The match between the giants of English Premier League, Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates stadium, ended up in a fantastic draw with a score line of 2-2. Both clubs played well, match was attractive, young Arsenal competed very well against the talent and experience of United, still the match ended up in a positive draw. Now news media says it was the match viewed by more than 1 billion people allover the world. If it is true, it was a healthy match and good for football. But, the post match responses are not showing such healthy signs from both sides. Just after the match, Sir Alex fired the first shot against Arsenal to rejuvenate the rivalry which was quiet for some time. He complained about the behavior of Arsenal fans in the stadium, then pointed his figure towards the match officials by saying that they 'supported Arsenal'. After two days of the match, he took a general snipe against his close competitors in the league by supporting Fifa's argument to introduce quota system in club football to encourage development of native talent. People who are watching football closely for last one decade can easily make out that, it was a deliberate shot against clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, and to some extend, against his city rivals Manchester City. But implication of such attack is much more, especially when it comes from senior personalities like Alex Ferguson.

A neutral person can view it as the continuing verbal battle and mind game between Sir Alex and Arsene Wenger. It will go on. But the fact is the quality of English Players and responsibility of English clubs. If it is verbal battle, one should give damn care to it. If it is a serious allegation, then people should see the development in a different perspective. I hope this is just a beginning of another round of Mind Games. Absence of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho produced the space for the old rivals. May be the performance of young Arsenal players might have created a serious impact on Ferguson's football brain. The success of young players in containing experienced United and the creative and attractive game they were playing will definitely create jealousy and insecurity feelings among other club managers and of course to Sir Alex.

In the age of globalisation, it is very difficult to argue that one country should restrict its football space in clubs just for their native products. We are living in the age of Euro...not the age of small nation states. It is like saying English football is for English and others should not be allowed. I don't know whether the English clubs and FA will say no to the TV money from abroad? If sir Alex can say that, he is very correct to say there should be a restriction on foreign players. It is better to remember, many countries in Europe, who plays attractive football are considering importing football talents for their national teams. It is England, the mother land of Football, the beautiful game, took initiative to utilise service of a foreign manager few years back. Footballistically very conservative countries also included players from Africa in their national teams. Till now, nobody is asking England to do that, but the time will say whether it is required for England too.

England will definitely think about the inclusion of foreign talents in their national team. May be after some time. The qualification round of Euro 2006 will be a preparation round for such thoughts for England. In the present condition, England has to win their qualifying match against Croatia, the country which reached in the Semi Finals of World cups in 1998. Croatia, the country who produced Devor Sukor, are now depending on a foreign talent for their qualification. Eduardo da Silva, is a Brazilian player who left for better opportunity and landed up in the national team by acquiring Croatian nationality. He is the top scorer and was the player who killed England's hopes when both countries fought each other in Croatia. If England fail to manage a place in Euro finals, they will follow the steps which they did for Sevn Goran Erickson.

How many English players flourished abroad till now? How many English players are ready to go to other leagues and compete for their place? Yes, Beckham and Oven did..but first one was not his choice at that time and it was his business charisma than talent which attracted Real Madrid. Oven's was his option than Real Madrid's'. Why the big clubs like Real, Barca, Milans, Juventus, Bayern etc are not looking for English talent? All these clubs are interested in picking up the best talent from anywhere in the world. Whey they are not looking to England? Definitely... there are reasons and first one it the expense because of inflationary prices of English talent. During every transfer period, we can hear all European big clubs are behind the best talents...and rarely hear that they are looking for English players. Manchester United has already brought the best talent and possessing them.. and they knew that there is very little left in England. This is a kind of monopolistic attitude.

After all, everything in the club football related to the money power of the club. Manchester United possessed it for quiet long time and slowly other clubs are reaching near to them in revenues. The upper hand in the market with high revenue collection, Manchester always picked up the best talents from England. When Chelsea come out with same money power, for the first time, Sir Alex started blaming about the money spending in the football. This year, once can see many club entered in the talent hunt with deep pocket. When Liverpool, West Ham United, and Tottenham started spending money equal to united, the availability of English talent become nil. To counter such attitude, it was Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger come out with his own way of finding talents with out stretching the clubs financial muscles to unimaginable limits. Definitely, it will create insecurity for United and others.

The question of nationality and representation in football will kill the charm of the game. Those are strictly political issues and it should not be address in club level. If England want to produce a talented team, they should encourage their children to play football. The government and professional organizations should provide facilities for football to grow. They should approach football with an open mind and should think about the inclusion of foreign talents, if it require, as national players. Sir Alex can say anything about quota system and influence of foreign players. It is better to remember his latest acquisition, Oven Hargreaves, who plays for England -may be the best English player of last world cup squad -is not a home grown talent. Before playing for United, he was in Germany with Bayern Munich and by birth he is a Canadian citizen and because of his father's 'passport' he is eligible to play for England. Now Ferguson is using that same loophole to import Hargreaves as a home grown talent in his club.

Rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United should be healthy ...but in some aspects, they breaks the thin barriers. Still I believe... it is Ferguson's natural approach against rival clubs. Remember, this allegations are not made in a public media...it was appeared in an interview in an inside magazine of United. This shows that he is purposefully doing it to counter the confidence of rival teams like Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, but away from football pitch.