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Premier League Preview: Arsenal - Manchester United
Gunners and Red Devils vie to get closest to Chelsea...
| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £20.50 | Draw £32.50 | Arsenal £36.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £21.00 | Draw £32.00 | Arsenal £36.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £21.00 | Draw £32.50 | Arsenal £37.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £21.00 | Draw £32.50 | Arsenal £37.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | AC Milan £21.60 | Draw £33.50 | Arsenal £37.00 |
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30 Jan 2010 13:08:00
By Graham Lister
Sunday, 31 January 2010, Kick-off: 16:00
Emirates Stadium, Ashburton Grove, London N5
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has billed the Red Devils' showdown against Arsenal on Sunday as his club's "biggest game of the season", and it certainly has all the ingredients to be a pivotal encounter.
Clashes between the reds of north London and their northern counterparts have tended to define the Premier League era, though in recent years the emergence of Chelsea - and their rivalry with United in particular - has had more bearing on the destination of the title.
The three clubs are locked in another compelling race this season, with Carlo Ancelotti's Blues currently in pole position, one point ahead of United and two ahead of the Gunners, with a game in hand on both.
The fact that Chelsea play at Burnley on Saturday, and could extend their lead to four points before their two rivals even kick-off, adds further edge and incentive to the two teams who'll line up on Sunday afternoon.
Not that either side needs any additional motivation: their past history and present form guarantees that this clash will be ultra-competitive, brimming with significance and decorated with intriguing personal duels all over the Emirates pitch.
Both teams have a genuine chance of winning the league, United for an unprecedented four times in a row, Arsenal for the first time since 2004. Does that mean the Gunners will be the hungrier? It might do, if Ferguson was the sort of manager to indulge any hint of complacency within his squad. Yet his remarkable record of consistent success over the last 20 years at Old Trafford has been based on instilling into a changing cast of players the burning desire to be winners over and over again.
That philosophy was apparent this week as the Scot relished having the opportunity to deal a major blow to one of United's main title rivals; but Ferguson knows it won't be easy. He acknowledged that Arsenal's current run of 10 league games without defeat makes Arsene Wenger's side a considerable danger to his own team's aspirations.
He hailed the consistency the Gunners have shown in hauling themselves back into title contention after having been 11 points adrift at the end of November.
Indeed, Arsenal briefly claimed top spot after their home win over Bolton Wanderers ten days ago. United quickly reasserted themselves in first place by
thrashing Hull City thanks to Wayne Rooney's four-goal salvo. But then - while United were reaching the League Cup final at the expense of neighbours City, and Arsenal were being held to a goalless draw at Aston Villa, Chelsea stole a march on them both by emphatically ending Birmingham City's 15-match unbeaten run.
It's been that sort of season: tight, unpredictably changeable and addictively exciting.
"As I have said all along," intoned Ferguson, "the team that is most consistent will win the league now. Arsenal's current form has been very good. It has brought them back into the picture. That is why this is such a massive game for us."
Wenger has been less eager to imbue this fixture with such importance, believing that whatever the outcome, his young Gunners will still challenge for the title. But with games at Chelsea next weekend and at home to Liverpool three days after that, victory over United on Sunday will make an awful lot of Arsenal fans feel an awful lot more confident.
"We love being in the race," admitted Wenger. "Of course it was our dream to be in this position in this period of time."
He added: "We know if we play at our best we can beat Manchester United - we can beat everybody. Let's focus on our strengths and show that we have made a big improvement compared to last year."
Of course, Wenger and many neutrals felt that Arsenal should have won the reverse fixture at Old Trafford at the end of August, when Andrey Arshavin's stunning strike gave the Gunners a deserved lead which was subsequently squandered when Rooney won and converted a penalty and an unnerved Abou Diaby headed a Ryan Giggs free-kick into his own net. Critics felt the outcome of that game underlined the difference between the two sides: Arsenal have the capability to dominate yet still lose or draw; United to be below par but still win.
Dutchman Robin van Persie had seemed certain to double Arsenal's lead just after half-time in that game, until Ben Foster blocked his goal-bound effort; and when the Holland striker - much missed by the Gunners since sustaining an ankle injury on international duty in November - had an injury-time 'goal' disallowed for offside, Wenger's frustrated kick at a water bottle saw him sent to the stands for the closing seconds. He found himself stranded on a roof surrounded by baying United fans.
