Match Preview: Arsenal v Manchester United; Not at all like the glory days

As every paper and their supporting website has told us, this used to be a fixture that defined the league. It had for long periods of time so many memorable moments that it was the must-watch tie of the season. But something has gone terribly wrong, it’s no longer the marquee matchup it was.

Well, duh. The reasons for that are many rather than the papers trying to tell us it is something simple. But that is a topic for another day. Right now, the focus is on this matchup. It is a day that could mean something for both teams.

Either way you look at it, the two teams are shells of their former selves. They’ve also had starts to the season that can only be coined as disappointing. Now for United maybe that comes with some level of expectation due to the change in managers (again.) For Arsenal, however, with the hope built off of last season, the great summer dealings, there was hope that the Gunners would fare better than they have so far.

Both teams can point to a myriad of injuries as one factor for their fitful start but as the season wears on the fingers point to other directions. The biggest question being asked is are both managers really relics of an era that has gone and passed them by? Again, another topic for another day but it’s a fair critique in light of the pedigree of both bosses.

Wenger and Van Gaal need tomorrow. Wenger needs the win to get the club back on track, Van Gaal to show that he can turn things around at the declining giant of United. The question is, which one of this fitful teams will take advantage of the situation and come out on top.

It really is a hard call. Each team has attacking talent that on the day can make any team pay. But neither have established any level of fluidity or consistency from game to game. Additionally, due to the many injuries each team has had, their defenses are essentially cobbled together.

No one is sure of the last time you saw the same back 4 for United in two consecutive games and due to injuries to new arrival Mathieu Debuchy and defensive stalwart Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal are patching together their back line.

While the attack and defense will have their say in the match it will come down to which team can control the middle of the pitch. Arsenal are known for the possession and ball control but as we’ve talked about ad nauseum, it hasn’t all been going so swimmingly for the gunners.

Passing hasn’t been as crisp and our possession while still good hasn’t been used effectively. In order to beat United both will need to be vastly improved.

Part of the battle is who Wenger picks for the midfield duties. Mikel Arteta is back and when it comes to control and distribution in the middle of the pitch, he is much more effective than Mathieu Flamini. However, he is just back from injury and as much as I would want him to play – he simply can’t be risked. That either means it’s Flamini with either Wilshere or Ramsey. . . or does Wenger go with a real risk and play Wilshere and Ramsey together, with Wilshere playing the deep lying role he has played for England quite effectively.

The concern I have here is that the duo of Ramsey and Wilshere hasn’t always clicked. Additionally, Ramsey though a stud last season has, like his team not enjoyed the best of seasons. Whether due to injury or just weight of expectations, the Rambo from last season has only been seen sporadically.

I know Wilshere gets a lot of love and the lad is certified world class talent. But to me he is still young and there are things about his game that still worry me. I think he goes down to easy and takes himself out of game looking to the ref for a call. It may be that Cesc Fabregas’ lasting legacy is helping Wilshere’s play acting. Additionally, and more worrisome for me is Jack’s propensity for holding on to the ball too long.

We’ve all played with players who once they get the ball on their feet feel they can do it all. They’ll take on multiple defenders and try to drive straight into them. You know the player I am talking about, head down and trying to make something happen they may pull it off but they also tend to miss prime opportunities to create a chance with a teammate. To me this is Jack.

The lad wants to do so much and do so well for his team that when he plays the more forward role he just tries to do too much. I’d like to see him make the pass before he tries to beat a defender. That release of the ball sooner will only make him better and more effective. The funny thing is when he is playing deeper, he seems better at his distribution than when playing more advanced.

He is a barrel of emotion and a catalyst regardless and it’s hard to see him not getting the nod in the midfield. With United missing Blind in the midfield it will turn to either Carrick (who faces his own fitness test) and/or the Frohead to clog things up. Either way, I do think there is more in Arsenal’s midfield then there is in United’s. If Arsenal can exert dominance in this area of the pitch, it will be a long day for the visitors.

The rest of the squad sort of fills itself out naturally. Sanchez has been in fine form even away from Arsenal and the tandem of him and Welbeck (no Giroud won’t get the start) should be enough of a handful to give Smalling and McNair nightmares for a while. Additionally, while De Gea is fit, you have to wonder if he has to make repeated saves with an injured finger whether he will be that effective.

The match may have lost it’s luster from years ago but this tie is important for each team, which means that it should be a lively and open affair. Whoever’s defense holds their nerve and more importantly whomever controls the midfield should win the day.

Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Danny Welbeck. The lad as Wenger says, doesn’t have anything to prove. However, he’ll want to show Van Gaal it was a mistake to let him go.

Manchester United: Wayne Rooney. In last season’s tie away to United it was an inspired Rooney that carried a subpar United to a win over Arsenal (even though RvP’s shoulder scored) Arsenal need to be wary of him at all times.

Probable Lineups:

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) v Manchester United (4-1-4-1)

Injuries  & Suspensions:
Arsenal: Debuchy (ankle), Koscielny (achilles), Özil (knee), Ospina (thigh), Walcott (groin – late test) Gnabry (match fitness)

Manchester United: Falcao (calf), Rojo (shoulder), Blind (knee), Young (groin), Shaw (leg – late test), Carrick (groin – late test), Da Silva (match fitness), Evans (match fitness), Jones (match fitness)

Head to Head:

Seasonal Statistics Head to Head.

Match Officials:
Referee: Mike Dean (8M 41Y 2RC)
Assistant Referees: J. Collin, D. England
Fourth Official: M. Jones

Broadcast Information:
UK: Sky Sports 1; 17.30 BST
US: NBC (Primary Network) 12:30 PM EST

YAMA Predictions:
Arsenal 2 – 1 Manchester United

Match Facts (courtesy FourFourTwo)

• Arsenal have dropped more points than any other team from winning positions in this season’s Barclays Premier League (9). They dropped only nine points from leading positions in the whole of 2013-14.
• Juan Mata has scored four goals and set up two more in five starts against Arsenal in all competitions.
• Wayne Rooney has scored the joint-most goals against Arsenal of any player in Premier League history (10 along with Robbie Fowler).
• Only Burnley (8) have conceded more headed goals than Arsenal this season (6)
• Alexis Sanchez has scored 12 goals in his last 14 matches for Arsenal in all competitions.
• Arsenal have won just four Premier League matches this season and those have come against teams currently in the bottom seven of the table.
• Alexis Sanchez has scored the opening goal of the game more often than any other Premier League player this season (five times).
• Robin van Persie has scored in five of the last six meetings between Arsenal and Man Utd, in two games as a Gunner and three as a Red Devil.
• Danny Welbeck has scored in his last two appearances in this fixture, while playing for Man Utd.
• Manchester United have lost just one of their last 14 matches against Arsenal in all competitions (W10 D3 L1).