Only one heavyweight left standing last night

SOMETIMES, counselled the wise editor, you have to simply report the events. The implications will present themselves in time.

And this was some event at Highbury last night. For once worthy of the television paymaster's hype.

Where Chelsea's December visit to North London was frenetic by most standards, last night's six goal thriller was mayhem on an absorbing scale.

Arsenal lost no face in defeat. But they lost their title for sure. They played some exquisite football, none more so than 36 year-old Dennis Bergkamp, who played like a man who may not see too many more of these enthralling duels. Their midfield was aggressive and combative, and they asked questions on the flanks.

But the facts of the night make for painful reading for the outgoing champions. Twice their conquerors came from behind when the same deficit confronted the hosts, they couldn't respond, even against ten men.

Worse still for Arsene Wenger, his 'Rock' Sol Campbell looks set for another spell on the sidelines with a damaged ankle.

And so Wenger hands the baton onto Alex Ferguson in the pursuit of Chelsea. It may be futile, but Ferguson's sides have shown one thing in the past; they are the original cardiac kids who never give up the fight.

Jose Mourinho might do well to dust down the 1999 European Cup final in Barcelona, a situation that seemed so hopeless, it makes their present chase of Chelsea appear comfortably within their compass.

There was another sense of 99 at Highbury last night that same year United went 2-0 in Turin against a rampant Juventus, but inspired by Roy Keane, they prevailed 3-2.

Last night, they went one better, and proved that their artillery is still a match for anyone's in Europe.

Ferguson's master-move was the switch of Ronaldo and Giggs at half time. The Portuguese tyro has always had difficulty overcoming Ashley Cole, but he found Arsenal right back, Lauren, a far more accommodating customer, unable to get close enough to the winger to effect any damage on his rampaging ability.

Meantime, Ryan Giggs made for a different proposition for the England left back, disinclined nowadays to pin back his ears and hare up the line. His fantastic movement onto Roy Keane's through ball for the third goal was only bettered by his tee-up for Ronaldo off his weaker right foot.

Wenger still has the Champions League and the FA Cup but difficult decisions lie ahead this summer. Speculation of a new contract for Robert Pires and Denis Bergkamp may be revisited. When Thierry Henry falls short, who steps up?

There were six yellow cards and a red on a night when eyes and veins were bulging before the teams even got to the pitch. Patrick Vieira "threatened" Roy Keane in the tunnel, Ferguson claimed, a proposition that gets more ludicrous every time I read it.

However the Arsenal captain was perfectly clear headed as he put his side in front.

But in a portent of things to come, United carved out a sublime equaliser, even if the finish from Giggs deflected past Almunia.

Arsenal may justifiably quibble about that piece of bad luck and the penalty that wasn't awarded when Silvestre felled Pires, but this time, there can be no bitter after-taste.

Bergkamp gave them a half time advantage, but they succumbed to an early second half strike from Ronaldo.

Then there was a third and a fourth. "We played some decent stuff," said Roy Keane, with a whiff of understatement, before he threw light on the pre-game theatrics. By Keane's account, Vieira was giving Gary Neville some lip, giving the captain an opportunity to do what he does best lead by example.

"If you're going to give it out, you've got to be able to take it," claimed the Cork man.

The reigning champions may still be able to shuffle and shape but there was only one heavyweight left standing last night when the haymakers were flying.