While Ferguson has urged those fans to desist from abusing the Frenchman with ritual obscenities on Sunday, Wenger has found himself pilloried in recent days by Martin O'Neill and various Aston Villa players for suggesting that the Villans were a long-ball team in the wake of the Gunners' first goalless draw of the season.
If his post-match observations at Villa Park were ill-advised, his earlier comments - that the English media employ double standards, howling indignantly if an Arsenal player commits a bad tackle, yet deriding the Gunners as whimps when opponents kick them off the park - resonated with the ring of truth.
So it was interesting to read what United's self-styled 'enforcer' Darren Fletcher, would-be heir to Roy Keane's role in the Red Devils' midfield, had to say in midweek. Fletcher said of Arsenal's captain and playmaker Cesc Fabregas: "I’m going to ask you ‘Do you fancy it? Do you like getting kicked? Do you like the fact I am going to be at you for the whole 90 minutes?' As soon as you get the ball I am going to be in your face. You are not going to like it one bit. 'Are you ready for that because that’s what’s going to happen?'"
Wenger will no doubt be looking to referee Chris Foy to keep a close eye on the legality of Fletcher's challenges, though Ferguson tried to redress the balance by insisting: "Everyone knows that Darren Fletcher is not a dirty player or a physical player. He is not built that way. But he can win the ball and his timing and energy to get to it is fantastic. You can’t call that a fault. Being able to tackle properly is a great part of the game."
So it is beautifully poised for another epic head-to-head between two of English football's most celebrated and successful clubs. It will be the 42nd time Ferguson and Wenger have pitted their wits against each other in all competitions. Fergie has won 16 times to Le Prof's 14, with 11 draws (two of which were then settled by penalties, once in United's favour, once in Arsenal's).
United will take encouragement from the fact that they are unbeaten in their last four matches against the Gunners, winning three - including both legs of last season's Champions League semi-final. But the Manchester giants have not won any of their last four Premier League games at Arsenal, including all three matches at the Emirates Stadium. Their only away victory in their last nine visits to Arsenal territory was the 4-2 win at Highbury in February 2005, when Keane and Patrick Vieira famously went eyeball-to-eyeball in the tunnel as the teams waited to enter the arena.
An Arsenal victory on Sunday would give Wenger his 300th win in his 510th Premier League match in charge; he would become the second manager to reach that milestone.
The first? Ferguson, who has managed 438 wins in 737 Premier League matches.
FORM GUIDE
Arsenal
27 Jan (Premier League) v Aston Villa (A) DREW 0-0
24 Jan (FA Cup) v Stoke City (A) LOST 1-3
20 Jan (Premier League) v Bolton Wanderers (H) WON 4-2
17 Jan (Premier League) v Bolton Wanderers (A) WON 2-0
09 Jan (Premier League) v Everton (H) DREW 2-2
03 Jan (FA Cup) v West Ham Utd (A) WON 2-1
Manchester Utd
27 Jan (League Cup) v Man City (H) WON 3-1
23 Jan (Premier League) v Hull City (H) WON 4-0
19 Jan (League Cup) v Man City (A) LOST 1-2
16 Jan (Premier League) v Burnley (H) WON 3-0
09 Jan (Premier League) v Birmingham City (A) DREW 1-1
03 Jan (FA Cup) v Leeds United (H) LOST 0-1
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal
For Arsenal this season it's been a case of another game, another injury - and their midweek tussle at Villa Park maintained the unwanted trend. Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo became the latest in a long-line of Arsenal casualties, though the good news for the Gunners is that fears Vermaelen had broken his leg were not realised. However, the Belgian may not be fully fit to face United, in which case 35-year-old Sol Campbell will almost certainly deputise.
Eduardo, though, is definitely out with a hamstring problem. He joins midfielder Abou Diaby on the sidelines, though Nicklas Bendtner's return from injury gives the Gunners an aerial option in Eduardo's absence, the Dane being likely to partner Andrey Arshavin in attack.
Fit-again Samir Nasri, who scored both Arsenal goals in last season's 2-1 Emirates victory over United, could start after coming off the bench at Villa Park, with Aaron Ramsey possibly reverting to substitute.
Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song are also both available after returning from African Cup of Nations duty, with Song a candidate to resume his influential holding midfield role.
Still unavailable are Keiran Gibbs, Johan Djourou, Fran Merida and Robin van Persie.
Last starting XI (v Aston Villa): Almunia; Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen (Campbell 35), Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas, Ramsey, Rosicky (Nasri 79), Eduardo (Bendtner 62), Arshavin. Subs not used: Fabianski, Walcott, Traore, Eastmond.
Manchester Utd
United will be without centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who starts a four-match ban after an FA disciplinary panel decided his appeal against a violent conduct charge for his clash with Hull's Craig Fagan last week was "frivolous". But Ferguson will probably recall Nemanja Vidic, fit again after injury, to plug the gap alongside Jonny Evans created by Rio's indiscretion.
Having been rested in midweek, Antonio Valencia is likely to start, probably at Nani's expense, though Nani could be deployed on the left if Ferguson decides Ryan Giggs needs a rest. However, the more workmanlike Park Ji-Sung could be preferred.
The experienced Wes Brown could come in at right-back ahead of Rafael, but Owen Hargreaves (knee) and John O'Shea (thigh) are unavailable.
Last starting XI (v Man City): Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Rafael Da Silva (Brown 74), Evans, Giggs, Carrick, Nani (Valencia 90), Scholes, Fletcher, Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Vidic, Park, Owen, Berbatov.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal
Cesc Fabregas
Many pundits expect this game to revolve around Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney, the respective sides' most influential performers this season. The impact of Fabregas' orchestration of the Gunners' best moves cannot be overstated, and despite Darren Fletcher's promise to rough the Catalan playmaker up, he will be determined to pull the strings again to telling effect.
The boy from Barcelona, who made his Arsenal debut as a 16-year-old, has flourished under Wenger's revised and fluid 4-3-3 system this season, relishing the freedom to get forward more. It is apparent in his statistics: 14 goals already to his name this season representing his best-ever return.
In the Premier League alone his total of 11 goals is complemented by 13 assists, more than any other player in the division, and Fabregas leads the Actim Index with a current score of 491, almost 100 more than his nearest challenger, Chelsea's Didier Drogba.
Fabregas has scored five goals in his last five League games, and although still only 22, has already made 257 competitive first team appearances for the Gunners, netting 43 goals.
Blessed with great technique and vision, and the ability to pick out team-mates with precision passing, Fabregas has added steel to his game and is regularly finishing off moves as well as initiating them, suggesting that Fletcher and his team-mates will have their hands full trying to stifle his influence on Sunday.
Manchester Utd
Wayne Rooney
The blow to United of losing Cristiano Ronaldo was softened not only by the size of the fee received from Real Madrid, but also by the way in which England striker Rooney has shouldered the extra goalscoring burden.
Rooney will probably be asked to plough a lone furrow up top against Arsenal, with Ferguson keeping Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen on the bench. That won't faze the Evertonian in the slightest. He is in blistering form, following up his four-goal heroics against Hull with the decisive, injury-time third goal for United against Manchester City in the midweek League Cup semi-final.
United have taken 13 points from their last five League games, and Rooney has scored seven goals in those matches, taking his season's tally to 21 (19 in the League) and leaving him one short (along with team-mate Paul Scholes) of joining the elite band of players who have scored a century or more goals in Premier League history.
Ferguson hailed Rooney as "truly world class" after his winner against City, and few would argue. "His control, his leading of the line, his penetration was absolutely fantastic," gushed Fergie.
Rooney announced his arrival on the big stage by scoring a sensational winner against Arsenal for Everton while still only 16, and he has maintained a good scoring record against the Gunners ever since - something Thomas Vermaelen or possibly Rooney's seasoned former England team-mate, Sol Campbell, will need to be at their best to nullify.
PREDICTION
When United beat Arsenal at the Emirates last May in the Champions League semi-final second leg, their full-back Patrice Evra dismissed the Gunners' challenge as a case of "men against boys." By the following August the gap had narrowed to such an extent that even many United fans admitted, despite winning 2-1 at Old Trafford, that their team had been second best for much of the match.
Now is the time for Wenger's team to demonstrate that they have truly matured, by beating in-form United to steal the advantage ahead of next weekend's equally significant showdown against Chelsea.
