please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal travel to Old Trafford this Saturday to take on Manchester United in one of the classic Premier League fixtures. The Gunners return to the scene where they were humiliated last season by a rampant Manchester United. It was arguably the lowest point in Arsene Wenger’s 16 year reign at Arsenal. This Saturday, the Arsenal players return to right some of the wrongs of that fateful day. But if they are to get their revenge on Manchester United, they must stop their former captain and star forward, Robin Van Persie. The Dutchmen swapped London for Manchester in the summer and it was move that not many expected and a move that Arsenal fans still feel should not have allowed to happen. Van Persie became the played that his talented dictated last season and this season, he has continued the form that saw him get voted as the best footballer in the Premier League by his fellow players. Arsenal will go into this game on the back one of the most remarkable games you will ever see. Arsenal fought back from four goals down to beat Reading in the League cup, and in doing so they progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition. In their last league game, Arsenal recorded a narrow win against QPR at the Emirates and it was win that the Gunners badly needed. Mikel Arteta scored the only goal in a game which only the result mattered. Manchester United have had to deal with a double header against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the past week. They won the controversial League game 3-2 after riding their luck on a few occasions. But, Chelsea got their revenge in the League cup and dumped United out of the competition. Both United and Arsenal have already lost twice in the league this season and United have already lost to a team from North London at Old Trafford this season. Arsenal’s last win against Manchester United at Old Trafford was in 2006, and since then they have lost in seven of their last eight meetings against United at Old Trafford. It’s a terrible record and the odds are against Arsenal when they visit Old Trafford this Saturday, but not many expected them to come away from the Etihad with a result, and they did. Arsenal need a similar performance if they are to come away with anything from Old Trafford. Manchester United added two brilliant players to their squad in the transfer window and while Shinji Kagawa has not hit the ground running at his new club, Robin Van Persie certainly has. He already has seven league goals to his name and is joint top scorer in the Premier League alongside Demba Ba. You do not need to tell Arsenal fans about the qualities of Van Persie, though. He was at Arsenal at for eight years, and injuries were his only obstacle from being the player he is is today. Van Persie, originally a wide player has transformed into the perfect number nine, although he likes to think of himself as a ‘nine and a half’. Van Persie unlike most other number nines, is able to also link play with his ability to drop off and find space between the lines. That as well as his prowess in front of goal is what makes him the complete forward. Van Persie got Arsenal out of trouble time and time again last season with his skills and he has done the same for Manchester United this season. The Arsenal defenders having faced Van Persie in training week in week out will surely know what to expect, but even then Van Persie is capable of doing the unexpected. His movement in and around the box will have remained United fans of another Dutch centre-forward they used to have. If Arsenal are to stop Van Persie, then Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen will have to have outstanding games in the heart of the Arsenal defence. But with United, the attacking threats come from all angles and on the right they are likely to use Antonio Valencia. The flying winger tore into Arsenal when these two teams last met in the league. He scored one goal and created another. Valencia is able to combine pace and power and when he is on form, he can make a fool of even the best defenders in the world. With the continued absence of Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos is likely to start at left back. Santos had a horrendous game against Schalke recently and Arsenal fans will hope that he will get more support from the other Arsenal players compared to that game. Wayne Rooney seems to love playing against Arsenal, he first scored against the Gunners all the way back in 2003 when he was only 16 years old and playing for Everton. It ended Arsenal’s long unbeaten record away from home, and since then he has made his mark against Arsenal time and time again. In the 8-2, he scored a hat-trick, but this year he might be able to cause Arsenal a different problem. With the arrival of Van Persie, Rooney has playing in a much deeper role this season. Only on a few occlusions, has Sir Alex Ferguson, used Rooney alongside Van Persie. This season he has used Rooney between the lines of midfield and attack and Rooney has been able to link up with Van Persie. With the absences of Kagawa, Rooney will be looked upon to provide the service from the final third. Mikel Arteta will have to be able to pick up Rooney and prevent him from having the time and space to pick his passes. Despite losing to Chelsea, Arsenal did limit the influence of the likes of Hazard,Oscar and Mata from open play and those three are also players that are experts at playing between the lines. Jack Wilshere is expected to get his second start in 16 months and this is going to be a massive test for the young Englishmen. Against QPR he looked like he has never been away but the game against United will be played at a far higher tempo and it’s going to test Wilshere’s fitness. Santi Cazorla has not has the same influence in his last three games and the space he was allowed to enjoy was reduced by the likes of Norwich and QPR. But against United, that might not be the case. United will look to go and attack Arsenal, so therefore Cazorla might get the space to create havoc. Also not playing in midweek will have given him the rest he has needed after playing for Spain during the international break. Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick against Reading and in doing so he dragged Arsenal from the brink in the league cup and Walcott could be in line for a first League start since the League game against Sunderland in August. Walcott has seven goals to his name and that makes him the top scorer at the club. With Walcott still not signing a new contract, Wenger has been reluctant to play him, but with the injury to Gervinho, he might not have many other choices. He could play Aaaron Ramsey on the right again, but he simply do not offer the same threat as Walcott. As many teams have shown this season, if you can attack Manchester United then there defence will creak. United have already let in thirteen goals in the league compared to the six Arsenal have conceded. United’s attacking play has got them off the hook time and time again this season, so playing Walcott will give their defence something to think about. United lack pace in the heart of the defence, so if Walcott can time those runs from out to in, then he could get amongst the goals. Olivier Giroud changed the game against Reading when he came off the bench and a performance like that will give him the confidence he needs. Arsenal fans travel to Old Trafford this Saturday with hope than expectation, and if the Gunners can deliver here, then it will a huge result and one than can lift the doom and gloom that surrounds the club at the moment. Team News: Arsene Wenger: Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs: Manchester United Played: 194 Wins: 67 Draws: 42 Losses: 85 For: 264 Against: 297 GD: -33 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 1 - 2 Manchester United Manchester United 8 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 0 Manchester United Manchester United 2 - 0 Arsenal (FA Cup) Manchester United 1 - 0 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 3 Manchester United please log in to view this image Managers Views: Arsene Wenger on how to stop Robin Van Persie: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
This will be a difficult and emotional match for the players, particularly playing against our star forward and top scorer from last season and given the result in last season's fixture.
You can say that again, I have still not got used to seeing that ****er in a United shirt. Going to be so weird and I suspect painful when he plays against us.
The result there last season defined the direction of the entire season, to a large extent. The psychological effect from that game was tremendous and may still linger in the minds of the players we have remaining. It may have even played a part in the RVP to Manchester United, although that is just speculation on my part. I think with Manchester United, we have a mental block not even so much that they have better quality of players than us. It is important to start well on Saturday or we could be overrun. We do have the quality, we just need the belief. One positive result could change all the negativity surrounding this fixture.
can't see walcott starting. even though he had a blinder, he did play 120 minutes at a pretty high pace, and wouldn't last 45 in this game. bring him on with 20-30 mins left and let him rip their LB a new one.
Who is going to start on the right then? Remember, Gervinho is injured. Still no news on AOC. So, Ramsey it is then. That will please a lot of people.
Gerv is out, AOC is out, Walcott will not start... We are looking thin.. Only other option is Arshavin.... or maybe it's on the wrong side for him. I don't know.
So you won't be joining in what is hopefully several renditions of "he scores when he wants"? Shame, might have cheered you up.
He played 120 mins as well. If a super athlete like Walcott can't play after 120 mins, then there is no chance for Arshavin.
Naaaa Na Na Na Na Na naaaa Na Na Na naaaa Giroud (tune of hey Jude). Better hope RVP does in fact score or you lot will look like fools....
He will, if he wants too that is. Hopefully he bags a few, just as well since we like to give teams a two goal head start at home.
I think one of the effects of the Reading game is that Arsenal will know that even if we go two or three goals down, that we can still come back and win the game. In the past, we've let our heads go down once we've conceded and struggled as a result, but I think we go into this game as massive underdogs, with the pressure on Utd to win. In a way, we have nothing to lose. Obviously I want to win the the game, but ultimately I'd be satisfied as long as we put in a committed performance and give it our all. If we do lose, then at least we can come away with our pride in tact. However, if we win and take three points off of Utd at OT, then it could really kick start our season. If the spuds can do it, then so can we
hmm. good point about the right of midfield. of course, we could play gnabry there. he only played 60 mins. would prefer him over ramsey tbh, but I doubt that will happen.
I know i put us to win 8-7 in the prediction league, but in all honesty, if we scrape a point i'll be chuffed. And if Verm breaks Judas' leg, it'll be even sweeter.
We could play Eisfeld in midfield and move Cazorla further up front but that's just an idea.... will never happen. Cazorla can play wide as well.
Walcott will start for you guys definately, Id be worried about Carrick and Scholes vs Arteta, Wilshere and Cazorla, saying that Valencia should get the better of Santos unless he is doubled up. and god knows what the odds are for another 8 2, probably 200/1 or something like that
If Podolski does not track back, then Santos is going to get ripped to shreds by Valancia and Rafael.
Our record against United has been dreadful, just look at the stats SuperJack has put up, especially at Old Trafford.
Pod has no choice but to track back Young will be less effective due to the presence of Sagna who was absent last season in this fixture, I think. So the main threat will come down our left through Valencia, in a similar manner to the way United beat us at the Emirates in the last fixture between these sides. Tracking runners and stopping them from getting behind the defence will be key IMO... I lost count of the number of times a simple ball over the top was our undoing over and over again at Old Trafford during that massacre.
