Arsenal head to Old Trafford all Gunners blazing
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After surprisingly struggling in matches against Birmingham and Burnley, and unconvincingly-yet-convincingly beating Wigan, Manchester Utd ‘welcome’ Arsenal to Old Trafford at 5.15 for an early-season (but late in the day) titan clash.
All the Gunners are blazing in the Premier League so far, comfortably winning their opening games, scoring a staggering ten goals and conceding only two as they continue to shame their pre-season critics. That’s obviously ignoring the five goals that Arsene Wenger’s men put past Celtic en route to Champions League qualification.
Four competitive games, a measly 3 goals against and an astonishing 15 goals in that oh-so-important ‘F’ column. So who’s the key man? Well, sadly for Sir Alex, it’s Arsene. Wenger has changed the Arsenal formation to a fluid 4-3-3 system, so Fergie can forget plans of wafting Van Persie’s socks under Vidic’s nostrils – everyone in an Emirates stamp is filling his boots…
United, on the other hand, are a one-man show. Wayne Rooney has greedily jumped into the spotlight vacated by Ronaldo, and is carrying more than his fair share of the attacking burden on his broad green shoulders.
Though Berbatov and Owen both opened their accounts against Wigan last week, neither has looked particularly sharp, with Sir Alex already having leapt to defend the former, and Alan Hansen bizarrely championing the latter on Match of the Day last week, when all he had was video evidence to the contrary.
I remain to be convinced as to whether Owen’s exaggerated ducking and weaving in the box is, as we are meant to believe, the replacement of his pace by more intelligent movement in the area. Or whether he realises his penalty-box disco moves have managed to fool Sir Alex, and, should he prolong them, he might be getting a phone call from a gruff Italian, inviting him to South Africa.
Goal scoring aside, it is the creation of chances that seems to be Man Utd’s weakness at the minute. While Arsenal’s attacks are quick, clinical and more cutting than a Red-Bull-hopped Jeremy Kyle defending his mother, United have been slow and limited. Missing the penetration of their old mercurial winker (yes, winker), still hoping that Nani becomes even half the player Ronaldo was, and waiting for Valencia to find his feet, the Red Devils find themselves in somewhat of a transition period.
With injuries also taking their toll on this weaker squad – particularly in defence, where Rio Ferdinand’s absence couldn’t be more obvious – Arsenal have their biggest chance in years to go to Old Trafford and come away with the spoils.
Cesc Fabregas may be missing for the visitors, but their passing and movement should still be superior. Denilson is looking like the man Wenger promised the Arsenal faithful, and Diaby, Eboue and Arshavin are all in fine form.
To be Premier League champions you need your big players to perform in the big games. United’s usually do, and their chances in this match rest on their stars standing up to be counted.
Carrick needs to find form quickly, and, with Fletcher, must out-battle the Gunners in the middle of the park. Vidic has to return to his commanding presence at the back, and without Rio to help him much responsibility lays on his not-inconsiderable forehead at set-pieces. Neutralising the aeriel threat of Vermaelen and particularly free-scoring Gallas will be key.
The winner of this one is bound to be whoever makes the most of their possession. If United can carve out enough opportunities for Rooney, then judging by his excellent recent displays, he will take them. He will certainly be up for this one.
However, if Arsenal can recreate their sparkling team performances of late, and I have a suspicion that they might, the passing and breaking of Arsene’s ‘total football’ club could prove too much for Sir Alex’s one-man side.
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Great article! I worry for United but surely the big names and big game players will be more than capable of stepping up to get a result!
Lewis
Great work man! Read that Fabregas wont be playing tomorrow and as much as i dispise United i think they’ll take the 3 points tomorrow. Keep the articles coming
Lucho xx
Look, you’re a great writer and everything, but as a neutral fan in this argument (villa all the way) I believe you couldn’t have been more one sided throughout.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m always the first to comment and laugh when Man United are failing, but to be honest here, you’ve got it all wrong. Comments like “one man team” and “not so convincing performance” is utter rubbish when you consider the star quality that the majority of the united players have, and displayed fully against Wigan. Simply because one player is standing out from the rest continually does not mean you can immediately label him as “united’s only player”.