Arsenal are unbeaten at the Emirates in League clashes with United, and must maintain that record if they are to justify Wenger's faith in their title credentials. It should be another pulsating contest, with home advantage just tipping the balance.
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
Emirates Stadium, Ashburton Grove, London N5
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has billed the Red Devils' showdown against Arsenal on Sunday as his club's "biggest game of the season", and it certainly has all the ingredients to be a pivotal encounter.
Clashes between the reds of north London and their northern counterparts have tended to define the Premier League era, though in recent years the emergence of Chelsea - and their rivalry with United in particular - has had more bearing on the destination of the title.
The three clubs are locked in another compelling race this season, with Carlo Ancelotti's Blues currently in pole position, one point ahead of United and two ahead of the Gunners, with a game in hand on both.
The fact that Chelsea play at Burnley on Saturday, and could extend their lead to four points before their two rivals even kick-off, adds further edge and incentive to the two teams who'll line up on Sunday afternoon.
Not that either side needs any additional motivation: their past history and present form guarantees that this clash will be ultra-competitive, brimming with significance and decorated with intriguing personal duels all over the Emirates pitch.
Both teams have a genuine chance of winning the league, United for an unprecedented four times in a row, Arsenal for the first time since 2004. Does that mean the Gunners will be the hungrier? It might do, if Ferguson was the sort of manager to indulge any hint of complacency within his squad. Yet his remarkable record of consistent success over the last 20 years at Old Trafford has been based on instilling into a changing cast of players the burning desire to be winners over and over again.
That philosophy was apparent this week as the Scot relished having the opportunity to deal a major blow to one of United's main title rivals; but Ferguson knows it won't be easy. He acknowledged that Arsenal's current run of 10 league games without defeat makes Arsene Wenger's side a considerable danger to his own team's aspirations.
He hailed the consistency the Gunners have shown in hauling themselves back into title contention after having been 11 points adrift at the end of November.
Indeed, Arsenal briefly claimed top spot after their home win over Bolton Wanderers ten days ago. United quickly reasserted themselves in first place by
thrashing Hull City thanks to Wayne Rooney's four-goal salvo. But then - while United were reaching the League Cup final at the expense of neighbours City, and Arsenal were being held to a goalless draw at Aston Villa, Chelsea stole a march on them both by emphatically ending Birmingham City's 15-match unbeaten run.
It's been that sort of season: tight, unpredictably changeable and addictively exciting.
"As I have said all along," intoned Ferguson, "the team that is most consistent will win the league now. Arsenal's current form has been very good. It has brought them back into the picture. That is why this is such a massive game for us."
Wenger has been less eager to imbue this fixture with such importance, believing that whatever the outcome, his young Gunners will still challenge for the title. But with games at Chelsea next weekend and at home to Liverpool three days after that, victory over United on Sunday will make an awful lot of Arsenal fans feel an awful lot more confident.
"We love being in the race," admitted Wenger. "Of course it was our dream to be in this position in this period of time."
He added: "We know if we play at our best we can beat Manchester United - we can beat everybody. Let's focus on our strengths and show that we have made a big improvement compared to last year."
Of course, Wenger and many neutrals felt that Arsenal should have won the reverse fixture at Old Trafford at the end of August, when Andrey Arshavin's stunning strike gave the Gunners a deserved lead which was subsequently squandered when Rooney won and converted a penalty and an unnerved Abou Diaby headed a Ryan Giggs free-kick into his own net. Critics felt the outcome of that game underlined the difference between the two sides: Arsenal have the capability to dominate yet still lose or draw; United to be below par but still win.
Dutchman Robin van Persie had seemed certain to double Arsenal's lead just after half-time in that game, until Ben Foster blocked his goal-bound effort; and when the Holland striker - much missed by the Gunners since sustaining an ankle injury on international duty in November - had an injury-time 'goal' disallowed for offside, Wenger's frustrated kick at a water bottle saw him sent to the stands for the closing seconds. He found himself stranded on a roof surrounded by baying United fans.
While Ferguson has urged those fans to desist from abusing the Frenchman with ritual obscenities on Sunday, Wenger has found himself pilloried in recent days by Martin O'Neill and various Aston Villa players for suggesting that the Villans were a long-ball team in the wake of the Gunners' first goalless draw of the season.
If his post-match observations at Villa Park were ill-advised, his earlier comments - that the English media employ double standards, howling indignantly if an Arsenal player commits a bad tackle, yet deriding the Gunners as whimps when opponents kick them off the park - resonated with the ring of truth.
So it was interesting to read what United's self-styled 'enforcer' Darren Fletcher, would-be heir to Roy Keane's role in the Red Devils' midfield, had to say in midweek. Fletcher said of Arsenal's captain and playmaker Cesc Fabregas: "I’m going to ask you ‘Do you fancy it? Do you like getting kicked? Do you like the fact I am going to be at you for the whole 90 minutes?' As soon as you get the ball I am going to be in your face. You are not going to like it one bit. 'Are you ready for that because that’s what’s going to happen?'"
Wenger will no doubt be looking to referee Chris Foy to keep a close eye on the legality of Fletcher's challenges, though Ferguson tried to redress the balance by insisting: "Everyone knows that Darren Fletcher is not a dirty player or a physical player. He is not built that way. But he can win the ball and his timing and energy to get to it is fantastic. You can’t call that a fault. Being able to tackle properly is a great part of the game."
So it is beautifully poised for another epic head-to-head between two of English football's most celebrated and successful clubs. It will be the 42nd time Ferguson and Wenger have pitted their wits against each other in all competitions. Fergie has won 16 times to Le Prof's 14, with 11 draws (two of which were then settled by penalties, once in United's favour, once in Arsenal's).
United will take encouragement from the fact that they are unbeaten in their last four matches against the Gunners, winning three - including both legs of last season's Champions League semi-final. But the Manchester giants have not won any of their last four Premier League games at Arsenal, including all three matches at the Emirates Stadium. Their only away victory in their last nine visits to Arsenal territory was the 4-2 win at Highbury in February 2005, when Keane and Patrick Vieira famously went eyeball-to-eyeball in the tunnel as the teams waited to enter the arena.
An Arsenal victory on Sunday would give Wenger his 300th win in his 510th Premier League match in charge; he would become the second manager to reach that milestone.
The first? Ferguson, who has managed 438 wins in 737 Premier League matches.
FORM GUIDE
Arsenal
27 Jan (Premier League) v Aston Villa (A) DREW 0-0
24 Jan (FA Cup) v Stoke City (A) LOST 1-3
20 Jan (Premier League) v Bolton Wanderers (H) WON 4-2
17 Jan (Premier League) v Bolton Wanderers (A) WON 2-0
09 Jan (Premier League) v Everton (H) DREW 2-2
03 Jan (FA Cup) v West Ham Utd (A) WON 2-1
Manchester Utd
27 Jan (League Cup) v Man City (H) WON 3-1
23 Jan (Premier League) v Hull City (H) WON 4-0
19 Jan (League Cup) v Man City (A) LOST 1-2
16 Jan (Premier League) v Burnley (H) WON 3-0
09 Jan (Premier League) v Birmingham City (A) DREW 1-1
03 Jan (FA Cup) v Leeds United (H) LOST 0-1
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal
For Arsenal this season it's been a case of another game, another injury - and their midweek tussle at Villa Park maintained the unwanted trend. Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo became the latest in a long-line of Arsenal casualties, though the good news for the Gunners is that fears Vermaelen had broken his leg were not realised. However, the Belgian may not be fully fit to face United, in which case 35-year-old Sol Campbell will almost certainly deputise.
Eduardo, though, is definitely out with a hamstring problem. He joins midfielder Abou Diaby on the sidelines, though Nicklas Bendtner's return from injury gives the Gunners an aerial option in Eduardo's absence, the Dane being likely to partner Andrey Arshavin in attack.
Fit-again Samir Nasri, who scored both Arsenal goals in last season's 2-1 Emirates victory over United, could start after coming off the bench at Villa Park, with Aaron Ramsey possibly reverting to substitute.
Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song are also both available after returning from African Cup of Nations duty, with Song a candidate to resume his influential holding midfield role.
Still unavailable are Keiran Gibbs, Johan Djourou, Fran Merida and Robin van Persie.
