Match Preview: Arsenal v Manchester United; Premier League Match Day 22

This is painful. There used to be a time when Arsenal v Manchester United was the marquee matchup. Every season. All the time. When these two teams met in the past it was sure to be a legendary encounter with always something interesting likely to happen. Since our FA Cup win in 2005, that emphasis as steadily declined. As a matter of fact as much press as this fixture is getting I am not even sure it will be the best match up of the day, as the other Manchester and North London sides battle each other for more immediate title implications.

On Fox Soccer Channel here in the US the other night as a replay of the ’99 FA Cup Semi-Final second leg. United would win that match 2-1 in extra time off a Ryan Giggs scorcher. But the make up of those teams was a virtual who’s who of epic players. Especially for Arsenal. It was THE back 4, Seaman in goal, and the likes of Petit, Bergkamp, Ljunberg, Overmars, a young Anelka roaming the pitch for the Gunners. It was an epic clash. Every time.

When Arsenal and Manchester United line up this weekend alot of the focus will be on Arsenal looking to exact revenge for the 8-2 drubbing they received in August at Old Trafford.  To me, that should be the last thing they do. Frankly, we need to be more concerned about putting in a solid 90 minutes of football. Something we haven’t done in the last two games.

The defeats at Swansea and Fulham have shown us that many of the deficiencies we thought had been eradicated during our rise from 17th to 4th are still very much there. And as much as people want to blame a slew of injuries and bad refereeing, that doesn’t explain players switching off, missed chances, and all around sub-standard performances. ‘

Whatever squad takes the pitch on Sunday will need an all around, out and out 90 minutes of football in order to get a result. And that is what worries me. We just haven’t shown that in recent weeks. When some of these more senior players were brought in it was to give us that extra “oomph” when the chips were down. Well, when the chips were down the last two weeks, that “oomph” wasn’t there.  We’ve lacked heart and desire and let teams that we should be out-performing even with the injuries we have, dictate play to us.

If we approach this game with that same attitude then it could be another very long afternoon for Arsenal. Sure, United aren’t in the best form and this is probably the worst United team in recent memory. But Fergie has them ready. They will come to play and if we shut off they will do more to us than what Swansea did.

Arsenal need to shut down Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes. Rooney when given time and space will shred teams. If you give someone of his ability time he will hurt you. And even though Paul Scholes is 37 he will manage the midfield with all the efficiency he has in recent years. These two players are going to require the attention of both Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey. Song has shown that he is up to the task of taking on the oppositions’ better players. He will need to bring his ‘A’ game in order to slow Rooney down. The one side match up that will be interesting in the  Rooney battle will be Per Mertesacker. The BFG had his way with Rooney when Germany played England in South Africa. For Ramsey it is making sure he doesn’t let Scholes get that out-pass or letting the gingered-one get his forward momentum going.

Obviously the real test will be how our flanks are attacked by the likes of Evra and Nani. Nani in fairness hasn’t had the season a lot of people thought he’d have. When he was seen in the Community Shield a lot of people thought this was the year he came good. Frankly, like our own Theo Walcott. He’s largely been hit and miss with the odd flash of brilliance followed by frustrating performances. The real test however will be Patrice Evra. We all know he is a pain the ass (that’s putting it nicely) but he is a good pain in the ass for United and is good at getting forward.

In the loss to Swansea it was our makeshift fullbacks that bore a lot of the responsibility. I give a little room to Miquel because he was largely left alone to do his job without any protection help from Arshavin. Djourou – well he’s not a RB is he? The only hope for Djourou in this case is that Theo has one of those games and is using his speed effectively which would keep Evra honest. If Theo can find his feet this game then Evra is less of a threat. United’s defence are in shambles and even though I show Ferdinand in the lineup there are reports that he reinjured his back in training and could miss the match. Which means a good performance by Theo could put pressure on their own version of our wobbly defence.

I would also like to see Wenger give Henry 60 minutes. One of our big problems last week was Arshavin’s utter reluctance to provide any defencive cover to the LB. It left Miquel already struggling by playing out of position, woefully exposed. Henry at least understands the need to provide some help there and will do it. Plus I suspect that Rafael da Silva will start as a RB for United and frankly, there is enough guile in Henry to make the Brazillian look silly.

The big battle will be Robin Van Persie against the United Centre Backs. If Ferdinand is hurt well all’s the better. Frankly, I think the press reports are purely gamemanship by Fergie. This matchup may have lost its lustre and prestige but you feel that Wenger and Fergie would like nothing better than keep the facade of the old times up. But I digress, any way even though we lost to Swansea Van Persie doesn’t look like he is any rush to slow down. Whatever centre backs United line up are going to have their hands full. If they let him loose in the box it will be lights out for United. Especially given their own issues at keeper.

