Alan Hansen’s Premier League Preview: Arsenal v Manchester United

The Gunners suffered a couple of injury blows ahead of their massive clash with champions Manchester United this weekend. Thomas Vermaelen and Eduardo may be out of contention which leaves Arsene Wenger facing a reshuffle of his side with recent signing Sol Campbell likely to replace the Belgian at the heart of the Arsenal defence if needed. He’ll be up against Wayne Rooney who is in the best form of his career and added to his season’s tally in the midweek Carling Cup semi-final win over local rivals City.

This should be a cracking match with both sides going all out for the win. Manchester United’s last gasp Carling Cup semi-final win may have a revitalising effect on the players. The fact that Sir Alex Ferguson chose a full strength line-up for that match just days before this clash shows what it meant to United and the fact that they have booked a trip to Wembley will buoy the players ahead of their trip to the Emirates. However, Arsenal are in good form themselves and if anything are playing the better football at the moment.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their last ten league games (7 wins) and have scored 23 goals in this run so will be full of confidence. Captain Cesc Fabregas is at the top of his game, so don’t be surprised if Sir Alex floods the midfield to limit the talented Spaniard’s space. If you allow the Arsenal playmaker the time and freedom to pick a pass then he will murder you so Darren Fletcher will probably be told to keep in his face and upset the Gunners fluent passing.

Manchester United are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Arsenal in all competitions (3 wins) but their league record in North London is not so impressive. The Red Devils have won just one of their last nine league visits to both Highbury and the Emirates while they’ve lost four. The Gunners have scored two goals in each of the last three home league games v United and with Sir Alex’s team still looking somewhat shaky at the back, you sense Arsene Wenger’s team can get goals. United’s last away league win against Arsenal was 4-2 back in February 2005 and was inspired by a Cristiano Ronaldo brace. With the Portuguese star departed, Wayne Rooney has stepped up and will be the main threat to the home side this weekend.

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Rooney has scored 12 league goals in his last 10 matches so will be brimming with confidence up against Campbell and Gallas. However, it is the Gunners who are playing more fluently and with United having lost three of their last seven on the road, I am backing Arsenal to take the points this weekend. Sir Alex’s team have lost at both Anfield and Stamford Bridge this season and I envisage another big four away defeat at the Emirates.

Rooney may be on fire but few of his team-mates have been. Wayne may find his service limited this weekend with Arsenal’s ball retention and athleticism in the centre of the park likely to have United on the back foot. The Gunners were the better side when they lost at Old Trafford earlier in the season but a made 5-minute spell when they conceded both a penalty and an own goal cost them dearly. They are unlikely to press the self-destruct button this time.

Chelsea are the only team to have been able to stop Arsenal scoring at least twice in the Gunners last 16 league games at the Emirates. Manchester United may be improving defensively with senior players returning to the team but they are not defending anywhere near as well as the league leaders, so Arsenal will create chances. With a £30,000 Premier 10 jackpot to play for this weekend, I am backing a home win.

Tags: Alan Hansen, Arsenal, Football betting, Football Pools, Manchester United, online betting, Online pools, Premier 10, Premier League

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 16:59 and is filed under Features, Home Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.