Manchester United vs Arsenal 13/12/10 Preview

Tempers Soar, Fans Roar, When gunners Score... It all comes down to this, Arsenal Vs Manchester United.. Always a treat to watch, always played with gusto and rivalry.
Arsene Wenger and Alex ferguson have put in their think thank in to the game. As Man U have a home advantage, it would be interesting to see how gunners cope to the Man U attack. With the Arsenal defence still trying to cope up completely, they will face a tough task ahead of this game.
Midfield is the key in this game. Arsenal will look to boost their attacking prowess with nasri supplying and chamakh as lone striker and arshavin behind in supporting role. Another interesting change is Arsenal is going to play the ever promising 20 year old youngster Wojciech Szczesny in place of Lukas fabianski at goal, as Fabianski failed a last minute fitness test. This is something really interesting.
Alex Ferguson is confident that centre-back Rio Ferdinand, left-back Patrice Evra and midfield pass-master Paul Scholes will all be fit to face Arsenal in one of the season's most keenly anticipated clashes.
Darren Fletcher could return to the starting XI, having proved himself a useful midfield warrior in recent meetings with the Gunners.
Adding defensive cover, probably from the bench, both Wes Brown and Jonny Evans are expected to have shrugged off the effects of 'flu to return to the squad. However, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Owen are both ruled out with hamstring injuries, while Antonio Valencia continiues his recovery from damaged ligaments in his fractured and dislocated ankle .
Arsene Wenger will give captain Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and fellow midfielder Abou Diaby (ankle) as long as possible to prove their fitness before he finalises his team, but the Gunners boss concedes that both have only a "small chance" of playing.
Kieran Gibbs is out again, having twisted an ankle against Partizan Belgrade in midweek, but Johan Djourou could be back after a thigh strain.
Manuel Almunia (elbow), Emmanuel Frimpong (knee) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remain sidelined.
Wenger may start with midweek goalscorers Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott on the bench, with a view to introducing them during the course of the match.
Arsenal are sitting on top of the table on level with Manchester city,  A win will send them clear 3 points ahead of manchester city and  4 points ahead of Manchester united, with Man U having a game in hand. 
Probable starting XI : 
Arsenal : Szeczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy; Song, Wilshere, Denilson, Nasri, Arshavin; Chamakh.

10 conclusions from the Arsenal vs Man Utd

 In the event of the humiliating defeat inflicted by Manchester United on Arsenal at Emirates stadium on 31st january 2010, Arsene wenger by now should have understood these fallacies in our beloved Arsenal team.

1. Manuel Alumnia doesnt know how to stop the ball. Hes a useless keeper. He shouldnt have replaced Jens Lehmann at the first instance. Hes really woeful this season. Even teams fighting for relegation score easy goals against him. Vito manonne is a better keeper than him. Either buy a new keeper or give Vito a chance.

2. Our defence still has to improve. Gallas and vermaelen are good in patches. Gael Clichy, his comeback from injury hasnt been good. His marking is faulty, his defensive skills were horrible last night.

3. We need to have a tall and  strong striker like Adebayor, though a little mellowed down version of him cud help. Eduardo looks out of place everytime and arshavin even being a good player, hes easily out muscled in the box. One thing is sure, Arshavin cannot survive in a lone striker role. Please for god sakes Arsene wenger buy some good striker atleast in the summer.

4. Players like denilson, walcott and ramsey are only good in patches. We need more consistency from them. Or thats the best they could do? as we all say Arsene knows best. Whatever get them playing.

5. Manchester United were very good. They outclassed us totally. We need to have full proof plan against them, against each player. I guess we missed that part and they did their homework. Though i hate and probably choking myself for praising Man U, but they actually deserve it.

6. Cesc fabregas is not god. Don't expect him to do magic, when other team mates are just standing like a fool. Even though he wasnt at his best yest. He was better than everyone wearing the Arsenal jersey in the emirates stadium.

7. Thers still a lot of difference between the top 3 teams in the premier league. I hate to admit, Arsenal really struggle against Manyoo and Chelski, and both of them have comprehensively defeated us at emirates. Thers a conspicuous difference between their skills and ours.

8. Our weakness to counter counter attacks was very much evident yesterday. we failed miserably.

9. We need to convert the chances which we get. Time and again we fail to capitalise on the chances. In such big games, u can't expect 10-20 chances, u have to take what u get.

