Man Utd v Arsenal - no need to panic!

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
17 Sep	4:00 PM	P	Manchester United (A)	1	0	Win

I don't think they will, but Arsenal's players can at least go into the Man United game this weekend with a reasonable amount of belief that they can win it.

Personally, I'm thinking it'll end a draw, but Arsenal won't be walkovers, despite their poor start to the Premiership season, in stark contrast to United who have won four out of four.

I say 'poor', but it's been much worse than that really for the Gunners; a mere two points from three games against Aston Villa, Man City and Middlesbrough - three games that at the start of the season looked very winnable. With these matches building up to the big one against United at Old Trafford, it wouldn't have been unreasonable to expect 9 points on the board by now, or 7 at the VERY least. 2 is shocking considering the opposition, but the game on Sunday will be different.

The key thing is that so far we have played against opposition who did not themselves believe they could beat us, leading to very boring, cautious and defensive approaches, nicking a goal in any way possible. Villa opened the scoring from a setpiece, City won the game on a stupid penalty and 'Boro's goal was their only shot of the game.

The rest of the time, these teams just defended against constant attacks from Arsenal, who have been passing it well but lacked the sharpness to finish. They've not been able to find a way through with a penalty area packed full of players. They won't be up against anything like that at Old Trafford.

Arsenal's poor form actually gives them a bit of an advantage; Alex Ferguson, playing at home, will need his team to attack us. They'll be looking for nothing less than a win, which will give us more space, and more oppurtunities on the break.

It could be tougher if Thierry Henry doesn't play. I haven't read much about his injury but I think he was being rested tonight and saved for Sunday. Playing his midweek game for France last week tired him out for the 'Boro game at the weekend. Wenger wouldn't have wanted that to happen again.

Speaking of tonight, I only saw the second half but Arsenal looked very in control of the game. I predicted beforehand that Hamburg would fancy their chances of beating us and attack more than the Premiership teams we've been playing, but tonight was an entirely different situation when I started watching, with us in the lead. Rosicky scored an amazing winning goal, which will hopefully give him confidence. His passing was excellent from then on, as was the team's in general.

Even if Henry doesn't play, we should be okay for pace. Adebayor looked lively tonight, running at people and using that pace to good effect. There's also Theo Walcott who I would seriously consider starting against United. Players who look to run at others when they get the ball, and also make pacey moves off it, are important in the counter-attacking system we are likely to use this weekend. We can't have a midfield full of players like Fabregas, Hleb or Rosicky, whose first thoughts are always to look up and pass when they receive the ball. One of these creative three will have to be dropped in my opinion, and I think it'll have to be Hleb, as our Czech playmaker will hopefully now have less of a reluctancy to shoot at goal.

Walcott on the right of midfield could be deadly, if he finds himself up against the dodgy Mikael Silvestre who played at left-back for United in their win over Celtic tonight. Arsenal will need guts and comittment like Gordon Strachan's side showed if they hope to cause as much of a problem for Fergie's men. Walcott, an English lad, will know the importance of a game like this more than perhaps some of the foreign players. He would also be keen to impress on what would be his first ever start for the club. He strikes me as a player confident enough to deal with a heavy debut like that.

However, all that said, I can't see Wenger risking it. Hleb provided good width for Arsenal tonight, which is unusual for him, but the team in general looks a lot more balanced in Europe.

Back to Sunday's game, of which key Man Utd man Ryan Giggs will play no part after picking up a bad injury tonight. He's been very influential for them so far this season, so that can only do us good.

I don't know, maybe I'm mad. I predicted things would lift off after we beat Zagreb 2-1 at the Emirates and I was wrong, but I feel really confident now. In my opinion we've just won the hardest game in the group, so with a bit of luck we can take that kind of form to Old Trafford and provide a decent enough challenge.

I'm predicting a 2-2 draw. I'd be happy with that.

User Comments

Mark (south africa)

Posted on 15 Sep, 2006 at 02:36 PM - Reply

I think Mr Wenger should start Baptista and Adebayor in front with RVP in midfield where he can play those great balls the way he does for Holland. Henry can come on later when the defence is tired to finish them off. Something different wud throw a spanner in Fergusons plans and anyway, the usual plan hasnt worked so far. I have faith that the gunners can do it against those highly over-rated bunch of babies. Our new era of dominance is about to begin

renzo

Posted on 15 Sep, 2006 at 01:34 PM - Reply

I say we play them with a 4 - 5 - 1 formation and play Flamini at left back but he will need good protection from midfield if Ronaldo plays.

Adebayor can lead the line if Henry isn't fit and Rosicky and Walcott should play out wide... Baptista, Gilberto and Fabregas in the middle. If he doesn't want to start with Walcott, then play Ljungberg or Hleb but they have to be told to play in position... If someone does decide to come inside then someone else will have to keep the width.

4 - 5 - 1 in defence but 4 - 3 - 3 in attack...

I wouldn't even mind seeing RVP play out wide on the left. Whatever the case maybe, I hope we show that we have fight in us and we can go there and give a great account of ourselves. It's about time Arsenal gave Man Utd a beating.

daniel (indonesia, SE asia)

Posted on 15 Sep, 2006 at 01:17 PM - Reply

My prediction is that Arsenal will play draw 1-1 on next Sunday, i hate this result, but i guess it's the best possible final score. Hope that the Fortune Goddess is in our(arsenal's) back.

