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Arsenal v Manchester United Special: Who Is Best Equipped To Challenge Chelsea?
Exuberance takes on experience as race for title intensifies .
Jan 29, 2010 2:18:00 AM
By James Daly
With Chelsea back on the summit of the Premier League and looking like the team to beat, it falls to Arsenal and Manchester United to try to knock Carlo Ancelotti's Blues off top spot.
The Gunners and Red Devils have emerged as the only two serious title contenders as Liverpool's season disintegrates into disappointment.
But who will give Chelsea the best challenge between Arsene Wenger's men and Alex Ferguson's charges, who meet on Sunday? Goal.com UK has a look.
Key Players
Despite the pools of talent in both squads, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger still keep their fingers crossed that one player in each of their teams stays fit and on on form.
For Arsenal it is the mercurial Cesc Fabregas who is at the heart of all things good for the Gunners. At Old Trafford it's Wayne Rooney, on whom United have relied heavily for goals this season.
Rooney has scored 19 out of the 48 Premier League goals his team have netted this year, while Fabregas is also his side's top scorer with 11, but the Gunners' goals are more evenly spread throughout the team.
Added to that Fabregas is the league's top assist man and has been involved in more goals this season (22) by assisting and scoring than any other player in the top flight.
Rooney, though, is on hot form with 12 league goals in his last ten games, and has now matched Cristiano Ronaldo's league total at the club of 84 - and done so in fewer games (179 compared with Ronaldo's 196), largely without the boost of penalties and free-kicks.
And if Wazza nets against Arsenal on Sunday it will be his 100th in the Premier League, with his first goal at the age of 16 coming against the Gunners also.
But Rooney often lacks service, while Fabregas does it all himself, and if United's midfield have an off day, Rooney could find himself getting frustrated. Fabregas, on the other hand, makes Arsenal tick and doesn't have to rely on service for his goals - he is the service.
Form
This season the Gunners have been in unstoppable form at home, winning all but two of their 11 games at the Emirates, smashing in 34 goals, while the Red Devils have struggled on the road, suffering four of their five league defeats away from home.
And Ferguson's side have a less-than-exemplary record in north London, with just one win and four defeats in their last nine league visits.
Arsenal have lost just two of their last 23 Premier League games at home, both to Chelsea, and Gunners fans can expect to be out of their seats at least twice, as their side have scored exactly two goals in each of their three Premier League matches against United at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, Man Utd have won just three of their last seven Premier League away games and kept just one clean sheet in that run.
This will give Wenger a boost ahead of Sunday's big clash, which if his side wins will put them two points above United with the same number of games played.
If Arsenal are to prove the only title challengers to Chelsea this season, they desperately need to take advantage of their good home record on Sunday - especially since, after United, they face an unforgiving February with trips to Chelsea and Stoke and a visit from Liverpool. If they can get through the month with nine points from their four games, they will fancy their chances in March against Premier League strugglers Burnley, Hull City and West Ham United.
Manchester United have tricky trips to Aston Villa and Everton in February, where home wins are not against the odds. They will need to be at their best to grab maximum points and stay in touch with leaders Chelsea.
The all-important run-in sees Arsenal at Blackburn Rovers before a visit from Fulham. Wenger will be confident of maximum points there. United' run-in is possibly even kinder with visits from Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur and a trip to Sunderland, so if Wenger's men are to challenge they need a successful February.
Injuries
Arsene Wenger is never short of an excuse or two but he can reasonably claim to be unlucky with injuries. He lost Robin van Persie in November to a long-term injury just as the Dutchman was banging in the goals, and this left his team dangerously thin up top following the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.
Not even human placenta could help heal the Dutchman's ankle ligaments, injured on international duty in November. How Arsenal could do with his guile and confidence up front, as Wenger has searched in vain for a replacement; neither the returning Eduardo nor Andrey Arshavin have been able to fill his boots.
Eduardo's return from injury was heralded as a 'new signing' but the Croatian has struggled to make an impact.
Manchester United have also suffered with injuries, particularly at the back where over Christmas they had to call on the defensive skills of Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher to get them through a thin patch.
And both teams have suffered as a result, at times goals have been hard to come by for Arsenal, failing to net against Sunderland, Olympiakos, Villa and Chelsea, while United's injury-hit spell saw them drop points to Birmingham, Fulham and also Villa.
Van Persie, Eduardo and possibly Thomas Vermaelen are the only first-teamers expected to miss Sunday's clash for the home side, while United have John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic and Owen Hargreaves out.
Which means The Gunners will rely on their midfield for goals while United, also missing Rio Ferdinand because of suspension, will need a patch-up job at the back. If Arsenal's attack-loving midfielders are on form, they could make United pay.
Experience
It is widely documented that experience of having won titles is a huge advantage as the season enters the business stages. Arsenal's squad, although brimming with raw talent, is seriously lacking in experience of winning silverware.
The only players in Arsenal's squad who have won a league title are Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell, Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin and Eduardo.
And only Campbell and Gallas out of that list have won the Premier League trophy. But does that mean the young Guns will be striving to get their young hands on their first piece of silverware, more so than a Manchester United side who have all been there, and are still wearing the t-shirts?
Only Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and the squad's fringe players haven't won the Premier League at United as they swept aside all before them in the last few years.
Sir Alex famously defied Alan Hansen's assertion that 'you will never win anything with kids' but over the past three years it is Wenger who seems the most determined to find success with a young outfit as he continues to favor talented youth over rigid experience.
The recent re-acquisition of Sol Campbell was only Wenger's third signing over 30 in seven years.
The last time Wenger got his hands on the Premiership trophy his team included aging stars like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu and Ray Parlour. Now the average age of the team is 23.59.
Also his youth policy has come under scrutiny. When are we going to get to see the Theo Walcott we were promised? When will Carlos Vela turn into the superstar he is supposed to be?
Manchester United's squad by contrast has an average age of 26.14, and the first-team still boasts a number of players over 30, including Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar. And in the big games, you need your big names, and Ferguson can rest assured the likes of Giggs and Scholes will step up to the plate, like they have done hundreds of times before.
Can Wenger be so sure about the Denilsons and Arshavins of his team?
Arsenal's young stars have time and time again stuttered when it matters. In 2008 Wenger's teenagers blew aside some teams with ease, especially in Europe, as they rocketed up the Premier League, but often took their eye off the ball losing to Hull, Fulham and Stoke. It is those games where titles are won and lost.
As the season enters the final furlong, Ferguson will be far more confident his experienced stars will be able to replicate title-winning form and give Chelsea a real challenge.
And although Wenger's youthful team are hungry for glory it is hard to see beyond the older, more experienced, title-winning squad at Manchester United when it comes to what Fergie calls 'squeaky-bum time'.
Get all the latest EPL news with Goal.com's England page.
The Gunners and Red Devils have emerged as the only two serious title contenders as Liverpool's season disintegrates into disappointment.
But who will give Chelsea the best challenge between Arsene Wenger's men and Alex Ferguson's charges, who meet on Sunday? Goal.com UK has a look.
Key Players
Despite the pools of talent in both squads, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger still keep their fingers crossed that one player in each of their teams stays fit and on on form.
For Arsenal it is the mercurial Cesc Fabregas who is at the heart of all things good for the Gunners. At Old Trafford it's Wayne Rooney, on whom United have relied heavily for goals this season.
Captain Fantastic | Arsenal need Fabregas on form
Rooney has scored 19 out of the 48 Premier League goals his team have netted this year, while Fabregas is also his side's top scorer with 11, but the Gunners' goals are more evenly spread throughout the team.
Added to that Fabregas is the league's top assist man and has been involved in more goals this season (22) by assisting and scoring than any other player in the top flight.
Rooney, though, is on hot form with 12 league goals in his last ten games, and has now matched Cristiano Ronaldo's league total at the club of 84 - and done so in fewer games (179 compared with Ronaldo's 196), largely without the boost of penalties and free-kicks.
And if Wazza nets against Arsenal on Sunday it will be his 100th in the Premier League, with his first goal at the age of 16 coming against the Gunners also.
But Rooney often lacks service, while Fabregas does it all himself, and if United's midfield have an off day, Rooney could find himself getting frustrated. Fabregas, on the other hand, makes Arsenal tick and doesn't have to rely on service for his goals - he is the service.
Form
This season the Gunners have been in unstoppable form at home, winning all but two of their 11 games at the Emirates, smashing in 34 goals, while the Red Devils have struggled on the road, suffering four of their five league defeats away from home.
And Ferguson's side have a less-than-exemplary record in north London, with just one win and four defeats in their last nine league visits.
Arsenal have lost just two of their last 23 Premier League games at home, both to Chelsea, and Gunners fans can expect to be out of their seats at least twice, as their side have scored exactly two goals in each of their three Premier League matches against United at the Emirates.
Rooney-que | Wayne is United's main goal threat
Meanwhile, Man Utd have won just three of their last seven Premier League away games and kept just one clean sheet in that run.
