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This is a big one, in the history of the Premier League Man United and Arsenal are 1st and 2ndin terms of most Premier Leagues won respectively and, despite a slight coolingof the hatred (some even claim there is a friendship) between Ferige and Wengerthis is always fought with a lot of passion. The 8-2 at Old Trafford lastseason was probably the most shocking result in the history of the PremierLeague, and that’s a tough category. I’ll be surprised if we see something as ridiculous this season but expect to see some great attacking football from twoteams who always strive to play good football going forward.
Man United:
After last weekend’scontroversial win over Chelsea the Red Devils will be riding high and ready toface anyone. Talking points aside the attacking half of United’s team put in agood shift at Stamford Bridge last weekend and we should expect to see more ofthe same tomorrow. Robin Van Persie, sitting at the head of Ferguson’s newdiamond system, has 7 league goals from 9 league games and will look to add tothat total against the team he left so unceremoniously in the summer. As Kagawais out for a few more weeks with his knee injury we shouldn’t expect Fergie tomake big changes from last weekend’s victory. As they are at home we might seean extra striker, either Welbeck or the impressive Hernandez, in place of thequiet Tom Cleverley. Despite the attacking promise, the defence is stilllooking quite weak. Admittedly they were up against the sternest attacking testthey will face in the league last weekend but after about half an hour and 2-0up the tempo changed and it seemed almost inevitable to everyone watching thatChelsea would bring it back to 2-2. To my utter astonishment Rio Ferdinand madeit into Garth Crooks’ team of the week on the BBC website, he had an OK game atbest, but in my opinion United fans will be yearning for the day they see alltheir centre-backs fit, and I would bet my bottom dollar that Ferdinand willnot be in the starting XI as often as he wants to be.
Arsenal:
Arsene Wenger will be encouragedby last week. Arsenal performed poorly, there was very little of the intricate,beautiful and ineffective football that we are used to seeing from the Gunners,but they got the 3 points. For years the majority of Arsenal fans have beenclaiming the supposed moral high ground, playing the ‘beautiful football’ cardevery time the season ended trophy-less. I think there will be a lot of Goonerscelebrating this potential exchange of beautiful football for winning ways.This is, however, only a small step towards the kind of form that has seen thetop teams, this season the two Manchester teams in particular, play quite badlyfor large parts of the season and still get win after win. It remains to beseen whether Wenger’s side can keep this kind of success up. This weekend theywill be looking to Mikel Arteta who, despite scoring last weekend, has beendisappointingly absent so far this season. With only 1 goal and 1 assist he hasfallen way short of his high expectations; at Everton he averaged a league goalevery 5 games and an assist every 4. And although I’m stating the obvious, ithas to be said; Olivier Giroud has to step it up. Only one goal from a strikerwho reportedly cost £12m is simply not good enough. If these two are on theirgame, along with the dangerous talent of Santi Cazorla, Arsenal always have achance.
Prediction:
When it comes down to it thiswill be another case of who can score more. Arsenal have the best defence inthe league so far this season but they are yet to face such a tough test asthis one. If Wenger goes to Old Trafford looking to close up defensively andplay a counter-attacking game then he is going the wrong way about it in myopinion. Arsenal will need to try and keep the game central. Compared to therest of the team United’s central midfield is lacking, especially increativity. The majority of their play goes out the wings through quick defence-to-attacktransformations so Arsenal will want to slow everything down and will look tocontrol the game from the midfield positions. Manchester United on the otherhand will try and do what they do best; lull their opposition into a feeling ofattacking security and, just when Arsenal commit one player too many, strikequickly and effectively. I think the home advantage will be the decider hereand United will just about take this game. 2-1
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