It’s like a jungle sometimes

Ivanovic gnawed, Blatter hacked and Spanish giants savaged – it’s been a football week red in tooth and claw.

Indeed, with more than enough to chew on, the small matter of Manchester United wrapping up the Premier League almost amounted to little more than a one-day wonder, their procession to the title quickly eclipsed on the news lists by an artificial controversy about their guard of honour at the Emirates tomorrow. Compared to how the noisy neighbours closed things out last time, the 2013 denouement can only be called an anti-climax, even if United, to their credit, sealed the deal against Aston Villa with something of the traditional swagger which has not always been evident in their more dogged performances over the course of this campaign.

Robin van Persie hogged the headlines with his hat-trick, of course, the second a thing of awesome beauty. But note that the booming 50-yard pass which invited the striker’s volley was delivered to perfection by Wayne Rooney, a player we are frequently told is past his prime and even on his way out of Old Trafford. The latter might well prove to be the case given that all is clearly not as it once was between the Roo and his gaffer but – presumptuous though it might be to question a manager who has just claimed his 13th Premier League title – I reckon that if Alex Ferguson lets him go it will rank as a serious error of judgement.