United outgun Arsenal to blow the title race wide open

Shock horror. Arsenal lost at Old Trafford, albeit this time minus the pizza throwing, and blew the title race wide open.

In a weekend where both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur both lost, not to mention the fact that Chelsea’s November curse continued with two points dropped at home against West Brom, the big winners of the weekend were undisputedly Manchester United.

David Moyes’ men are now well back in the title race – if they were ever out of it that is.

Odds for the Champions to defend their title have literally been slashed in half following the game on Sunday – from eight to one down to four. Punters who put money on those odds could well be laughing come the end of May.

It is hard to pick which response after the weekend was more shocking. The fact that the average football fan expressed surprise that Arsenal lost – or that they used the phrase ‘right back in it’ when talking about the Red Devils.

Anyone who understands football will have known the defending champions were never out of it. They have born winners in their squad and may have changed manager, but always come good after Christmas. The United DNA does not allow for the waving of a white flag in October.

Add to that the very real possibility that the club will buy in January and you have a United side who could well go on a roll.

The star man from the weekend, Wayne Rooney, has now set a target for the club to be at the top of the pile by the start of January. Not many would bet against that.

Arsenal meanwhile were flying high going into the game, having beaten Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund the week before.

It had been whispered that the club were now starting to win the big games. Well they did not beat Chelsea, and quite if Liverpool’s league position will be the same come the end of the season is questionable indeed.

BVB are also suffering this season and are not the side they were last term. That is blindingly obvious to followers of the side, and whilst bringing down the Yellow Wall was impressive, it is not what it would have been last season.

Taking nothing away from Arsenal – or their players this season – who have been simply fabulous, the club still cannot go the distance or grind it out against a Chelsea or a United. Still having a hoodoo against Jose Mourinho or at Old Trafford is the most telling thing of all.

Chelsea fans are fully convinced their side will take six points from Arsenal this season, and United fans will most likely feel the same. The six pointers on the road will be the ones that Arsenal have to win if they want to win the title –  but the big question is if they will be able to.

Finally they are learning what it feels like to win again, and will push for the top prizes until the end this season, but actually claiming them? There is a long way to go until most fans will be convinced of this.

How far do you think Arsenal can go? Let us know your thoughts below or tweet us @LaFootyettes.