WORKAHOLIC HAVERTZ JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF TITLE PUSH
BY MIKE WALTERS
THEY won the title at Old Trafford in 2002 and the Invincibles survived a stormy finish the following year, with Martin Keown congratulating Ruud van Nistelrooy on his penalty miss.
But if you know your history, Arsenal have also been walloped 8-2 and 6-1 at the Theatre of Fading Dreams this century.
And in the Battle of Old Trafford 21 years ago, they were docked two points after an outbreak of Queensberry Rules involving 21 players, with David Seaman the only bystander in a rolling maul of pat-a-cake acquaintance, en route to being champions.
Now Arsenal must win at Manchester United again to keep their title crusade on course for a possible test of bottle on the final day.
Skipper Martin Odegaard says they will be inspired by Sylvain Wiltord’s goal which sealed Arsene Wenger’s second Premier League and FA Cup Double.
But if the Gunners are to crown a new generation of history boys and bring the title back to north London after 20 years, the wretched truth is that they will need rivals Manchester City to drop points.
And we’ve all seen this film before. Arsenal’s title chase is full-on, but it may also be forlorn.
Odegaard said: “We have heard the stories of Old Trafford and we have seen what has happened there before, how much it meant for the club’s supporters.
“It is a part of our history and we want to make the fans happy again. It has been a big goal for a long time to win something so that’s what we are pushing for and we keep going until the end.
“We have to focus on ourselves, we don’t know what other teams will do. We will keep putting pressure on Man City.”
Arsenal have prospered on the big stage this season, winning at Tottenham and drawing at City and Liverpool but they lost their 100 per cent
BY MIKE WALTERS
KAI HAVERTZ is relishing Arsenal’s title challenge so much he doesn’t want to take a day off.
The German striker’s £65m move was questioned by some fans when he defected from Chelsea last summer, but after 13 goals in 41 starts Havertz’s record at Old Trafford last season, and Odegaard admitted: “It is important to control the emotions.
“We have played in a lot of big stadiums and it is a normal thing for us. We go to United with one goal and that’s to get the three points.”
United boss Erik ten Hag reckons United deserved to win at the Emirates last September, claiming they had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside (it was the right decision) and that Rasmus Hojlund was denied a clear penalty (right decision again).
Odegaard laughed: “Does that motivate us even more? Honestly, I don’t think that, and we don’t need any more motivation at the moment, there is enough already. We know what we are playing for and we know the task – to win every game.”
In 2024, Arsenal have taken 43 points from a possible 48 and Bukayo Saka’s penalty, top scorer Leandro Trossard’s 16th goal of the season and Declan Rice’s stoppage-time finish sealed the points against Bournemouth.
It would have been more straightforward if the officials had sanctioned versatility has been a big asset. And he doesn’t want to miss a single moment of the final push, saying: “I really enjoy every second. Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to have a day off because you’re just so excited for the weekend.
“We have a lot to play for. We have to win our last two games and then see
Ryan Christie’s horrendous challenge on Saka (right) instead of waving it through.
Rice, worth every penny of his £105m transfer fee, was outstanding again, and Odegaard said: “To come to a new club is never easy but he has taken his game to another level. He has given us so much in so many areas – brilliant.”
But in a moment of sobering reality, Rice confirmed the sum of Arsenal’s fears – that 28 wins may not be enough to be champions.
He said: “What I have learned in this title race is that you have to be nearly perfect. I have massive respect for what they (City) have done. But we have two games to go and we’re praying for something to go our way.” where we’re going to go. Right now, the mood is good but we’re going to prepare for a big game against Manchester United and hopefully win that as well.”
Havertz (left) admitted the nerves were jangling as the Gunners peppered Bournemouth with 24 shots but needed a controversial penalty to break through.
He said: “We feel the pressure as we need to win the last games.
“Then when you don’t score, and it gets closer to half-time, obviously the nerves are coming but we tried to leave them behind us.”