Prem Preview: Arsenal - Manchester United
What: English Premier League
Who: Arsenal (1st, EPL, 26/30 pts) v Manchester United (2nd, EPL, 26/33pts)
When: Saturday, 3rd November, 2007, kick-off 12.45 (GMT)
Where: Emirates Stadium, London
Clash Of The Titans
This fixture pits the two most successful sides in Premier League history against each other. Manchester United are the most successful, winning 375 matches since the league was formed, gaining 1,258 points which have resulted in nine titles. Arsenal on the other hand have won 316 times, and collected 1107 points on their way to three titles.
If ever there were a clash of the titans, this is it. Arsenal currently hold the league’s longest unbeaten run at 17 games, whereas United are on the longest current winning streak, collecting all three points in their last eight games.
Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are currently the top flight’s longest serving managers and have met 33 times in the past. The Frenchman holds the advantage, having guided his team to 13 wins compared to Ferguson’s 11. Two of Arsenal’s victories came last season when the London side achieved the double over their bitter rivals.
If stats are your thing then you’ll be interested to know that the fixture also pits the Premier League’s most efficient attack (Arsenal: 22 goals scored) against the best defence (Manchester United: 4 goals conceded). The Gunners average 2.20 goals per game, whereas United average 1.73.
Turning Potential Into Success…
After an inconsistent season last time around, Arsenal remain on course to markedly improve on their fourth place finish. Having dropped just four points in ten games, Arsene Wenger’s men are fairing better than anybody expected this season, and in some style too.
Against Liverpool last weekend they would feel aggrieved to have only come away from Anfield with a point, such was their dominance in the first half. Even without the increasingly influential Robin van Persie, Arsenal look dangerous on the break and are capable of scoring from midfield, an element lacking in last season’s rollercoaster.
Cesc Fabregas is the talisman of the team, netting ten times in all competitions and looking the finished article at the tender age of 21. He’s receiving all the plaudits for his side’s fine start to the season, but Alex Hleb hardly gets a mention, and arguably he’s the most improved player this season.
For the past two years the midfielder has looked promising, but often failed to find an end result for his mazy runs. This term however he’s scored three times already and, as his assist for Cesc Fabregas’ equaliser last week proved, his intelligence for the game holds no bounds.
After establishing themselves as contenders for the title this year, the next hurdle for The Gunners is to sustain momentum throughout the Christmas period and into February. If they can do that and remain six points from the top of the table, against all odds the 2007-08 season is theirs for the taking and, Invincibles aside, it will be the most remarkable season in the club’s history. Of course, there’s just the small matter of Manchester United standing in their way.
If Arsenal manage to score three on Saturday they will have hit 600 home goals in the Premier League. A win would also secure their best ever start to a Premier League season, beating their record set in the 2003-04 campaign – and we all knew what happened that year.
…Turning Success Into Dominance
Having broken Chelsea’s mini-dominance last year and claimed the title that they have made their own, Manchester United are poised to usher in a new period of dominance. On Tuesday manager Alex Ferguson celebrates a simply remarkable 21 years at the helm at Old Trafford, a record fitting the man’s stature.
Once again he appears to be building a team capable of challenging for every competition and the 2007-08 season could see the Scot win his tenth Premier League title, but once again the Arsenal could stand in his way.
English football’s most successful manager is no stranger to epic battles, having taken part in some truly legendry encounters in the past, so he’s the best person to know that he has a side capable of doing the business against Arsenal. New signings Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves are settling in as well as everybody suspected, but midfielders Anderson and Nani have progressed quicker than most anticipated. Initially brought in as investments in the future, the pair are staking a claim to a regular starting spot.
Even with injuries at the start of the season, United have turned around their form and are on fire at present, having netted four times in their last four games. After a run of 1-0 victories, United were being written out of the title race by some sections of the press, but perhaps they forgot that regardless of the scoreline, a win warrants three points. As a result, only goals scored keep them from the top of the tree, and the way they are going, this wont be for too long.
Against the strongest attack in the division, one would have thought that United might struggle to keep a clean sheet, but they’ve shut out seven teams previously this season so have form on their side.
