Cause for concern, but all that matters is the result

There are many times when a win is a deserved win.

There are many times when a win is a flukey win. And there are times when a win is just a win.


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At Old Trafford on Saturday there was the kind of win that left you shaking your head and asking: 'What just happened?' It could just be the kind of win that translates into yet another title!

Sure, it sounds like hyperbole at its very best but even the most die-hard Manchester United fan would have said the following after 59 minutes of a one-sided contest versus Arsenal: 'I'll take a point from this.'

It wasn't robbery in the true sense, just a light pick-pocketing. But what it has done is paint over some nasty cracks that appear to be developing around the Red Devils. These cracks that Wayne Rooney and company conveniently brushed over will eventually develop into some serious buyer's remorse. Trust me!

Let's be honest here — it's not easy to be critical after a win because the bottom line in professional sports is the sweet nectar of victory and at the end of the day, United did what was asked — but come on!

I can hear the screams of outrage from Manchester. 'Good teams find a way to win even when they are playing badly' is the old adage. However, there is a whiff of bad brie (that's hit the super sweaty stage) coming off this United team that's making even Arsene Wenger's nose twitch.

From top to bottom there are flaws and they are the same areas of concern that we saw during the Community Shield. Ben Foster looks terrified and apart from one save to deny Robin van Persie (yes, a very important save), he exudes the confidence of a Massimo Taibi (did I just type that out loud?).

Wes Brown is suspect to anyone who has pace. Michael Carrick is one bad game away from being transfer-listed because of a behind the scenes tantrum and the $48 million man, Dimitar Berbatov, can't even get a start.