This will give Wenger a boost ahead of Sunday's big clash, which if his side wins will put them two points above United with the same number of games played.
If Arsenal are to prove the only title challengers to Chelsea this season, they desperately need to take advantage of their good home record on Sunday - especially since, after United, they face an unforgiving February with trips to Chelsea and Stoke and a visit from Liverpool. If they can get through the month with nine points from their four games, they will fancy their chances in March against Premier League strugglers Burnley, Hull City and West Ham United.
Manchester United have tricky trips to Aston Villa and Everton in February, where home wins are not against the odds. They will need to be at their best to grab maximum points and stay in touch with leaders Chelsea.
The all-important run-in sees Arsenal at Blackburn Rovers before a visit from Fulham. Wenger will be confident of maximum points there. United' run-in is possibly even kinder with visits from Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur and a trip to Sunderland, so if Wenger's men are to challenge they need a successful February.
Injuries
Arsene Wenger is never short of an excuse or two but he can reasonably claim to be unlucky with injuries. He lost Robin van Persie in November to a long-term injury just as the Dutchman was banging in the goals, and this left his team dangerously thin up top following the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.
Not even human placenta could help heal the Dutchman's ankle ligaments, injured on international duty in November. How Arsenal could do with his guile and confidence up front, as Wenger has searched in vain for a replacement; neither the returning Eduardo nor Andrey Arshavin have been able to fill his boots.
Eduardo's return from injury was heralded as a 'new signing' but the Croatian has struggled to make an impact.
Manchester United have also suffered with injuries, particularly at the back where over Christmas they had to call on the defensive skills of Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher to get them through a thin patch.
Missing You | Arsenal need Van Persie's goals.
And both teams have suffered as a result, at times goals have been hard to come by for Arsenal, failing to net against Sunderland, Olympiakos, Villa and Chelsea, while United's injury-hit spell saw them drop points to Birmingham, Fulham and also Villa.
Van Persie, Eduardo and possibly Thomas Vermaelen are the only first-teamers expected to miss Sunday's clash for the home side, while United have John O'Shea, Nemanja Vidic and Owen Hargreaves out.
Which means The Gunners will rely on their midfield for goals while United, also missing Rio Ferdinand because of suspension, will need a patch-up job at the back. If Arsenal's attack-loving midfielders are on form, they could make United pay.
Experience
It is widely documented that experience of having won titles is a huge advantage as the season enters the business stages. Arsenal's squad, although brimming with raw talent, is seriously lacking in experience of winning silverware.
The only players in Arsenal's squad who have won a league title are Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell, Tomas Rosicky, Andrey Arshavin and Eduardo.
And only Campbell and Gallas out of that list have won the Premier League trophy. But does that mean the young Guns will be striving to get their young hands on their first piece of silverware, more so than a Manchester United side who have all been there, and are still wearing the t-shirts?
Only Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and the squad's fringe players haven't won the Premier League at United as they swept aside all before them in the last few years.
Sir Alex famously defied Alan Hansen's assertion that 'you will never win anything with kids' but over the past three years it is Wenger who seems the most determined to find success with a young outfit as he continues to favor talented youth over rigid experience.
The recent re-acquisition of Sol Campbell was only Wenger's third signing over 30 in seven years.
The last time Wenger got his hands on the Premiership trophy his team included aging stars like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Kanu and Ray Parlour. Now the average age of the team is 23.59.
The kids are alright | Wenger puts faith in youth
Also his youth policy has come under scrutiny. When are we going to get to see the Theo Walcott we were promised? When will Carlos Vela turn into the superstar he is supposed to be?
Manchester United's squad by contrast has an average age of 26.14, and the first-team still boasts a number of players over 30, including Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar. And in the big games, you need your big names, and Ferguson can rest assured the likes of Giggs and Scholes will step up to the plate, like they have done hundreds of times before.
Can Wenger be so sure about the Denilsons and Arshavins of his team?
Arsenal's young stars have time and time again stuttered when it matters. In 2008 Wenger's teenagers blew aside some teams with ease, especially in Europe, as they rocketed up the Premier League, but often took their eye off the ball losing to Hull, Fulham and Stoke. It is those games where titles are won and lost.
As the season enters the final furlong, Ferguson will be far more confident his experienced stars will be able to replicate title-winning form and give Chelsea a real challenge.
And although Wenger's youthful team are hungry for glory it is hard to see beyond the older, more experienced, title-winning squad at Manchester United when it comes to what Fergie calls 'squeaky-bum time'.
Get all the latest EPL news with Goal.com's England page.
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