Manchester United Fans Club

There’s a real swagger about Manchester United these days. That awful stuttering start to the new campaign has paled into oblivion and all because of a remarkable sequence of results over the last month and a bit.

The Red Devils have been in irrepressible form of late. They have deservedly climbed up to second in the standings and joint top with Arsenal on points. A brilliant run of four goals in their last four games has consolidated their top billing as the favourites to retain the league title in May and left the rest, perhaps with the exception of the Gunners, in awe.

Man United’s 4-1 thrashing of Middlesbrough last weekend not only took them (temporarily) past Arsenal on the log, but it also equalled a 100-year-old record, given that the last time the Red Devils hit four in four matches was back in 1907.

It will be a long shot for Man United to go on and break that record tomorrow when they clash with Arsenal in a top-of-table battle at the Emirates Stadium in London. But if Man United were indeed to pull such an unlikely result, then Carlos Tevez will almost surely be involved with a huge role to play.

The Argentine, like a few of his Old Trafford teammates, has regained full fitness and is in good form; only this striker is a cut above the rest. It is common knowledge that he has struck up a deadly partnership with England forward Wayne Rooney. The evidence of this is in the six games that they have been paired together – they tallied nine goals between them in those fixtures and they have all led to victories. This is quite remarkable stuff from a combination of players who were said to be too similar to succeed.

They have certainly proved the myth wrong and this to the delight of the manager, Alex Ferguson.

The Old Trafford boss said after their demolition of Middlesbrough: “Wayne and Carlos are doing fantastically well together. They will mature and develop as experienced players, and when they do that, hopefully we will see the complete partnership.”

Tevez, who single-handedly staved off West ham’s relegation at the end of last season, hit home two against Boro and will no doubt be watched carefully by the Gunners’ defence, probably William Gallas.

But when this 23-year-old gets going, it is terribly difficult to pin him down, and the Gunners will have their work cut out for them.

Following his off-season transfer from West Ham, Tevez did not score for Man United until seven games into the season – it came against bitter rivals Chelsea in the third week of September. Since then he has added another three strikes to his credit and all those coming in his last four games.

Last week Rooney described the nimble-footed Argentine as “a clever player” and said “to play in this team is an honour”. He added: “We play fast and fluent football and that’s the sort of football I want to be involved in.”

Lavishing praise on his striker partner, Rooney added: “Playing with Carlos is brilliant. He is very intelligent, and I think we both work well together. We’ve both been scoring a few goals lately so we’re pleased with that. I know it’s my job to score goals and I try and score in every game I play.

“I’m not getting too involved with the build-up play but I’ve started to score ‘easy’ goals which I’ve never really done. I know where Carlos plays – just in behind the opposition’s midfield. That is where I like to play as well, but I feel as if I can change my game to whoever I play with.”

Needless to say, Tevez is a vitally important cog that makes this Old Trafford team play the way they do.

He was one of Argentina’s key personnel on their way to the final of the Copa America in June, and while he took some time to get fit again and find his bearings at his new club in Manchester, Tevez is proving to be worth every penny that Ferguson forked out for him on the last day of the close-season transfer window.

Speaking to The Sun, Tevez said he was grateful to Ferguson for his belief in the striker.

“The help I’ve had from Alex has been very important. I know he has total belief in me and I’m very grateful to him because of it. Alex knows a lot about football and I’m learning a lot with him. He makes me feel relaxed and valued and he calls me by my first name.”

He added: “When I look around the dressing room and see my team-mates there, I realise I’m at one of the most important clubs in the world. This is a dream come true. The most surprising thing about the squad is even though all the players are stars; they are all actually really humble and are good people.”

It maybe would not be a good idea to bet against this crafty Argentine getting amongst the goals tomorrow. Would it?