Last starting XI (v Aston Villa): Almunia; Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen (Campbell 35), Clichy, Denilson, Fabregas, Ramsey, Rosicky (Nasri 79), Eduardo (Bendtner 62), Arshavin. Subs not used: Fabianski, Walcott, Traore, Eastmond.
Manchester Utd
United will be without centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who starts a four-match ban after an FA disciplinary panel decided his appeal against a violent conduct charge for his clash with Hull's Craig Fagan last week was "frivolous". But Ferguson will probably recall Nemanja Vidic, fit again after injury, to plug the gap alongside Jonny Evans created by Rio's indiscretion.
Having been rested in midweek, Antonio Valencia is likely to start, probably at Nani's expense, though Nani could be deployed on the left if Ferguson decides Ryan Giggs needs a rest. However, the more workmanlike Park Ji-Sung could be preferred.
The experienced Wes Brown could come in at right-back ahead of Rafael, but Owen Hargreaves (knee) and John O'Shea (thigh) are unavailable.
Last starting XI (v Man City): Van der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Rafael Da Silva (Brown 74), Evans, Giggs, Carrick, Nani (Valencia 90), Scholes, Fletcher, Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Vidic, Park, Owen, Berbatov.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal
Cesc Fabregas
Many pundits expect this game to revolve around Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney, the respective sides' most influential performers this season. The impact of Fabregas' orchestration of the Gunners' best moves cannot be overstated, and despite Darren Fletcher's promise to rough the Catalan playmaker up, he will be determined to pull the strings again to telling effect.
The boy from Barcelona, who made his Arsenal debut as a 16-year-old, has flourished under Wenger's revised and fluid 4-3-3 system this season, relishing the freedom to get forward more. It is apparent in his statistics: 14 goals already to his name this season representing his best-ever return.
In the Premier League alone his total of 11 goals is complemented by 13 assists, more than any other player in the division, and Fabregas leads the Actim Index with a current score of 491, almost 100 more than his nearest challenger, Chelsea's Didier Drogba.
Fabregas has scored five goals in his last five League games, and although still only 22, has already made 257 competitive first team appearances for the Gunners, netting 43 goals.
Blessed with great technique and vision, and the ability to pick out team-mates with precision passing, Fabregas has added steel to his game and is regularly finishing off moves as well as initiating them, suggesting that Fletcher and his team-mates will have their hands full trying to stifle his influence on Sunday.
Manchester Utd
Wayne Rooney
The blow to United of losing Cristiano Ronaldo was softened not only by the size of the fee received from Real Madrid, but also by the way in which England striker Rooney has shouldered the extra goalscoring burden.
Rooney will probably be asked to plough a lone furrow up top against Arsenal, with Ferguson keeping Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen on the bench. That won't faze the Evertonian in the slightest. He is in blistering form, following up his four-goal heroics against Hull with the decisive, injury-time third goal for United against Manchester City in the midweek League Cup semi-final.
United have taken 13 points from their last five League games, and Rooney has scored seven goals in those matches, taking his season's tally to 21 (19 in the League) and leaving him one short (along with team-mate Paul Scholes) of joining the elite band of players who have scored a century or more goals in Premier League history.
Ferguson hailed Rooney as "truly world class" after his winner against City, and few would argue. "His control, his leading of the line, his penetration was absolutely fantastic," gushed Fergie.
Rooney announced his arrival on the big stage by scoring a sensational winner against Arsenal for Everton while still only 16, and he has maintained a good scoring record against the Gunners ever since - something Thomas Vermaelen or possibly Rooney's seasoned former England team-mate, Sol Campbell, will need to be at their best to nullify.
PREDICTION
When United beat Arsenal at the Emirates last May in the Champions League semi-final second leg, their full-back Patrice Evra dismissed the Gunners' challenge as a case of "men against boys." By the following August the gap had narrowed to such an extent that even many United fans admitted, despite winning 2-1 at Old Trafford, that their team had been second best for much of the match.
Now is the time for Wenger's team to demonstrate that they have truly matured, by beating in-form United to steal the advantage ahead of next weekend's equally significant showdown against Chelsea.
Arsenal are unbeaten at the Emirates in League clashes with United, and must maintain that record if they are to justify Wenger's faith in their title credentials. It should be another pulsating contest, with home advantage just tipping the balance.
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
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