United Show the Value of Assembling a Squad That Can Cater for All Occasions

It looked for a moment as if Manchester United intended to crush Arsenal by sheer weight of numbers. Rio Ferdinand, possibly dazed by the pain of a rib injury, was attempting to come back on even though Jonny Evans had replaced him in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. The visitors did not have to cope with additional opponents, but must still have felt as if the match should be stopped for a head count. Arsenal were overrun during the 1-0 loss, particularly in the first half.

That reflected United's ability to tailor their line-up to a degree unequaled anywhere else. If the cultured minimalism of Dimitar Berbatov would have been incongruous on an occasion when the plan was to overwhelm the visitors, then Sir Alex Ferguson had the perfect alternative in hyperactive Carlos Tevez.

There was a theme to the side, with the power of Anderson preferred against ­Arsenal. Assessments of the Brazilian have fluctuated since he arrived from Porto, but his forcefulness is beyond question. ­Ferguson introduced him with moments left of last year's Champions League final and the then 20-year-old crashed his spot‑kick into the top corner with indifference to the stresses of the situation.

Of late, the likelihood of him ­making the starting line-up has been at its ­greatest in the FA Cup and Carling Cup, tournaments that are a lesser priority to ­Ferguson. Nonetheless, he met United's specific needs on Wednesday. Since the 1990s the dream of a varied squad that teems with talent has superseded the notion of ­assembling an outstanding line‑up. United are getting closer than most to fulfilling the ambition.

It helps, of course, to be exceedingly rich. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes may still be on the scene as veterans, but the time when stars were as likely to be raised as bought ended long ago. The pressures on most managers are too great for them to count on prospects emerging from the labyrinth of youth with their potential ­fulfilled. Where Ferguson has succeeded is in identifying a batch of footballers who are not hero-worshipped yet fit ­beautifully into the overall scheme.

There might, for instance, be no market for a DVD of Darren Fletcher's career highlights, yet he had an exceedingly good night against Arsenal. Others are in the same category. John O'Shea, in ­addition to scoring the winner, convinced at right‑back and has a standing now that would once have seemed impossible.

It goes unnoticed that United have had many injuries. In that right-back position, Gary Neville is unavailable because of a damaged ankle. It is hardly mentioned that Wes Brown, a man with 21 caps for ­England, is barely over his own ankle ­trouble. There have been two recent ­outings in the reserves, but he has not turned out for the first team since a draw with Everton on 31 January. It has made no difference since there is still a challenger to O'Shea in the young Brazilian Rafael da Silva.

Ferguson has far more than simple cover for absentees. In many fixtures, he can rotate the line-up without ­misgivings and so maintain vitality despite the extreme workload. That advantage will have to be utilized tomorrow when the side has its lunch-time kick-off at Middlesbrough. United did look briefly as if they were feeling depleted, but ­Liverpool heartened them when held to that 4-4 draw by Arsenal at Anfield.

Despite the immense sums expended elsewhere, no one else quite has the scope enjoyed for the time being by Ferguson. In common with most managers, he has little desire to meddle with the make‑up of the defence or to vary his holding midfielders too often. As you go forward in the line‑up, it gets tougher to predict what he will do. The occasions suitable for the ­veteran Giggs must have been picked astutely since he is the PFA player of the year after a mere dozen Premier League starts in this campaign.

There is an element of chance in ­United's advantage and it is fair to say that few ­supposed that O'Shea or even Fletcher would contribute as much as they have. Equally, it must be a delight to Ferguson that Giggs could make an 800th appearance for the club against Arsenal without any sense that the end is nigh. Others such as Arsène Wenger, with his permanent youth revolution, may ultimately achieve torrid competition for places at the Emirates.

The Arsenal manager's immediate difficulty is that another comparatively fresh and carefully chosen line-up will be turning out for United next Tuesday.