Clash of the Titans – Er, Well Sort Of.

Let's Get It On!!!

There was a time in the not so distant past when a gathering of Arsenal and Manchester United were a prize fighter’s dream. Meetings like this harken to tales of pizzagate, tunnel fights, and battles for EPL supremacy.

While the the challenge for EPL supremacy has laxed up, a meeting of these two staples of English football is always something to feast on. Last season in the EPL, Arsenal won the first meeting and in the second drew against a side looking to stay fit to win the title. However, it was in the two Champion’s League Semi-Final matches where the chasm between the two teams was oh so evident.

In the second leg of the semis it took only 11 minutes for the Mancurians to break open the game that resulted in Patrice Evra labelling it “men against boys.” And oh boy was it ever. From every aspect of that series across two legs the Gunners were thoroughly outclassed.

But that was then and this is now. Last year, Christiano Ronaldo was our chief antagonist, sinking an amazing free-kick that noone thought had any business going in. Ronaldo if you live in a cave is now featuring with Real Madrid. Gone also is Speedy Gonzalez like Tevez. If you remained in that cave over the summer you may not have heard but he is plying his trade with that other Manchester team.

Also gone are Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, two, from all indications, malignant tumors in the dressing room who sorely fouled up the attitude of the team.  Like the lesions they are, they now find themselves cutoff and also with the other Manchester team.

Manchester United did not start out of the blocks this season and maybe to some people’s surprise have struggled especially at Turff Moor where a cracker of a shot sent them to their first loss of the season at the hands of Premier League Debutantes, Burnley.  Without Ronaldo and Tevez, the attack is relying on Rooney and Rooney. I kid – Rooney, Berbatov and newly acquired project Michael Owen. It was only in last week’s win against Wigan that a striker not named Rooney scored a goal.

Additionally, the title holders look a little weak at the back as Rio Ferdinand, he, of the Christiano Ronaldo school of bathing suits and daisy-duke shorts (I shudder just at the thought of it) – is out. He is likely to be replaced by Johnny Evans. Who is also questionable with an ankle injury that could require surgery. If he doesn’t feature, look for either Wes Brown or John O’Shea to be tapped to fill in. While Vidic and Neville are fit to play, they are just back having featured for the first time this season during last weekend’s tie versus Wigan.

When it is all said and done this is an all together different United than we are used to seeing. They’ve struggled a little, but who wouldn’t with the departure of two huge goal producers. Berbatov still has to prove himself and Owen is not the same player he was at Pool. So it falls to Rooney, who quite nobly has taken the mantle thrust upon him, to be the standard bearer for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

The Arsenal also are a different team this season than last. This time for all the right reasons. The departure of Adebayor and Toure could prove to be a master stroke by Wenger. The team seems more focused and resolute and the friction that was supposedly surrounding these two players no longer exists.

Arsene has moved away from the 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 of last season and gone with a 4-3-3 that was part of Barcelona’s run to their treble season. By all indications this has led to the resurgence of an Arsenal attack that seemed to struggle a lot last season. In the two EPL matches this season, the new formation has garnered 10 goals. Throw in 5 from the Champion’s League clashes and the squad has scored 15 goals in 4 games.

Arsenal have also improved in the back. There were a lot of nervous people lamenting the lack of height and strength in the back four last season and more so this season when Kolo Toure left for the riches of Man City. However, it seems that the Gunner’s only summer signing (so far) Thomas Vermaelen has proved to be every bit worth the £10 million he was signed for. The man simply has shown his mettle and experience (at 23). He has seldom seemed out of position and in a 15 second span in Wednesday’s CL clash headed away no less than 3 cross-ins. Throw in the tackle at Parkhead that was pure class and it looks like Arsene has done it again.

Also different this season is the constant theme of closing down on the ball. Last season the Gunner’s seemed intent on only one thing – pass, pass, pass and pass some more, then when you puke do it all over again. Now the Gunners are showing the ability to lock in on the ball and defensively close down on the play. In every match there are no less than 2-3 men attacking the ball and closing out the angles before a play can go in. Leading the way, the likes of Song, Arshavin and Robin Van Persie.

This an altogether different team and like Furgeson said today,

“I couldn’t understand why they were written off,” said the United boss.

Well Sir Alex neither can anyone else.  And if they did write them off, then they are suddenly rethinking it.

This is an important match to both teams. Man U are eager to show that they’ve righted the ship and that last week’s emphatic win over Wigan was the start towards their 4th straight EPL title. Arsenal are keen to show that wins over Everton, Pompey and Celtic are true indications of the team’s potential. Whatever each team is vying for, it is likely to be a cracking match.

In 40 ties of the Wenger/Furgeson era, Furgeson has a slight edge with 15 wins over Wenger’s 14. 11 were draws. In previous season’s this matchup could very well mean the title. Well, while its August and very hard to say what impact it has, it still does have that potential. Liverpool and the Mancurians already have losses. Chelsea and Arsenal do not. A win by Arsenal and the season is already validated. A loss and Manchester United are back in charge. Either way, there is an interesting story here.

Injuries:
Manchester United: Ferdinand, Obertan, Rafael, and Hargreaves

Arsenal: Fabregas, Rosicky, Walcott, Djorou, Nasri

Possible Lineups:
Man U starting XI: Foster; Neville, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Valencia; Berbatov, Rooney.

Arsenal starting XI: Almunia; Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy; Song; Eboue, Diaby, Denilson; Arshavin, Van Persie.

How is it going down?

This is hard to call coming so early in the season. Arsenal are the real deal and should figure in the title challenge – much to everyone’s chagrin. However, the absenece of Fabregas in the middle cannot be underestimated. He has been absolutely fantastic. But the squad is now built to be interchangeable. And there are plenty of attacking options in the squad.

United have yet to hit their pace but counting them out even with their early struggles is ridiculous. A Ferguson managed side is never out until the last day of the season. This man knows how to prepare a team.

Gunner to Watch?

I have to agree with Goal.com – Thomas Vermaelen. If he can handle Rooney and Berba/Owen then you will know that he is the futre of the Arsenal defense and will go a long way to moving the club towards winning some silverware this campaign.

Score: 2-2 If it were at the Emirates – 2-1 to the Arsenal.

Game time 12:15 EST on FSC