Murph
P.S. I think Eduardo’s dive was pathetic and he should be banned
Enjoyed this article…from a Liverpool perspective!
I’ll be blaming you if United burst my bubble and win!!
yr a hater Mr Writer. MUFC will win
I’ve enjoyed your articles so far Dan but I’m afraid that this is way off the mark so I must take it apart!
Utd v Birmingham
Possession: Man Utd 55% Birmingham 45%
Shots on target: Man Utd 17 Birmingham 4
Shots off target: Man Utd 9 Birmingham 2
Corners Man Utd 13 Birmingham 2
Utd could have been more clinical in putting the game to bed but 26 goal attemts to 6 and 13 coners to 2 doesn’t lie.
Utd v Burnley
Possession: Burnley 37% Man Utd 63%
Shots on target: Burnley 2 Man Utd 9
Shots off target: Burnley 6 Man Utd 9
Corners: Burnley 1 Man Utd 13
Yes, a bad night at the office for Utd in terms of finishing but 63% possession, 18 goal attampts to 8 and 13 corners to 1 says something don’t you think?
The fact is that the promoted sides are at their most dangerous early on when they have everything to play for.
“All the Gunners are blazing in the Premier League so far, comfortably winning their opening games, scoring a staggering ten goals and conceding only two as they continue to shame their pre-season critics”
Have you really been sucked into that knee jerk first few games hype? I think their ‘critics’ may well have their day yet. Pure nonsense to start making conclusions at this stage.
“Four competitive games, a measly 3 goals against”
Sorry but that average would mean 28/29 goals conceded in a 38 game PL season….not outstaning by any means and only one clean sheet in there (Utd have 2 with a much deplete defence.)
“Wenger has changed the Arsenal formation to a fluid 4-3-3 system,”
OK, so after 4 games against moderate opposition Wenger has solved the glaring problem with the DM position and strength in depth at the back? That may well come back to haunt you and it’s the reason the critics wrote them off.
“United, on the other hand, are a one-man show”
Utter nonsense!
“Though Berbatov and Owen both opened their accounts against Wigan last week, neither has looked particularly sharp”
Have you watched Utd’s games? Berba looks much sharper post Ronaldo. Owen is back-up and hasn’t played a full game but has been sharp enough when he has appeared.
“Goal scoring aside, it is the creation of chances that seems to be Man Utd’s weakness at the minute”
I suggest watching the games and reading the stats above…I won’t even bother to publish the stats for the Wigan game. Suffice to say that that comment is unfounded!
“still hoping that Nani becomes even half the player Ronaldo was, and waiting for Valencia to find his feet”
Nani will not ‘replace’ Ronaldo but if you watched Utd’s 3 games so far you should have seen that he has made an excellent contribution. Valencia has been fine, for a settling in period.
“particularly in defence, where Rio Ferdinand’s absence couldn’t be more obvious”
Sorry, but this is where we go from the debatable to the ‘absolute bollocks’ category. 1 goal conceded in 3 with 3 or 4 of the first choice back 5 absent. Utd’s strength in depth at the back is excellent and your comment is naiive in the extreme. That’s 2 clean sheets out of 3…pro rata that would be 25 for the season…a record…or on goals conceded 13 for a 38 game season…again a record!
“Denilson is looking like the man Wenger promised the Arsenal faithful”
So with the Arsenal faithful fretting over the glaring DM problem Arsenal have had (with Denilson fully involved in that) you’re assessment, after just 4 games is…problem solved! Could you be jumping the gun a little on that one?
“Carrick needs to find form quickly”
You have checked how many minutes he’s played in the first 3 games…haven’t you?
“and particularly free-scoring Gallas”
How many has he scored exactly and what is your definition of free-scoring?
All in all a pathetic, baised piece which has as much foundation as a house of cards.
Need to do much better!
BD Condell, its funny how u lambast critics for making conclusions based on the first 2 games of the season, and yet yourself write off ARsenal’s chances before the season even began!
How does this logic work, exactly?
