Nightmare in the Theatre of Dreams

Fans stood in anticipation. The atmosphere in the Theatre of Dreams was so thick that one could almost sliced it through with a knife. This was the baptism of fire, and rain, as players trotted into the pitch. The time has come, and maybe the time is now. For the Red Devils to derail Arsenal Express as the Gunners chased an unprecedented 50-match unbeaten run in Old Trafford.

The Scot Master knew. Intimidation could halt the Gunners. Perhaps instructions were given – immobilised Arsenal’s passing game at all cost, and foul became the name of the game. Jose Reyes turned into the punching bag for the Neville brothers, who wanted to see the Spaniard on a stretcher, rather than on his feet. Ruud van Nistelrooy stamped the knee of Ashley Cole, who amazingly could still walk after the Dutchman’s maliciously act. Yet, the Gunner saw yellow as he tripped Wayne Rooney in the 35th minute. “Where was the consistency?!” cried the Arsenal fans

Despite all the niggling fouls in front or behind the Ref Riley, the Gunners launched a swift counter-attack as Edu released Freddie Ljungberg with a precise through pass in the 18th minute. The Swede raced clear and Rio Ferdinand traced back and sent the Gunner tumbling. BUT the offender went scot-free. YET, in the 73rd minute, as Rooney made his way into the Arsenal’s box and was judged to have been tripped by Sol Campbell. Riley pointed to the spot. “Where was the consistency?!” cried the Arsenal fans

Up stepped van Nistelrooy, sending Jens Lehmann the wrong way as the put the home team one-nil up, at the same time, banishing the demons that haunted him since he “beckham-ed” in the same fixture last season.

Professor Wenger frowned. His frown deepened when Alan Smith alias Mr. Angry came in for the scorer. His dream script was fast becoming a nightmare. He knew – Mr. Angry was not introduced for going forward – this Roy Keane-to-be came in to defend.

Arsenal poured forward in their search for a point, their hunt for the 50-match unbeaten run. Holes emerged in their defensive third. Rooney reaffirmed his role as the Professor’s bogeyman as he blast home to seal the game for the Red Devils.

Furious and frustrated, the fuming Gunners went after Riley. They forgot. Riley has the thankless task. He could be conjecturing if he could walk out in Old Trafford in one piece after this game, perhaps the longest 90 minutes of his life. Deflated, dejected and desolated. The Professor walked off, conjuring in his head, a way to bring his men up. It could probably take him a long time, before their Nightmare at the Theatre of Dreams is exiled.