Wenger confident ahead of United clash

Written by Jonathan Chong on Saturday, January 20, 2007

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
21 Jan	4:00 PM	P	Manchester United (H)	2	1	Win

Arsène Wenger is confident that his young Arsenal team can overcome Premiership leaders Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday.

Arsenal have had the upper hand over teams like Liverpool, defeating the Reds three times already this season. The Gunners were also denied all three points by a late Chelsea goal at Stamford Bridge, and defeated Manchester United earlier this season at Old Trafford.

The problem with Gunners this season has been their performance against the traditionally smaller teams.

Wenger said: "Manchester United have been more consistent against the smaller teams in the League than we have.

"We lost against Fulham, Manchester City and Sheffield United which they didn't do. But if you look at the stronger teams and compare the results of the two teams we're not behind anybody.

"It's a big frustration because we dropped points at the beginning of the season through lack of experience and lack of form. I still feel we carried a bit from the World Cup, a bit of indigestion.

"But when you play a young player at the start of the season you know you'll pay for his education with points. That's what happened to us a little bit."

The omens are in Arsenal's favour ahead of Sunday's showdown.

Each time Arsenal manage to do the "double" over Manchester United, they have gone on to win the league title - 1991, 1998 and 2002.

However, each of those saw Arsenal play the home leg first, and winning in the away leg later in the season.

It has also been 29 years since the Gunners have done the double over United and not gone on to win the title.

User Comments

Writer Profile

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments