Match Preview: Arsenal v Manchester United: It’s time to believe in this team

It’s slated as another test. Every match is. Regardless of the outcome of the previous “test” thioe current match is another test of Arsenal’s “title credentials.”

Forget what Arsenal have already accomplished this season. In its infancy still, Arsenal have started off to one of their best starts since they were regularly winning things. Arsenal are putting together a start to the season that fits in as emphatically similar to the way they are closing out seasons.

Wayne Rooney talking this week mentioned how he doubted Arsenal are real title contenders because they fade every March. I’m not sure Wayne has really been watching recently as he’s been too busy bitching about playing time and how mean Sir Alex Furgeson has been to him, but Arsenal aren’t dropping of at the end of the season. They’ve recently been botching it well before the season really got to the meat of the season. As it stands right now, Arsenal are at least in my opinion, better odds to make the top 4 than those whom have been anointed to take out place.  Should Arsenal come out of the tie at Old Trafford  with a win then – well we can discuss come Sunday afternoon.

The thing is no one still believes in this team – outside you, me, the team, Arsene Wenger and all the other gooners. I started seeing some pundits, most notably Garry Neville, say it’s about time we started taking this team seriously. So true, Gary.

Regardless of the outcome, I think this team have proved that things have changed. They’ve proved that they are a better defensive unit than they are given credit for. They continue to prove that they are “rod warriors” as they now have gone 251 days (or something obscene like that) since they last lost away from home. They no longer fold in the face of opposition. At a minimum even if they don’t win, they are going out and fighting to the last whistle. Then they pick up and start over – no long spells of uncertainty.

Really, when you look at it and dissect what’s changed for me it’s easy to see and it’s easy to see the difference between these two teams. What’s difference belief.

How so you ask?

Look no further than the managers. I believe that the team’s current runs play into the players belief in their managers and what they are trying to achieve.

We hear it all the time from the players about Arsene Wenger, “he believes in me,” “he trusts me.” That kind of belief can go a along way for a player. They talk about wanting to perform for him and for the club (it’s supporters.) They openly believe in what Wenger is trying to do at Arsenal – through the style of play, the building a team the right way, the development of young talent, etc. To me more than anything – this is why Arsenal are doing so well. Wenger believes in them and they believe in him. That trust has translated into this success.

Mesut Özil may not be the key reason to support this but by bringing him in, Wenger said to his team, “see I am committed to building a winner for you.” They’ve responded in kind.

Conversely, I am not sure the players believe in David Moyes. For all the talk of the chosen one, he isn’t Fergie. He doesn’t have the CV or the aura about him to give the players that added push. Sure, United will improve. They’ve got too many talented players in that squad by nature that should improve. But the presence of Fergie and what he brought to the table for United helped push them beyond the general mediocrity of certain players in the squad. The squad believed in him.

They don’t – yet – believe in Moyes. He doesn’t know who his preferred lineup is. Players who had Fergie’s trust don’t have his and are forced to sit and ponder whether they should move on (Hernandez and Kagawa.) Fabregas and others that United targeted I don’t think are ever going to come to United until Moyes proves himself. Again, he doesn’t have the pull or aura that Fergie did or Wenger does.

Should Arsenal nip this match, it will do more to build belief in Arsene and Arsenal. An Arsenal win just passes yet another media imposed hurdle. It also likely would make it neigh on impossible for United to get into the title race. As Arsenal supporters we know what losing 4 matches early in the season can do to a squad. It kills of belief, doesn’t it?

It’s been very quiet this week at Arsenal. They’ve gone about their business – they emphatically beat Liverpool. They put on a defensive performance against one of the best teams in all of Europe – without a peep.

For me regardless of what happens, I believe. I believe that this year Arsenal will get the benefits it deserves. It may not be the title. It took Man City two season to get the title after it finally got the squad it wanted. We are finally getting the squad we want. And I BELIEVE, likes the team believes that it is now only a matter of time (sooner not later) that Arsenal will be hoisting silverware.

Now about that next test.

How the match should play out.

