Man U-Arsenal
By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
They are no longer head-to-head battles for the title, but there is still something special about meetings between Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Premiership’s relatively short history is dominated by these two clubs, and so many times in the past has this fixture determined whether the trophy went north or south.
Given Arsenal’s position, fourth in the table 15 points adrift of United, that will not be the case on Sunday, but there is no less anticipation.
This could be a decisive weekend in the Premiership. Twenty-seven hours before Arsenal and United kick off at the Emirates Stadium, Chelsea face a tough task at Liverpool .
Conceivably by Sunday evening, Chelsea could be nine points adrift of United in the title race. Just as likely, the gap could be down to three.
Like Chelsea’s opponents Liverpool, Arsenal knocked themselves out of the title race with poor results early in the season, but the points difference to the top hides the fact that they have closed the quality gap in recent weeks.
They are surely out of the title race, but Manager Arsene Wenger, never one to give up until the fat lady has sung, isn’t so sure.
“I can understand that even if we win people still think we have no chance, but we see things differently,” he said.
“I believe that for a team which is young like my team, it is important that they get the belief that they can win the big games — game after game. They win one, they win two, they win three and suddenly that can transform a team.
“Then you say: ‘nobody can stop us’ and they can strengthen that belief.
“They have done it already — but they can strengthen that belief by beating Manchester United on Sunday.
“We want to reduce the gap on Manchester United as quickly as possible and we want to continue our run because we are in good form.
“We are involved in nearly every competition, even the championship, and you never know.”
Arsenal inflicted United’s only home defeat of the season so far, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford in September through Emmanuel Adebayor’s late goal.
The Gunners remain unbeaten in the league at home in their new stadium, but have dropped too many points in drawing five of 11 at the Emirates while they settle in.
“It is a big frustration because we dropped points at the beginning of the season through lack of experience and lack of form,” Wenger added.
“When you play a young player at the start of the season you know you will pay for his education with points. That is what happened to us a little bit.”
There is every chance it will happen again this weekend. Although Thierry Henry is back, the loss of the suspended Gilberto Silva in midfield leaves Arsenal looking weak as a defensive unit, and United surely have too many weapons not to expose such a weakness.
That is despite the fact that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted they are not firing on all cylinders.
The form of Wayne Rooney is a concern, with the 20-year-old star having scored just once in the last 13 games as his teammates have run riot around him.
“Wayne just needs a break,” said Ferguson. “I am not concerned at all.
“It will come. What he needs to do is get into that one goal a game rhythm that strikers can do for you.
“If he does that it will make a big difference to our run-in.
“He is a big-game player.
“Wayne is a great example of a great player. He is prepared to work as hard as anyone.
“He is working his socks off and has a terrific attitude.”
Ferguson’s other strikers — Louis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Henrik Larsson — have more than covered for Rooney’s shortcomings of late, and with them in form, United pose Arsenal’s toughest test at the Emirates yet.
WagerWeb.com does not split the two teams, offering both at +150 with a draw at +200.
Given Arsenal’s problems at the back, it’s tough not to see yet another United win as they attempt to wrest the Premiership crown back from Chelsea .
But United-Arsenal games are never as straightforward as that.