Arsenal vs Manchester United: Let battle commence!
This weekend a battle will commence at 12.45 GMT in North London between two of the nations oldest rivals. Arsenal, one of the most successful clubs in the Premier League’s history, will lock horns with the most successful club in the Premier League’s history – Manchester United.
In what is always a mouth watering fixture to every season, the league table as it stands couldn’t be any closer. Arsenal sit on top with the same points and same goal difference as the Red Devils but with a game in hand. The result to this game could prove to be pivotal at the end of the season. Between them Man Utd have won 375 games, notched up 1,258 points and collected nine league titles. Arsenal on the other hand have won 316 games, notched up 1,107 points and gained three titles.
The game this season sets up the most effective attack against the tightest defence; the north Londoners have scored 22 goals in 10 whilst their rivals have conceded just 4 in 11. Last seasons match at the Emirates saw Arsenal come from behind to beat Man Utd 2-1 in the last seven minutes of the game. Rooney had put the away side in front but an equaliser from Van Persie, who broke his foot in doing so, and a winner from the now departed Henry stole the points for them.
Interesting facts to note going into the lunch time game this weekend is Arsenal have never lost when Emmanuel Adebayor has scored. They’ve won 16 and drawn twice in the 18 matches that he’s found the back of the net. However, the Togolese striker hasn’t scored since the 22nd September when he netted twice in the 5-0 victory against Derby. Wayne Rooney has scored five times against Arsenal, twice when he was at Everton and three times for United. This season the strike force of Rooney and Tevez are the Premier League’s top marksmen with four goals each.
The rivalry between the two over the years has been a bitter one, with incidents such as the infamous pizza throwing fight in October 2004. The game that led to that was a physical encounter in which United ended Arsenal’s 49 game unbeaten run. The Londoner’s were said to be enraged with United’s tactics and the penalty that was awarded to Rooney. It was this row that escalated in the tunnel at the final whistle, where rumours circled that pizza was thrown around and Sir Alex Ferguson was hit in the face by a slice. In the prior season to this one though, another penalty decision was at the heart of the ‘disagreement’ between the two sides. Patrick Vieira was sent off with 10 minutes remaining after a foul on Van Nistelrooy. After the Dutchman failed to put away the resulting spot-kick several of Arsenal’s players surrounded him with accusations of cheating and goading him to the point where fines and match bans were issued out afterwards.
There’s no love lost between the managers either. Ferguson and Wenger face each other for the 34th time with 33 of the previous meetings resulting in 11 United wins and 13 to Arsenal. Seven of the other nine were draws with the remaining two being decided via penalty shoot-outs.
With Fabregas in exceptional form this season and 10 goals under his belt already his awareness, drive and stamina are crucial to his side’s chances this weekend. Arsenal have played attractive, one-touch football so far this term – something which they have been practicing in training using smaller set up pitches. They could miss Van Persie who is injured but with Eduardo netting twice in midweek this can only be a boost of confidence he needed. Arsenal, as much as the reliance on Fabregas, will also be looking to their wide players Hleb and Rosicky to use their skills and acute passing to get the dangerous, defence splitting through balls to their strikers.
United have played quick, counter attacking football this season and with the pace of Ronaldo, Rooney and Nani can cause any side problems. They will be dependent on their back four remaining as firm as ever and releasing the ball early to the attacking players. Scholes is out of the match but with the returns of Hargreaves, who can hold up the ball well and Gary Neville’s experience in defence they will be going into the game with confidence.
It’s ether going to be a high tempo, fast paced physical match with both sides looking to score early on to take control of the game or a nervy, keep-possession type game that will result in a draw if it does. United will no doubt be focusing on containing Fabregas whereas Arsenal’s defence and Almunia are going to have to be alert throughout the whole 90 minutes in monitoring United’s potent attack.
My prediction: 2-1 Arsenal
Follow the game live as Arsenal take on Manchester United at the Emirates on 3rd Nov.
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I think it will be an exiting game, I cant wait for tomorrow. If we get an early goal, then Arsenal definetly will have to attack and that can be a reat thing for United. We are a great counter-attacking team, but so are Arsenal. We have fantastic players and we are fun to watch, but so are they. It will be an open game and I think both teams will go out to attack. If Anderson starts United will win. If fletcher starts we will draw. My prediction: 2-0 to UNITED!! Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez to score.