Ben

Posted on 15 Sep, 2006 at 10:28 AM - Reply

Arsenal's game on Sunday will be a tough contest and with players like Saha and Rooney lurking our defence had better be at its best and also well selected.I would propose Eboue,Gallas(central) and hopefully Toure will be okay and Flamini on the Left because honestly Hoyte has looked unsure on the left hand side when put to a proper test.Cesc, Gilberto, Rosicky (left) and Ljunberg on the right to give them a run.Upfront Adebayor and Henry.I would however like to see Baptista come on early in the second half to patner Thierry as he is better at shooting on both feet than RVP and Adebayor plus he is strong and creative.Walcott should come on later for Ljunberg and also give the defence a proper run.Hopefully Rosicky will continue with his shooting heroics with a renewed confidence after that beautiful goal on Wednesday.RVP could also start instead of Adebayor.This 4-4-2 setup would be the best against united in my opinion and as it has been mentioned we should play with a few pacey players-Walcott, Henry,Ljunberg, Baptista and Eboue should continue with his good overlapping runs.Players like Christiano and Rooney i think are Uniteds biggest threat as well as Saha should be kept at bay hopefully by Gallas, Gilberto and Eboue. The fact that united will come us will also be and advantage and despite our poor start to the season this would be the most ideal place to record our first win but thats easier said than done considering United's form but it can and hopefully will be done.

Megwill, Singapore

Posted on 15 Sep, 2006 at 07:55 AM - Reply

I'm not so sure. I hope for Arsenal to win. That will boost morale and Arsenal will then probably go on to win the next few games.

But looking at the pass few games...

1) Arsneal has conceded in every games, including the Hamburg game. Our defense is shaky. We never seems to plug that from last season.

2) For the boro and hamburg game. We relied on penalty to get things started, and with the opposing down to 10 men.

As for Man-U, thing Rooney and scholes are back? Yes. nhlanhla is right. Man-U will use the same strategy. They will kick and bully the younger Arsenal players. So, to win them, be quick, get into the their box, and some Man-U players will miss kick and......Penalty!

Gooner!

Posted on 15 Sep, 2006 at 05:52 AM - Reply

Arsenal will have to go out there and look for a win. The pressue is on Man Utd now to to well. Arsene knows too well of this. We need the points as well as the pride!

Jasem

Posted on 14 Sep, 2006 at 09:56 PM - Reply

No mate, i feel Arsenal will win this game, after watching Man utd's games they rely alot on Giggs, he has been very influential for them this season more than Wayne Rooney, and also Ronaldo is a Doubt for that game, which will work in our favour. Henry i feel will be able to make it to Sunday but Van Persie is a major doubt.
I predict a 2-0 win over Man utd, it wont be easy but Arsenal are capable of beating any side in the World. Thank You

Gunner for Life - Panama

Posted on 14 Sep, 2006 at 09:23 PM - Reply

I believe wel beat Manu, there is so much talent in this team... its amazing what a monster Arsene has created! But the only thing i know for sure is that Baptista has to play, as well as adebaor... Adebayor would give us good chances in the air and Baptista will run over anyone trying to stop him even Rooney! and he is a very talented player. I think our defensive line will have lots of work but i expect a good performance on sunday.
Arsenal Fan foreverrr. Writing from Panama, Central America.

dan

Posted on 14 Sep, 2006 at 03:50 PM - Reply

i predict the boys (arsenal) will be victourious i really cant see united beating us we played so well against hamburg and things can only get better in my opinoun, starting at man utd.

king kunne

Posted on 14 Sep, 2006 at 02:31 PM - Reply

i agree with nhlanhla...this rande pal has described the perfect way to beat man utd wud be adding some muscle and the only way to do that would be by playing baptista...we will have to rely on hleb and rosicky for wingers....gilberto,fabregas and baptista in the centre mid....we will have to leave henry up front as lone striker...defence wud be gallas and djorou as centre backs since kolo toure is injured...eboue and hoyte(i know he sucks but he has played more than flamini this season)...

henry 2010

Posted on 14 Sep, 2006 at 01:50 PM - Reply

i think your wrong about dropping hleb, he is truly one of the best dribblers i have ever seen, if you dont beleive me there is a compilation of him in his days in germany at youtube.com, you'll see what im talking about, infact rosicky is also a great dribbler and i think the reason neither are showing this is down to the way wenger likes arsenal to player with constant passing and moving. If Wenger encouraged hleb to run with the ball more you'd see a totally different player

G Chia

Posted on 14 Sep, 2006 at 01:47 PM - Reply

I won;t be happy with 2-2 , but I'll take it

moxx

Posted on 14 Sep, 2006 at 11:45 AM - Reply

i see a 1-0 for us... God bless Arsenal!

nhlanhla(south africa)

Posted on 14 Sep, 2006 at 11:33 AM - Reply

i wouldnt risk theo against manu. they know the only way to beat us is by bullying and kicking us off the park. remember what they did to reyes; he was never the same after scholes kicked him the whole afternoon. im of the opinion that we need pple like baptiste who will be able to dish the same treatment back. saf knows that in terms of skill his team is no match for arsenal hence his physical approach. very few teams in the epl can match arsenal for talent which is why they always play negative soccer when playing us. a bit of steel is what is required when we play bullies like manu and maybe someone to rub looney rooney the wrong way and get him sent off!

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