We did win 1-0, but the flare-up turned it into a nightmare and we were deducted two points. Luckily, we were good enough to win the league anyway!’ Ferguson was so impressed by the instinct of Arsenal’s players to wade in and help their mates, it became a blueprint for his future success. The glory days have gone for both teams following the departures of Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. Graham, who played for United as well as winning the league and cup Double for Arsenal, can’t offer much immediate comfort. ‘I can’t see either challenging at the top for three seasons at least,’ he said. ‘Even the top four will be tough for them right now. When standards slip, it’s hard to raise them again, and Liverpool and Manchester City aren’t going anywhere. ‘People talk about a lack of leaders and they have a point, particularly at centre-half. Think about Tony Adams, John Terry, Vincent Kompany, Virgil van Dijk. Every Arsenal supporter wants a defender like that. United have been looking for years. They’ve signed Harry Maguire and hope he’s the answer. But that’s the word: “hoping”. ‘United are under greater pressure because expectations there are higher, both for results and the style of play. It could be a good time for Arsenal to play them.’ Graham is an Arsenal legend. His six major trophies as manager between 1986 and 1995 included two championships, a domestic cup double and European glory. Less celebrated was his spell at United, signing for Tommy Docherty in 1972 as the club struggled after Sir Matt Busby. They were relegated in Graham’s only full season. ‘There are comparisons to now, although United obviously won’t go down,’ Graham says. ‘Tommy was trying to buy new players

but it takes time as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is finding out. ‘I like the look of Dan James, quick, strong, lovely shot. Scouts, or the recruitment department as they are called these days, should look at the lower leagues more. I signed Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterburn and Steve Bould from smaller clubs and they became part of Arsenal’s history. I know you can go anywhere in the world now to buy players, but the principle still stands.’ Graham goes to The Emirates occasionally and watched the recent 2-2 draw with Spurs. He’s not met Unai Emery, but spots a similarity with his own management style. ‘Emery isn’t afraid to make decisions,’ Graham, now 74, says. ‘If he thinks Mesut Ozil should come off, he’s off. I like that, it’s the job. ‘I sold Charlie Nicholas who had done his stretch. If the team is struggling, make a decision and if you upset anyone, so what? ‘I’m told the passion is back at the training ground, which is good. But you do need quality as well. There’s not many in the current Arsenal team I’d have taken. The forward line is clearly the strongest part of their team.’ Graham has been invited to a tribute dinner for Wenger. The pair live close to each other, with the Frenchman’s house backing on to Graham’s favourite local golf course. Wenger himself is coming up to 70 and while Graham refers to him as ‘the most successful manager in Arsenal’s history’, he can’t see anything coming from his successor’s recent description of United being a dream job. ‘It’s too late for something like that,’ says Graham. ‘Arsene was fantastic but I believe in the philosophy: “Enjoy your time in football because it will come to an end”.’ Graham retired at 56 after being sacked by Spurs. Having spent years climbing the coaching ladder at Crystal Palace, QPR and Millwall before reaching the top, he didn’t have the motivation to work at a more modest level. Nearly 20 years later, Graham confesses to a feeling of unfinished business. ‘I was always better at working players without the ball than the attacking part of the game. I would have tried to rectify the balance if I’d carried on — I wanted to,’ he says. ‘I was very single-minded. After we won the league at Anfield (in 1989), I was thinking within seconds about my press conference and what I was going to say. Now, I look at the footage and think: “Why didn’t you show a bit of emotion?”’ His study at his Hampstead Heath home is filled with pictures of family and Graham himself with various trophies. ‘I always said the only way to drink champagne was out of a silver cup,’ he smiles. One of the most prominent photos shows him walking out at Wembley with his good friend Terry Venables before the 1991 Arsenal-Spurs FA Cup semi-final, famous for Gazza’s stunning free-kick. ‘I owe Terry a lot and still speak to him today. He offered me a coaching job at Palace after I’d broken my leg. I loved it, took to it like a duck to water.’ He’ll support Arsenal tonight, but hopes both his former clubs get it right. ‘United will have money to spend. Arsenal will struggle to find the same money. Emery will have to try and improve the players he’s got. For both him and Solskjaer, it’s a waiting game. ‘It may be the top fixture again one day. But I can’t see it happening soon.’