Manchester United faces its toughest match of the season to date, with Premier League leaders Arsenal due at Old Trafford tonight. Unbeaten in the league but with a series of damaging draws in away fixtures, Sir Alex Ferguson is seeking to impose United’s will in a match the Scot describes as intense.
Arsenal arrives with arguably the Premier League’s most in-form player, Sami Nasri, and a renewed confidence brought about by a more physical approach this season. It’s a change that is sure to impact on tonight’s match, with memories of contests that have spilled over not long in the past.
“It’s Manchester United against Arsenal and the history of both teams always guarantees a match of intensity and, a lot of the time, controversy,” said Ferguson.
“I think Monday’s game will be more or less the same because the pride and history of both clubs determines that.”
Ferguson’s major selection dilemma comes in midfield, with the Scot forced to choose two from four in central areas. Anderson, Michael Carrick or Paul Scholes will line-up with Darren Fletcher in the centre of the park.
It’s sure to be a key contest, despite the absence of the visitors’ talisman, Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard has failed to recover from injury, with youngster Jack Wilshere set to play in Fabregas’ stead.
Meanwhile in attack Wayne Rooney is still seeking his first goal from open play in almost 20 hours stretching to United’s solitary goal away in Munich last march. But the forward has often enjoyed facing Arsenal, including scoring home and away against the Londoners last season.
For the visitors Nasri poses the greatest threat, with the Frenchman excelling despite – or perhaps because of – missing out on this summer’s World Cup in South Africa. Nasri has added goals and consistency to a talent that often looked out-of-place in the Premier League when he first came to England.
“Nasri has probably been one of the best players in the Premier League this season,” says United legend Ryan Giggs, who is likely to make the bench tonight.
“He has got balance and speed, can play on either wing or off the front. He is really versatile and has scored some great goals as well.
“He really seems to have come of age this year. Arsenal deserve a lot of credit for the way they have coped with losing a quality player like Fabregas and still carried on winning.”
Indeed, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the match is an opportunity to show how good his team is after four defeats to United in recent years, including the 2009 Champions League semi-final, and home and away in the Premier League last season. Twice United has narrowly beaten the Londoners at Old Trafford in recent years, and then caught Arsenal on the break for comprehensive victories at the Emirates.
“We have an opportunity to show how good we are – that is what you want in life,” said Wenger.
“I know that my team will be really up for it, and I always have great belief in my players. I know how hungry they are for success and am sure that will come out in the game.”
Hungry perhaps but after five years without a trophy history says it might not be enough. After all, Arsenal’s record in their last 10 games in all competitions against United and Chelsea is played 10, won none. Arsenal though, has the best record on the road this season of any Premier League side.
History also says that tonight’s result will go a long way towards deciding this season’s title.
Opposition
Arsenal – 4231 – Fabianski; Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy; Song, Wilshere; Nasri, Walcott, Arshavin; Chamakh. Subs from: van Persie, Szczesny, Denilson, Gibbs, Bendtner, Djourou, Rosicky.
United
United – 442 – van der Sar; Rafael da Silva, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra; Nani, Anderson, Fletcher, Park; Rooney, Berbatov. Subs from: Carrick, Kuzszazk, Amos, Fabio da Silva, Evans, Smalling, O’Shea, Brown, Gibson, Obertan, Bébé, Giggs, Hernández, Macheda.
Officials
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant referees: Dave Bryan & Darren Cann
Fourth official: Phil Dowd
Form
United – DDWWLD
Arsenal – LLWWWW
God I hope you’re right about 442
I’d like to see something like this, but it probably won’t happen:
VDS
Raf Rio Vidic Evra
Carrick Scholes
Nani Anderson Rooney
Berba
Sort of a variant on the formations that thrashed Arsenal two seasons ago; Anderson in form can shut down Wilshere while also providing a decent attacking thrust when we have the ball.
Then again, I think Fergie likes Fletcher against Arsenal.
3-2 United, 2 assists and a goal for Rooney!
Amen.
The team is announced, 4-5-1 formation. Berbatov is left out and Rooney is up front as the lone striker.