After Arsenal dropped points at Liverpool last week, United are currently the form side of the competition and have gained maximum points since losing to City way back in August.
Everything’s set up for a memorable match at the Emirates, and for the first time in a few seasons, the game might go some way to point out who could be champions in May. Stay with Goal.com all weekend for comprehensive coverage of this, and all other Premier League matches.
FORM GUIDE (Prem unless otherwise stated)
Arsenal
31 Oct v Sheffield United (A) WON 3-0 (CC)
28 Oct vLiverpool (A) DREW 1-1
23 Oct v Slavia Prague (H) WON 7-0 (CL)
20 Oct v Bolton Wanderers (H) WON 2-0
07 Oct v Sunderland (H) WON 3-2
Manchester United
30 Oct v Middlesbrough (H) WON 4-1
23 Oct v Dynamo Kiev (A) WON 4-2 (CL)
20 Oct v Aston Villa (A) WON 4-1
06 Oct v Wigan (H) WON 4-0
02 Oct v Roma (H) WON 1-0 (CL)
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger’s side continue to avoid serious injury, only Robin van Persie (knee) and Philippe Senderos (back) are absent. It’ll be a close call who starts up front. Will Adebayor be on his own? If not, will Walcott be utilised through the middle or will Eduardo, impressive in the Carling Cup, be used to break the United defence? It’s anyone’s guess.
Squad (from): Almunia, Lehmann, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby, Adebayor, Eduardo, Eboue, Walcott, Gilberto, Rosicky, Bendtner, Denilson.
Last Starting XI (v Sheffield United): Fabianski, Song, J Hoyte, Diarra, Gibbs, Gilberto, Denilson, Diaby, Walcott, Bendtner, Eduardo.
Manchester United
Ferguson has revealed he will have a full squad – Paul Scholes and long-term casualties aside – to choose from.
Patrice Evra is fit again after injuring his calf against Dynamo Kiev ten days ago, Owen Hargreaves came through last weekend's clash against Middlesbrough unscathed, Louis Saha is available and Michael Carrick, who's not played since fracturing his elbow on 2 October, trained all week with the first-team.
Despite having played with the reserve team on Tuesday night, captain Gary Neville won’t be involved.
Squad (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Tevez, Rooney, Saha.
Last Starting XI (v Middlesbrough): Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Hargreaves, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Tevez.
Referee: Howard Webb (Yorkshire).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal – Cesc Fabregas
The young Spaniard is currently one of the Premier League’s hottest properties, instrumental to Arsenal’s meteoric rise so far this season. Although he is not the only capable member of the squad, he’s certainly the most influential. He can pick out a pass from anywhere on the pitch, and is strong defensively.
The attribute that has been most important this season however is his finishing, scoring ten in all competitions. His runs off the ball are deadly, so Hargreaves, Ferdinand and Vidic will all have to be on their toes.
Manchester United – Wayne Rooney
The forward has quite a record against Arsenal, scoring five times against them in the past, notably with Everton in the game that saw him rise to fame back in October 2002, an 18-yard corker that ended The Gunners’ 30 game unbeaten run.
History aside, the England international is on fire at the minute, having scored eight in seven games for club and country. He’s developing a near telepathic relationship with Carlos Tevez which, if Arsenal aren’t careful, he could be their downfall.
PREDICTION
As with last week’s prediction for the Liverpool – Arsenal encounter, it would be foolish, cowardly journalism to predict a draw, even though the strengths of these teams might cancel each other out. Purely based on what we have seen so far this season, both sides are capable of scoring in abundance, and both sides will treat this game as one they can win, so expect an end-to-end match full of chances and goals.
With home advantage and the honeymoon period lasting into the winter months, Arsenal might just edge this one. But it will be very close and the first goal is vital. If Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo are on form at the same time, it’s hard to see Arsenal winning it, but if Hleb, Fabregas and Adebayor fancy it, United might be beaten. It’s going to be seat-of-your-pants stuff and I for one can’t wait.
Arsenal 3 – 2 Manchester United
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