As everyone knows, it’s one of those games which could go either way. Much depends on who scores first (assuming someone does score). The first goal will shape the dynamics of the contest. If Arsenal score first, I expect them to win. Perhaps 2:0. If United score first, I think it will be a 1:1 draw, with Arsenal scoring a late equaliser. Arsenal seem to score more late goals in tight games (last 10 minutes) than any other side in the league.
The Arsenal are extremely fit; their passing game tires opponents out leaving them ready for “the kill” late on. Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle manager, thinks that Arsenal are the fittest side in the league. In the middle of the pitch, there will be a titanic battle for supremacy: Hargreaves v. Fabregas. As long as Hargreaves is on top of his game, expect Fabregas to be kept relatively quiet. Keep Fabregas quiet, and you go a long way to neutralising the ‘new’ Arsenal. But United will have a problem as the game wears on.
Hargreaves is just returning from injury and is not fully match fit. Anderson, his midfield partner, is just finding his way to full fitness and still acclimatising to new team mates. United could be vulnerable in the last 10 minutes. To get anything out of the game, I think United need to be ahead by the time we get to the last quarter of the game.
It will be a tight game. Most probable result? A draw: 1-1.
Good preview, James. I’m as excited about the game as anyone, but the level of hype is making my skull vibrate at this point. Why do we always convince ourselves that big games in the fall will be pivotal at the end of the season? Points are points, but it’s worth remembering that Manchester United could have lost twice to Chelsea last year and still won the league. Still, it’s rare enough that you get two great teams on such good runs of form. Should be a lot of fun, regardless of whether it determines the next champion.
This game is not just about three points. when u go to school or to work there are always someone that will say:”so…what happend to your team on saturday? Looks like (Team name) ain`t that good then.” Every day I go off to school on monday i hear a commment that either we got lucky to hammer boro 4-1, or that we dont even know how to beat fuckin city. This match is also about personal pride. Every day this week I have heard this:”Hey,u cunt. What happend with ya last season? u got smashed twice by us didnt u?” Everybody that goes through the same thing, knows how muth u wanna hit that guy in the face. leave a mark and say:”We will beat u next time!!” And tomorrow we will. 2-0 to The mighty reds! Bring on Arsenal!!
I must say, This is a BRILLIANT article!
Its lovely to see a preview without any bias.
I think the game will be tight. we might not see any attacking flair.
Ummmm, Brian I am just wondering, are you sure abouit those two loses by Man Utd at the hands of Chelsea? I remeber two draws. Anyways.
Anyways this game is very important in terms of confidence, and also Man Utd will also actually level Arsenal on points if they win. The Gunners have a game in hand and taking those extra points into December will provide extra incentive. If on the other hand the teams are level on points there will be more pressure on both teams and I can see SAF edging Wenger in the battle of the nerves.
This game will be crucial in the run in to the title as I can see Arsenal go unbeated again if United will not stop them.
The key to the game? Composure. Arsenal will not get many scoring opportunities and they will ahve to take them all. Man Utd wil get several half-chances and they will have to make the most of them. Also the team that goes into the lead will have to hold their nerves, even if they find themselves 2 or even 3 goals ahead (God, where is Neville when we need him?).
It does not come down to any player in particular, i dnot think. Everyone will have a responsability and taking it will go a long way to determining the eventual winners.
At this stage, with this much quality it is too close to call but I think United will teach a lesson: Arsenal 0 - 3 Man Utd. Not exaggerated and no wishful thinking. I honeslty see this result happening, but it will not reflect the game.
Hey Andrei - I said Man Utd COULD HAVE lost twice last year to Chelsea and still won the title. They drew twice and United won the league by six. Had Chelsea won both games, they would have finished on equal points, but United were so far ahead on goal differential that unless Chelsea beat them 17-0 United would still have been champions.
oopsy, sorry Brian
Robert, you fancy United to win 1-5. That’s a brave call, mate. You might be letting your enthusiasm run away with you a touch. It’s not impossible (the great United treble winning team once thrashed Arsenal 6-1 at Old Trafford, and back in the 90’s United hammered Arsenal 2-6 at Highbury when Lee Sharpe was in his pomp). But somehow mate, I just can’t see a 1-5 on Saturday. More like 1-1.