It was the performance that brooked no argument. Any team that can put the prize on the mantelpiece a full eight days before the end of April is worthy of respect.
The best? The worst? A weak league? A poor defence of the title from that lot down the road? These are arguments for another day.
Manchester United were superb against Aston Villa last night, Robin Van Persie exceptional. From the 94th second, when he scored his first, there was never any doubt of the outcome. Some would argue, the same could be said of the moment he put pen to paper as a United player.
Roberto Mancini, manager of Manchester City, for instance, said Van Persie could decide the title in United’s favour and so it has proved. Whether City were ever in competition for his signature is debatable.
Sir Alex Ferguson told confidantes two years ago that Van Persie was the one great player left at Arsenal and that he could get him at any time. Seeing the title go to City last season might have crystallised those thoughts.
Last night made the logic irrefutable. Van Persie destroyed Villa and, in doing so, steered United over the line at a trot. Nobody wins the title waving and throwing roses to the crowd. United, however, went close.
It helped that United had several swings at getting the three points required, not just this one, but even so Ferguson looked uncommonly calm prior to kick-off, still signing autographs after the match had started. He put his pen away just in time to see United take the lead.
Antonio Valencia carried the ball down the right and laid it back to Rafael, whose cross at first appeared to have been hit too deep. The curl on the ball kept it in and Ryan Giggs played the ball back across goal for Van Persie to tap it in from close range.
The celebrations began from there.
It was party time at Old Trafford, a surprisingly rare occasion considering this is Ferguson’s 13th league title.Of those, just three have been clinched with a victory at home, so this was a night to remember. Sensing it, United stepped up the tempo and tore Villa to shreds. They could have been 4-0 up in 10 minutes.
From the next attack, Van Persie could have added a second, meeting a Valencia cross on the volley, the ball flying just over. A cross from Giggs was then headed back across goal by Van Persie, only for Shinji Kagawa’s attempt to be smothered.
Finally, Rafael shot from 25 yards, eluding goalkeeper Brad Guzan but not the far post.
Villa eased the pressure with a chance of their own from player of the season Christian Benteke, but it was brief respite.