10. Finally it was a woeful game, and our emotions and expectations are all brought down to ground. And i know it must have hurt Arsene Wenger more than any other arsenal fan to suffer a humiliating defeat. But I would like to positive coz the season is still not over. I don't know whether we will win against Chelsea, but we will not stop trying. And we are so in the title race even after the loss.
So My fellow gooners, cheer up, thers so much more to look forward to. So put on ur Arsenal Jerseys and shout "ARSENAL ARSENAL "

Arsenal vs Man Utd rivalry

Just read an interesting piece of article about Arsenal and Manchester United rivalry.. wanted to share with you. 

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 These days as both managers have mellowed and new threats have emerged to shake the dominance the two clubs held over the Premier League the rivalry has died down (although Patrice Evra did his best to bring it back by claiming it was like men against boys as United trounced Arsenal last season in the Champions League) but at its height every game was like going to war.

Although games between the two have always been competitive, the origins of the feud between the two can be said to stem from a clash that took place in 1987 after Brian McClair missed a dubiously awarded penalty and Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn felt the need to let him know how they felt. This was a precursor to the real fireworks in 1990 after Nigel Winterburn really got stuck in with a challenge on Denis Irwin. It sparked a 21 man brawl and saw United docked a point and Arsenal two.

Despite various smaller clashes since then, it was 13 years later that these scenes were replicated after Ruud Van Nistelrooy was a touch overzealous in an aerial challenge with Patrick Vieira. The French man took umbrage, kicking out at the striker leaving the ref no choice but to send Vieira off, who attempted to get at the player he felt had got him red carded. It kicked off a mini brawl but this was nothing compared to what would follow.

United were awarded a late penalty and Van Nistelrooy, who was normally deadly from the spot, missed the chance to stop the Invincibles before they were even formed as his penalty cannoned off the crossbar. Cue Martin Keown delivering a flying clothesline that would not have been out of place in WWF and for a couple of minutes the game descended into madness as the two teams again staged a battle on the turf of Old Trafford.

The ugly scenes saw Arsenal charged with failing to control their players while Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Ray Parlour, Jens Lehmann, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo all faced individual charges.

Man Utd's Roy Keane and Arsenal's Patrick Viera during the bad ol' days. 

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Its War : Arsenal vs Man Utd 31/01/2010

Arsenal vs Manchester United is back.
the baap of all games. The one game which divides football fans all over the world.
The rivalry between both teams goes back long time. Though they are all mates outside, but on the pitch its just War !!
Its the 2nd of the big four games scheduled for arsenal in 3 weeks. Arsenal dropped to 3rd place after playing a goalless draw away at Aston villa. Both teams are desperately seeking for a win to have a shot at the premier league crown and stay in touching distance with league leaders, Chelsea.
Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger said

“We are very close in the League and so it is back to an Arsenal versus Manchester United of old,” said the manager.

“Last year we were out of it and the games had less meaning. Yes two years ago it was a big game but what is different this year is that we are on the way up so it is very interesting. It comes at a good moment for us.

“Over the years, Manchester United and Arsenal have had some tough games, and sometimes they were not easy on the physical side. But both teams always tried to play. It was very rarely a boring match.

“For me it is always one of the games of the season and so we are really up for it. We are on a good run and we have a good momentum. We want to continue that.

“And I always look forward to this match because it is one that promises good football.”

So the onus is on both teams to capitalise and stay up in the league. In the reverse fixture at old trafford, Arsenal were looking very strong, they dominated the possession most of the match and very deservingly opened the scoring through a stunner by Andreiy Arshavin. Then arsenal gave away 2 cheap goals, one a penalty and then a astonishing own goal by Abou diaby. Nevertheless its at our home now, and we are going to show how good we are and deliver and win the match.
Sol campbell might start the game in central defence with Willian gallas, if Thomas vermaelen isn't fully fit after the injury sustained in the game against Aston villa. Eduardo also picked up a hamstring injury against villa. Bendtner might start as a lone striker with Arshavin and Rosicky in a supporting role. In the midfield, captain courageous, cesc fabregas will lead with denilson, and probably alex song.

Whatever the result maybe, its gonna be a blockbuster. Sky sports have even capitalized on the popularity and staged a first ever 3D game in select countries. If you are a football fan, you not gonna miss this.
My predictions, 1st half goal by Man Yoo , 2 quick goals by Arsenal in 2nd half and Arsenal winning it 2-1. Go Gunners..

  











Andrey arshavin after scoring against Manchester Utd in old trafford