@erwf: You’ll be able to point me to where I wrote off Arsenal’s chances before the season then….because I can’t find that! I didn’t fancy them to win it (I tipped Chelsea) but I didn’t rule them out either.
Everyone makes their pre season conjecture based on how they see it and no more. The article, however, uses the ‘evidence’ of the first few games to make its point and. as I’ve pointed out, is totally flawed and biased in this regard.
There’s the logic you are seeking!
Wheres the writer now?
I have never seen such a biased writer, but the silence now is golden.
didnt even bother reading your article.. comments pretty much summed it up
bravo to man utd! a well-played game. however, dun get too carried away. a 2-1 win over the Gunners with 2 dare i say lucky goals, MU fans already think they’re in another world. Tbh Arsenal conceded 2 soft goals which they shouldn’t have done, whilst a penalty shouldve been given for Fletchers foul. Man Utd played sloppily as well, but with all due respect fought back to gain 3 points. The game is won by football. You people shouldn’t brag. No point. Man utd had their thrashing with Arsenal before. Everyone has their ups&downs. TO ALL MAN UTD FANS, BE MORE PROFESSIONAL
Arsenal finally got its guns shut down!
err.. I’ll leave the professional behaviour to Wayne Rooney and co, YOUNITED!!
Hey,
Sorry for the late reply – I’ve been crazy busy!
Glad to see my article evoked so much reaction… exactly what I wanted – although I was disapointed more people didn’t have their say! I realise the piece was exaggerated, but I just wanted to do a different style of match preview, with opinion and an angle, rather than just facts.
BD Condell – I do understand a lot of your points, and I don’t mind your taking my article apart – it’s what we are here for after all – but many of my opinions weren’t regarding the outlook for the sides’ season, just how they have performed so far and what they were taking into this game. Before this one, Arsenal had been sensational – whether they are destined to be all season or not – and United had been average at best – even their drubbing of Wigan.
But things like –
- Gallas being Arsenal top scorer with 3 goals in 5 games – ‘free scoring’ i’d say…
- Carrick’s lack of playing time means he needs to find form quickly
- United missing Rio – I agree they have barely conceded, but (and the same goes with the stats you’ve produced) the amount of shots/chances they have conceded is not indicative of the quality of chances. Birmingham and Wigan had several glorious opportunities, and Arsenal were given similar chances.
- Same goes for the creation of chances for United. The number of shots they have had in some of these games is not really indicative of the quality of chances they have had. It has seemed much more like chances created out of nothing for the strikers. But granted they have had a lot of shots on target.
- Arsenal midfield – I wasn’t saying problem solved, but where Denilson has looked pretty average at best before this season, he has certainly looked top quality of late, and no – i still agree that their Def. Mid position is lacking, but their use of the three in CM has countered that well…
I know my article did seem biased, because it was! From the very title, it was meant to be a look at Arsenal’s best ever shot of beating United, as they had been the better team in the games leading up to it. And to be honest, they could – and maybe should – have beaten United in the end!
United won with a penalty and own goal, and if it wasn’t down to Foster’s save at 1-0 and a dubious refereeing decision, Arsenal would have walked it. Man U haven’t hit the ground running but are picking up points thanks to Rooney (who was given very little support again yesterday). And while the one-man-team thing was a deliberate exaggeration, United don’t look too impressive elsewhere (Fletcher’s performance aside) as Arsenal ran the show until their heads went down…
Anyway, apologies to those who felt i mistreated United. I was just trying to stir up some opinion about the early season big game! I’m definitely not an Arsenal fan though (my side are down in the Championship!), so don’t hate me on that account!
Thanks for your comments though guys, and I’ve gotta say, I see Chelsea for the title. Hopefully my next article will go down better!
This is with reference to the controversy surrounding the penalty awarded to Man United. Have no problems with the result, but a spade should be called a spade. Please watch Rooney’s right leg carefully. Someone’s invisible arm has caught it.
http://i28.tinypic.com/2mn0whf.jpg
DW Dan, bias is only bias on soccerlens when its against Man Utd
damn right
Great stuff.. always nice to read an article that can wind up the know-nothing know-it-all united fans!!! : )