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=97229&part=sports
A ton of streams to choose from.
I’m running “sopcast – 82153″… working great.
Would have liked to have seen Berba play, but that is the formation we’ve thrashed them with in the past, only with Ronaldo. Would much rather have Roo instead of Park on the left and Berba up top.
i agree with u bman
berba should be on fire and should really partner shrek up front
otherwise roons will be running backwards looking for the ball if he isnt too well served
big game for nani to show he is worth the hype
Wenger’s taking a bit of a chance starting a rookie in goal, in’he?
suppose he is another 1 of wengers kids thats he has nursed……
arse will pass the ball to kingdom come
united really need to get it up them from the start
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Park.
Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Berbatov, Giggs, Smalling, Hernandez, Obertan.
No Scholes. Ando & Carrick better be good
that united mascot looks very rooney like…
Hopefully Arsenal’s back 4 will shit it more than usual with a new keeper in goal
Rooney is key.
come on united
That’s a yellow you bald cunt
but remember its nani who he fouled….
unlucky shrek
Anderson looks up for it.
Arsenal have gone onto the pitch with a bad attitude
Lots of bullshit little fouls
I suppose this is their idea of manning up to us, the fucking babies
Get Park and Carrick off pronto!
stick the pea and berba on
3 man attack
this arse side will start shitting themselves
come on reds!
fucking hell naniiiiiiiiiiiii
unlucky
Cmon Utd
so what are people having to eat. just whacked a chicken and peppers stone baked pizza in the oven, have high hopes for this one – tabasco at the read
NANI YOU KUNT
Rafael is just very good. Simple.
442 until we score would be nice
Arsenal are there for taking
come on reds ffs
Good moves…just need a goal..cmon, thier shitten themselves
This one man up front is fuckin killing us.
veira song in the background
crowd must be bored too
Gaz Neville has his thumb up Beck’s arse – live on TV!
Crowd is rockin…
what they singin about viera?
this 4 5 1 is ok if we are at the emirates but ffs at home, surely 2 up is just so obviously what we need to do against these pussies…..
Park you fuckin mongo
cmon ffs
good work Ando that’s what we like to see
my pizza is ready !
Carrick still not put a tackle in. How fuckin bad is he?
Get Park off
Crossing from wide is getting us nowhere… need a bit of guile up the middle… look for a clever through ball to Rooney… we’re not getting him in the game enough.
and Carrick
See a fist fight coming any minute…
Jammy Park
YEAH PARK IS SHIT. HE OFFERS NOTHING.
LOL – thick cunts, you know who you are.
Get the fuck in!
duhhhhh
Jimmy Spark scores and Carrick actually got a tackle in all in the same 45 minutes.
Unbelievable!
wilshere is a fucking little gay.
Sort him out Fletch…
Fletch you bolluxsless cunt..deck him out cold
I’m desperate for Rooney to bag one…
… or 2…
fletche has smashed the arsenal midfield to peices in last 15 mins with roo and ando – little gay wilshere is nowhere!
me too – roo has been brilliant
Half time coming too soon for me…
Who in the world told Anderson to take free-kicks? Absolutely useless on dead balls. Has been decent in his all round game mind you.
Fantastic finish from Park who had been totally wank before.
Arsenal needed the break…
We need to come out calm and composed for the first 10/15… look for the counter, without risk… we can turn these fuckers over… another goal or 2.
agree – so much for arsenals amazing triangles – LOL
fletcher has grabbed that midfield by the bollocks – roo and ando supporting well but not fluidity from le arse. proper destroyer and combining brilliantly with roo
yep, hold the ball, let the faggots come forward and knock in a counter – they are pussies they will never come back
so big fat sam has been axed?
chilean miners blowing becks, ffs. once a whore, always a whore. fit as though,
ha ha – another little bender in walcott to come on – he;s gonna get raped
great play rafeal and roo
FUCK!!!
