Arsenal v Manchester United; Premier League Match Preview

In the last week the social media outlets and press have been all up in arms and raucus about whether or not Arsenal should  or should not hold a guard of honour for Manchester United. Obviously it’s because of the impeneding return of Robin Van Persie and the former Arsenal striker’s involvement in helping United secure their 20th title.  Frankly, it’s all misplaced and looks to be a case of “look the other way” and not at the real issues.

Of course Arsenal were going to hold a guard of honour. Why wouldn’t they? Because a ego filled twat happens to be playing for them after spending 8 years with us – excuse me while I laugh. The guard of honour is a tradition. In fact one that United has done for us. So it was never a question of if Arsenal would. But the thing this little talk about whether or not Arsenal would diverted focus from the really important facet of this match – whether or not Arsenal were going to win it.

See if Arsenal lose to United then, while mathmateically uncertain, the likelihood of finishing in the top 4 should for all intents and purposes be considered over.  While drawing to Everton wasn’t necessarily bad, Tottenham’s win over City has applied pressure on Arsenal to win this match. Everyone was predciting a City win over Spurs to apply some pressure on United’s title race. That would’ve made this match maybe less important to Arsenal than it is now.

As it is City rolled over and had their bellies tickled. So now this is a match Arsenal must have. 3 points and I really like Arsenal’s chances to secure Champion’s League football next season, especially with Spuds and Chelsea still having to play each other. A draw, while not deadly really takes the run out their hands. A loss well like I said I really do think that a loss would sink us in that hunt for the Champion’s League spot.

And it’s not an easy task for Arsenal. Against United these last few years it never has been. In all competitions United have only lost once in 11 matches to Arsenal. That being the 1-0 loss at the Emirates courtesy of Aaron Ramsey on his return from his horrific injury. Then like now, United didn’t have to much play for. They just didn’t want to come into the Emirates and lose and by doing so – lost. United now have absolutely nothing to play for having wrapped up the title. Fergie has already insinuated he would start rolling out youngsters and he may very well do so here. Still you’d have to think less than a week after securing the title and partying like it’s 1999 the focus for United won’t be as crystal clear as maybe it would’ve been had they needed the match to win the title.

So it all sets up perfectly for Arsenal. And that worries me. In the past Arsenal have hardly been a team to take advantage of situational games – games where they could make up substantial ground when other’s around them had faltered. While noone has faltered (yet) it’s still a game where Arsenal could have an advantage by showing they are hungry.

This match has to be looked at as a final for Arsenal. They can’t approach it as they might any other regular season match. Dare I say the mentality that propelled them over Bayern in the Champion’s League  needs to be the same for this Sunday afternoon league match.  Bayern figured that they had the match tied up going in 3-0 and completely had understimated how Arsenal would approach the match and from the early goal on  – you knew Arsenal would win. Arsenal need to no the MUST do exactly the same thing.

United are a good team going forward and will get their chances but I and many others have argued that this squad have merely been the best of mediocrity. They’ve been consistent and that consistency has been the differentiator between them and the rest of the league. They can be had.

City beat United at Old trafford because they had a plan – they attacked the left. Everything they did in that match was focused on the left side. It didn’t hurt that United set up by sitting back and allowing City to also overrun the center of the pitch but it was clear that City had their best chances and put United on the back foot by clearly attacking the left. I’ve always contended that as good as Rafael can be going forward he can be had defensively and Ferdinand is getting old while he has games of brilliance he also has ones of real questionable ability.

This is why I suspect Arsene may go with Gibbs and Santi on the left. The combination of speed and guile on the left would be a challenge. You could make a case for Monreal over Gibbs simply because him and Santi have a better understanding playing with each other but I suspect Gibbs whom is very much like City’s Clichy (and had a good performance against United) may start.

Of course the big question is who does Wenger start in the central role for the suspended Giroud. I like Giroud and feel we will see more from him his second season. But his season is effectively over for now. I think you can make a case for Lukas Podolski to go central here. If for no reason other than he’s still our most clinical finisher.

If United do sit back, looking to NOT LOSE then you would expect to see a good source of balls coming into Podolski. While he won’t always score he has a better chance of actualy testing the keeper than any of the other central forward options (Walcott and Gervinho.) His goal against Norwich the perfect example of this. Not many of our players have that ability to just turn and get a low hard shot into the net like he did.

Regardless of the selection choices the match is a must win for Arsenal. They can’t afford some slow prodding start. Arsenal have won 9 out of their last 12 matches – only losing once. They showed tremendous resiliancy in these matches and also showed heart when that has been one of the big question marks over recent Arsenal squads. They will need to call on that and more for this match and the remaining 3 if they are to secure Champion’s League football.

The Return of Van Persie.

I purposely avoided this in the write up because I could care less about his return. Its an uninteresting subplot. I’ve never argued with his rationale for leaving. I’ve always argued about the classless way he went about it. And it’s clear through comments he has made since leaving that he really never was that “Gunner through and through” he wanted us all to believe he was.

He speaks as if he is someone who still needs to validate his move. He recently said he doesn’t get why outside of United supporters he gets painted as a money-grubbing twat. As I said, we’ve all questioned the club’s ambitions and players leaving to “go win trophies” is difficult to take but easy to understand. However it’s the manner they leave that really gets at supporters.

While I still have questions about Cesc’s manner of leaving and argue there is a case to be made that he essentially went on strike to force a move he publically kept quiet and since the move hasn’t felt the need to continually validate his move. Same with the likes  Gael Clichy and Kolo Toure. Both have had success since leaving Arsenal but both haven’t felt a need to remind anyone who will listen about it. Not the case for Van Persie.

As a matter of fact I never thought anyone would become more despised than Samir Nasri – until Van Persie. Van Persie is now public enemy number one. And while the guard of honour is the right thing to do, booing and cajolling Van Persie also is (without singing the vile “she said no” chant.) My own personal hope is that Gunnersaurus pulls his shorts down as he walks through the Guard of honour and then blames his inner child.

Van Persie will never be a legend. His tenure at United will be too short and decline will eventually set in. He will never be remembered positively at Arsenal even though he was here for 8 years. He may win trophies at United – fair cop to him – but as great a player as he is – he likely sealed the negative perception of himself with the way he handled the move and you know what – too fucking bad.

Projected Lineups:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal:  Diaby (knee), Fabianski (rib), Giroud (suspended -3)

Man U: Fletcher (illness), W Keane (knee), Scholes (knee), Young (ankle)

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Cazorla 12

Man U: Van Persie 24

Assists Leaders:
Arsenal: Walcott 10

Man U: Rooney 10

Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 1

Man U: 2

Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 2.5

Man U (away): 2.1

Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 1.2

Man U (away): 1.1

Last Five:
Arsenal: WDWWW

Man U: WDWLW

Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 30

Man U: 43

Match Official:
Referee: Phil Dowd. Matches: 22. R4 Y63. 8Pk

Broadcast Information:
US: Fox Soccer Channel: 1100 AM

UK: Sky Sports 1: 16.00 GMT

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

United: 1