It’s a shame that this match no longer holds the sway of yesteryear. The matches were always an event. As the age of the managers has increased and the fortunes of the clubs have gone in opposite directions, Arsenal v United is no longer the match of the season. You really want to see Keane and Vieira go at each other. I long for moments like Keown’s shriek in Van Nistelrooy’s ear. Pizzagate, fighting it out for 1 and 2 always. These were legendary matches. Unfortunately, sadly really, they aren’t any more.

How the Match Should Play out:

How United approach the match I think is very dependent on the result of the other Manchester v North London match up. Should Tottenham win the match, look for United to throw all caution to the wind and go for it. But mainly I look for United to play NOT TO LOSE THE MATCH. I hope that makes sense. I don’t expect bus parking in the way City did last season when all £500 million was set on their side of the pitch. But I don’t look for it to be a high tempo game unless like I said United need an immediate result.  For Arsenal, they will be looking for a result and I suspect we are going to see the Gunners try and dictate tempo. Where United may want to slow it down and hit on the counter, Arsenal will look to press the home advantage.

Players to watch:

Arsenal: Theo Walcott.  It’s time for the lad to come good. Simple as that.

MUFC: Park Ji-Sung. He scores against us all the time. Not much more to say is there?

Projected Line ups:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Gervinho (unavailable – ACoN) Chamakh (unavailable – ACoN) Arteta (calf) Diaby (muscle) Gibbs (hernia) Jenkinson (back) Sagna (ankle) Santos (ankle) Wilshere (ankle) Coquelin (hamstring)

MUFC:  Cleverley (ankle) Young (ankle) Fabio (hamstring) Fletcher (bowel condition) Owen (thigh) Vidic (knee) Anderson (unspecified)

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie 18

MUFC: Rooney 13

Last Meeting: (EPL)
Arsenal: 2

MUFC: 8

Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 1.6

MUFC (away): 1.9

Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 0.6

MUFC: (away): 0.6

Last Five:
Arsenal: LLWDW

MUFC: WLLWW

Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 7

MUFC: 32

Match Official:
Referee: Mike Dean (Matches 17, R1 Y53)

Broadcast Information:
US: FOX (yes the primary FOX Channel – NOT FSC ) 1100 AM EST

UK: Sky Sports 1 1600 BST

GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!

www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 1

MUFC: 1

The Final Word:

Just when you thought it had gone away, the Gooner civil war is back in full force. On one side you have the “Wenger out brigade” and on the other side you have the “Arsene Knows Best” faction. Frankly, as I have said repeatedly on this blog its all rather stupid. Not the points of views of these two arguments but the acrimony that either side goes at each other with.

In the end both sides want what’s best for the club but have differing opinions on how we get there. That’s why I wonder why the name calling, and out right slagging (rather harshly) is needed. We all want to defend our position but you’d think that one side of the argument were supporters of some other club. Frankly, reading it as I do, it makes look like a laughing stock to other supporters and frankly I blame the club.

I don’t want to go into a long diatribe on the club and their many faults (I have a piece in the works that does just that) but suffice it to say, their gross mismanagement of this club right now has created this environment. And when I say the club – I mean every component of it – board, management, and players. I don’t know what passes for reason at Highbury House right now but common sense and reason seem to have been thrown out the window and replaced by arrogance and impudence.  But I will get into that later.

One thing I do want to mention is that it looks like we will get to see Stan visit London a little more often. Hwne he last deigned to come down from Mount Olympus and speak to us mere mortals he pledged that we would see more of him for a long time to come. None of us could forsee that he meant that it would be as the owner of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams who have agreed to play one match a year in the Capital City for the next 3 years.  I guess he wasn’t lying but we wouldn’t know because as always – Stan is silent.

Oh and about Stan, there has been a lot of twitter chatter about the potential for changes to Arsenal beginning in March when the “lock out” clause Stan had agreed to expires. For those that don’t know about the lock-out clause, it basically forbid Stan from immediately seeking to sell the club and turning a profit. It also kept the present board in tact for one year. Lots of people are prediciting that Stan will begin to clear out the board and look to possibly sell the club. Alisher Usmanov has offered £14,000 per share which would net Stan a profit of £150,000,000 in one year of ownership and after paying only £11,000 per share. Frankly, I think they are all cracked. I’ve been banging the drum against Stan being the club’s owner since I started this blog. Why? He is status quo hands off to the tilt. He doesn’t get involved in the running of his clubs and leaves it the “people who know these things.” As long as Stan’s pockets are lined with cash he doesn’t care how he gets it.  Which is why I see very little change coming to Arsenal under Stan’s stewardship of the club as a matter of fact if Stan retains the club and doesn’t sell, I suspect we will continue our slide into mediocrity simply because Stan is as much a part of the problem at Arsenal as Peter Hill-Wood, Arsene Wenger, and others are.

Och well . . . until tomorrow. . . Stay Goonerish!!!

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