Manchester United v Arsenal: Another Gunners Season Turns into a Nightmare at the Theatre of Dreams?
The Gunners season is effectively over if they fail to beat United this weekend but that looks a tall order after a heart-breaking late Champions League quarter-final defeat at Liverpool in midweek.
Arsene Wenger’s young guns dreams of silverware look all but over despite leading the Premier League for the majority of the season. A poor run of form in 2008 has seen them crash out of 3 cup competitions and slip 6 points behind United. The youngsters travel to a hungry in form Red Devils side who are looking fresh and ready to inflict further damage on a weary, disheartened Arsenal side this week on Premier 10.
Gunners Not so Great in 2008
The Gunners finished 2007 in great form but have since dropped 15 points from a possible 39 available in 2008. You would have had to have been Nostradamus to have predicted such a downturn in Arsenal’s fortunes after they had rampaged through the opposition prior to the turn of the year. They also crashed out of all 3 cups in emphatic style, losing 5-1 in the Carling Cup to Spurs, 4-0 at United in the FA Cup and 4-2 at Liverpool in the Champions League. Those heavy defeats played their part in undermining the confidence of Wenger’s young stars when it came to their League form. They’ve won just once in their last 7 League matches but have similarly only lost 1 of those games. It’s the draws that have cost the misfiring Gunners as they’ve dropped points in games with Birmingham (twice), Aston Villa, Wigan, Middlesbrough and Liverpool this year. One clean-sheet in the last 7 reveals the current weak underbelly of the Arsenal side and the goals haven’t been flowing either as they’ve only scored more than a single goal once in the last 6 games. Top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor hasn’t scored in the last 7 League games and without his striking talents this young Arsenal side has very little goal threat. This is certainly the case when comparing them with current League leaders United who possess 3 players in double figures goals wise already this season.
United’s ‘Holy Trinity’ Performing Miracles
Manchester United may have lost defensive star Nemanja Vidic to injury but they’ve been boosted by the return to fitness of Mikael Silvestre and Gary Neville for the Premier League run-in. Both played a part in the Red Devils midweek Champions League win over Roma and could be needed for the final weeks of the season. Not that United have been struggling in the defensive department of late as 8 clean-sheets in the last 10 matches (in all competitions) illustrates. They’ve also been scoring for fun after banging in 20 goals in the last 7 League matches alone. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side enter this match with their ‘holy trinity’ on fire as Cristiano Ronaldo (7 goals in last 7 games), Wayne Rooney (4 goals in last 3 starts) and Carlos Tevez (2 goals in last 2 starts) are all finding the net regularly. In fact, the trio have netted 51 League goals between them, that’s more than most Premier League sides have managed as only Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Villa and Spurs have scored more. Two of that trinity have excellent scoring records against the Gunners. Ronaldo has scored 3 goals in his last 7 appearances against the North Londoners whilst Rooney just loves to play them, he’s scored 6 career goals against the Wenger boys in 12 appearances and generally loves to terrorise them. Even Tevez has nothing but good memories from facing the Wenger boys as he’s yet to lose in 2 matches against them, this includes a memorable victory at the Emirates with West Ham last season.
United crushed Arsenal 4-0 in the FA Cup back in February which is impressive enough on it’s own but if you throw in the fact Ronaldo and Tevez didn’t even feature then it was a staggering result. It has to be said that they haven’t had it all their own way against the Gunners at Old Trafford over the years as in the last 10 League meetings there, United have won 4, drawn 3 but also lost 3. This includes a 1-0 victory for Wenger’s team at Old Trafford last season. However, this United side are in top form and were able to rest their big guns against Roma in midweek whilst Arsenal should be both emotionally and physically drained following their exhausting defeat at Anfield. Therefore back United’s ‘holy trinity’ this week on Premier 10 to perform the last rites on Wenger and his team’s dreams of silverware.
Pundit’s Pick: United’s ‘Holy Trinity’ outgun Arsenal (home win) Do you agree with this result for your Premier 10 prediction? Play Now>>
Tags: Arsenal, Gunners, Manchester United, Premier 10 preview, Premier League, Red Devils
