'United’s 58 goals in the Barclays Premiership was their lowest total since 1991 (when they finished sixth), 14 fewer than a Chelsea team not blessed with rampant forwards and 29 less than Arsenal. The year before they mustered 64.
Had United won the FA Cup Final 1-0, the charge of profligacy would have stood; they did not and it surrounds them. While Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney excelled against Arsenal, there is a lack of definition to their play. Louis Saha, Alan Smith and David Bellion do not flourish as scorers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been absent for 12 months and Ruud van Nistelrooy is presently erratic. It is little wonder that Ferguson is scrutinising Michael Owen’s fluid position at Real Madrid and it would not be wise to discount a bid for the England player.
The FA Cup Final was symptomatic of Manchester United’s failings in front of goal this season. In the Barclays Premiership, Arsenal have been almost twice as likely as Manchester United to score from an attempt on goal. Arsenal had 482 attempts, scoring 87 times, or one in every 5.7 attempts; Manchester United had 620 attempts on goal, scoring 58 goals, or one in every 10.7 attempts.'