Anderson’s brain just fuckin freezes once he enters the box
ando you fart, ffs.
fuck, fuck that was close – WAKE UP
Bloody hell, that was close…
Nani, you dumbwitted spastic cunt
NANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII…YOU SELFISH FUCKHEAD!!!!!!!
fucking hell, nani you utter twat – ROONEY WAS FREE
Shrek pissed off with Nani
All this excellent pressure… but we need to score.
fabrikarse and van rapist – not gonna be good
pornstar for park – keep possession!
park is knackered to shit, get him off
this is fucking intense – we are gonna conceded – midfielder is cunted
rio does a cantona, de jong, bruce lee – lol, get up you dozy spliffy, braid headed, bebongo, marley man, sagna
PENNO!
hmmm… cheap pen, that.
What, the fuck was that Wayne?
oh dear, rooney doing a jonny wilkinson.
lol – will be in youtube for ages
he’s been awesome otherwise, come on roo put it behind you
we look really tired – am sure they will score
park is fucked, so is flecth
keep the ball reds!
As Knobby would say… we’re faffing about now.
almost by roo – he has been ace!
we are fucked Alf, totally smashed up, fletchis blowing bubbles
ahahahahhaha “shit” player Park, bags the winnner
but Rooney and Fletcher were FENOMINAL
1 Man Utd 16 20 34
2 Arsenal 17 15 32
3 Man City 17 11 32
4 Chelsea 17 19 31
I still blame the PIK, ffs.
Great result, well done united, park the hero.
ffs, i missed the match, fell asleep
Danni, I don’t know what game you were watching but Fletcher was easily the worst player wearing a United shirt. He stunk the place out.
I thought this would be a game where he’s finally assert himself. He conceded ‘cheap’ possession far too many times without looking to see where his colleagues were. The game simply passed him by. Whilst the likes of Anderson were getting stuck in and trying to break up play, Fletcher did very little of that.
He should be given a start against Chelsea (more in hope than expectation that he’ll turn his form around) but, if he doesn’t perform on Sunday, he should be dropped for a few games.
Park played reasonably well, Anderson was joint man of the match with Vidic.
We could have won the game more comfortably as Arsenal were completely nullified. Nani had 2 glorious opportunities to score in the game. Rooney must have been dreaming of his salary increase when he took that penalty. Nowhere near on target.
Not a classic performance or a game that will live long in the memory but we did what we had to do.
Danni, I don’t know what game you were watching but Fletcher was easily the worst player wearing a United shirt. He stunk the place out.
I thought this would be a game where he’s finally assert himself. He conceded ‘cheap’ possession far too many times without looking to see where his colleagues were. The game simply passed him by. Whilst the likes of Anderson were getting stuck in and trying to break up play, Fletcher did very little of that.
He should be given a start against Chelsea (more in hope than expectation that he’ll turn his form around) but, if he doesn’t perform on Sunday, he should be dropped for a few games.
Park played well, Anderson was joint man of the match with Vidic.
We could have won the game more comfortably as Arsenal were completely nullified. Nani had 2 glorious opportunities to score in the game. Rooney must have been dreaming of Christmas turkey when he took that penalty. Nowhere near on target.
Not a classic performance or a game that will live long in the memory but we did what we had to do.
I thought Fletcher was ok. In the second half Carrick was atrocious!!!! Goodness me. Anderson am just not sure of. He carries the ball so well, passes short and long very well sometimes but other times he looks like he has two left feet. Tactically he does not seem sure of himself.
Wonder what Berbatov must be thinking not even getting a kick in this game. Hope he hands in a tranfer request and leaves in January! Evra was his usual self and Nasri did not get a kick. Rio looks in good nick and with Smalling improving we might never need to play Evans again – send him off to Keane and Ipswich I say!
its a joy to have ferdy and vidic playing and in form. nothing gets past them
anderson is looking good. lets hope he can keep this up
Fletch and Park were immense. Good show from Ando too except that absolutely terrible free kick at the end of the 1st half.
Brilliant of SAF to go with 3 central midfielders (Carrick wasn’t too hot though) Well deserved, though it could’ve easily been 3-1 us- if Nani chose a better option when he stole the ball off Clichy; Rooney actually scored; and Chamakh took his chance.