Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Arsenal vs Manchester United
When: Sunday 22nd January, 2012, at 16:00 UK time
Where: Emirates Stadium, London, England
Erasing the Stain
An 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford at the start of the season threatened to symbolise Arsenal’s troubled campaign, but since then, manager Arsene Wenger has slowly rebuilt the confidence in his squad and now retaining a top four spot looks a very possible prospect for the Gunners. The feel-good factor was further added to by the arrival of legend Thierry Henry on a two-month loan; and it has persisted, even in the face of successive Premier League defeats to Fulham and Swansea.
Indeed, such is the run of form that the Gunners’ have put together that those two losses have not knocked the side out of contention and rivals Tottenham Hotspur are perfectly within reach. And Spurs may have already lost at Manchester City by the time Arsenal play here, meaning that a Gunners win could cut the gap between the pair down to two points.
Wenger may have to cope without Thierry Henry and Thomas Vermaelen for this, while Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta is sure to miss out. Not losing therefore may be a more realistic aim, though whatever happens, Arsenal’s French boss is well aware that the time of reckoning is approaching and he is struggling to see a future without Champions League football, piling more pressure on his men.
"For me it would be [a disaster] because I want to play with the best", said Wenger. "We want to be in there in the top four and to play in the Champions League. Anything else would not be good enough."
Responding to Pressure
Just as Arsenal will know Spurs’ result when this game kicks off, so Manchester United will be aware of what Manchester City have done against Harry Redknapp’s men. And the reigning champions will have to respond, whatever has happened at Eastlands; either an opportunity to draw level on points will present itself, or a chance to limit the damage of a City win.
Manchester United however, like Arsenal, have undergone a little Premier League wobble of late, with defeats to Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United straddling the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012. A win over Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford eased the pressure, but Sir Alex Ferguson will be well aware that an afternoon at the Emirates presents a more compelling test.
And United are not banking on a repeat of the 8-2 drubbing, with striker Wayne Rooney very alive to the fact that Arsenal have changed since then.
"We knew it was a great day for us and a bad one for them", said the England international. "To beat Arsenal 8-2, with the players they have got, the history of the club and the manager, was a great result. In some ways a shock. You are just in a zone [during the game]. Every time we went forward we seemed to be creating chances or scoring. It is only afterwards that you realise what a win it was. I am pretty sure it won’t be like that again."
Recent form
Arsenal:
Fulham 2-1 Arsenal (02/01; Premier League)
Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United (09/01; FA Cup)
Swansea City 3-2 Arsenal (15/01; Premier League)
Manchester United:
Newcastle 3-0 Manchester United (04/01; Premier League)
Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United (08/01; FA Cup)
Manchester United 3-0 Bolton Wanderers (14/01; Premier League)
Key absences
Arsenal: Thierry Henry (doubt); Thomas Vermaelen (doubt); Mikel Arteta; Andre Santos; Kieran Gibbs; Jack Wilshere; Bacary Sagna
Manchester United: Anderson; Ashley Young; Nemanja Vidic; Michael Owen; Tom Cleverley; Darren Fletcher
Players to watch
Arsenal – Robin van Persie: Arsene Wenger surely thought that Thierry Henry could take some of the burden off Van Persie, but with the Frenchman still not up to fitness speed and a doubt for this clash, the onus is once again on the Dutchman to fire Arsenal to victory. He has shown he can handle the pressure and it would be little surprise to see Van Persie score here.
Manchester United – Paul Scholes: The returning midfield maestro has a long history of success in this fixture and will no doubt be raring to have another crack at Arsenal. Scholes scored last weekend against Bolton and looks as sharp as ever. If he gets any time on the pitch then he will make his presence felt.
Match Prediction
Arsenal are a changed side from that which Manchester United crushed at the start of the season. Both have wobbled recently, but Arsenal’s injuries look set to hand the advantage to Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. It won’t be a rout and could instead be a slender away win. Arsenal 0-1 Manchester United.
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