For what it’s worth, I still would consider as underdogs. Because I like it that way and we are still going into Old Trafford, place that hasn’t historically been kind to us – even in the premier league era. But since we are talking about belief today, I do believe that for the first time in a long while we can get something from United.

Why? It’s all about the midfield. We have one they don’t. Liverpool for all the talk of their vaunted SAS were overrun in the midfield with better players in Lucas, Coutinho, Gerrard and Henderson, than United are going to present. While the duo of Rooney & Van Persie are probably better up top than SAS, if they don’t have the ball or the service from the middle of the pitch there is very little they can do.

Arsenal will look to dominate the midfield and without Paul Scholes to set that midfield tempo, Manchester United like Liverpool will find themselves chasing shadows.  Arsenal aren’t Barcelona but like the Spaniards under Tito and Pep, they are very comfortable on the ball and retaining the ball. They are probably the best in the premier league at it. They also have a very incisive way of taking that position and going forward with it putting pressure quickly on the back line of their opponent. Given the troubles United have shown in midfield, you can only suspect that they will have trouble with our midfield 5. If that happens it will be a very long day for Rooney and company.

Players to Watch.

Arsenal. Laurent Koscielny. When it comes to shutting down a big name striker one on one, Koscielny is proving to be one of that best at it. He will draw Robin Van Persie this week. Should be a fun one.

Manchester United. Wayne Rooney. I’d go with Ryan Giggs but he likely won’t make the pitch. Wayne felt the need to spend his week yapping about Arsenal. Hopefully he’ll regret that.

Probable Lineups:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal:  Diaby (knee),  Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) Podolski (hamstring), Walcott (stomach) Wilshere (ankle – fitness test)

Man United: Wellback (knee) Fletcher (stomach) Evans (back – fitness test) Rafael (ankle – fitness test) Carrick (calf – fitness test)

Leading Scorer:
Arsenal: Ramsey 6

Man United:

Assists:
Arsenal: Giroud 4, Ramsey 4, Özil 4

Man United:

Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 1

Man United: 1

Last 5:
Arsenal: WDWWW

Man United: LWDWW

Goals For:
Arsenal (away): 2.2

Man United(home): 1.4

Goals Against:
Arsenal (away): 0.8

Man United (home) : 1

Goal Differential:
Arsenal: 13

Man United: 4

Match Official:
Referee: Michael Oliver (Matches: 6. R0 Y25 PK 1)
Assistants: Burt, Long
Fourth Official: Marriner

Broadcast Information:
US: NBC Sports Network 11:00 AM EST

UK: Sky Sports 1 16.10 GMT

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YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Man United: 1

Match Facts (courtesy FourFourTwo)

• Manchester United have lost only 1 of their last 9 league encounters with Arsenal (W6 D2).
• Arsenal have won at Old Trafford 3 times in the Premier League era and twice went on to win the title (97-98 & 01-02).
• Robin van Persie has scored in the last 4 league encounters between these sides – twice for each club).
• Arsenal are the only side to have scored in all 10 of their Premier League games this season.
• No side has conceded more league goals to Wayne Rooney than Arsenal’s 10.
• Rooney’s first league goal, his first league goal for Man United and his 100th league goal all came against the Gunners.
• Aaron Ramsey has scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists in his last 7 league appearances.
• In their last league game at Old Trafford (November 2012), Arsenal failed to register a shot on target until the 92nd minute.
• The last time that Arsenal failed to have a shot on target in a league game was September 2003 – also at Old Trafford.
• No side has won more points from losing positions than Manchester United in the Premier League this season (6). In 2012-13, United won 29 points from losing positions – a league high.
• Arsenal have won only 2 of their last 16 Premier League games played in the late slot on Sundays, excluding final-day games.
• Manchester United have won 15 of their last 20 home games.
• The champions have won 11 of their last 18 home games after leading at half-time.
• United have won 6 of the last 9 matches against Arsenal and the last 4 at Old Trafford.
• There have been 3 or more goals in 7 of the Gunners’ 10 away matches against top-half teams.
• Arsenal have scored first in 6 of their last 10 fixtures against top-half teams and have scored in every Premier League game this season..

Tell us what you think. Are Arsenal for real this season? Can they get something from United at Old Trafford?