The World according to Will – every Sunday

William Geldart returns to The Football Blog to offer more of his views on the week’s football action. In this edition of his regular column, Manchester United’s quest for more success this season continues unhindered as they comfortably defeated Arsenal 2-0 in their FA Cup Sixth Round tie. Sir Alex Ferguson’s ability to persistently evolve his side has underpinned their longevity and ability to continuously challenge for honours with yesterday’s team selection yet another example of the Scot’s innovative expertise.

Ferguson’s United Way the model of effectiveness and the envy of Arsenal

Like so many Arsenal fans, even manager Arsene Wenger is becoming increasingly irksome when prodded about his team’s long wait for their first major trophy win since 2005. The Gunners have developed a frustrating habit in recent years; a ruinous spring malaise is now a predictable culmination to what have threatened to be definitive seasons in the club’s history.

The Carling Cup final against Birmingham City was considered a ‘gimmee’ for Arsenal to end their trophy drought by the majority of football’s literati, a potential catalyst for Wenger’s philosophy to finally bear fruit. Their crushing subsequent loss and elimination from the Champions League and now the FA Cup too has Wenger desperately trying to salvage something from the wreckage with only reaching the summit of the Barclays Premier League a possibility.

“It’s a massive task but the challenge we have is exciting,” said Wenger, with the league now his only target.

“We are used to being questioned. We have to show we are strong enough” the Arsenal manager told BBC Sport, his diplomatic appraisal of the remainder of the season one he will be hoping his wounded charges respond to.

The marked differences between Sir Alex Feguson’s Manchester United team and Wenger’s were evident.

United’s starting line-up was one described by Ferguson as ‘full of youth and vigour’ with Fabio Da Silva and twin brother Rafael operating on either flank, alongside relative youngster Darron Gibson in midfield with 22-year-old Mexican sensation, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez in attack.

Arsenal’s more experienced side had everything to lose, which they promptly did, to suffer elimination from three competitions in a matter of weeks.

Despite United’s youthful outlook, it was one of the elder statesmen who gained the man-of-the match plaudits. Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has contributed significantly to the club’s continued success since his arrival in 2005, a model professional for a team whose formula has not altered significantly in the last 20 years.

United go out to win matches, pure and simple. It is a strategy that will be the envy of Arsenal in particular, a team who may play beautiful football however it is often lacking in the killer instinct and substance to conjure measurable success and all-important silverware.

Despite their best efforts at clawing their way back into the game, once United had scored first with Fabio’s close-range effort, there was always a sense that Arsenal were incapable of mustering a serious response. This was exemplified by United’s second as a familiar tangent emerged. Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny had forced Van der Sar into two fine reaction saves as the Gunners were punished for failing to convert their best chances on the big stage as Wayne Rooney doubled United’s advantage shortly after.

The formations may have changed but the desire Ferguson imparts upon his teams hasn’t.  From the 4-4-2 of the nineties, with Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchelskis terrorising defenders on the wings, to the adoption of a 4-5-1 system with Giggs playing off the devastating Ruud van Nistelrooy, the United manager is once again developing a winning formula.

Defender Chris Smalling is the latest embodiment of that philosophy, already developing into an accomplished defender. His timely interception in the 80^th minute led to the release of Giggs who found Rooney in space, his effort only thwarted by a last-ditch attempt by Arsenal goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia.

In contrast to the Gunners, the passage of play was clear, incisive and just as beautiful as their opponents’ ‘ticky tacky’ passing style.

Commentator Clive Tyldesley mentioned that Manchester United have not lost three games of significance in quick succession since 1996. Despite Arsenal’s success under Wenger in his 15 years at the helm, how fans of the Gunners must envy their arch-rivals ability to consistently evolve into teams capable of simply winning when it counts.