The Gunners face perennial foes Manchester United at Old Trafford, Sunday, in a classic BPL fixture, which for the first time in many years will see Arsenal arrive at the Theatre of Dreams as firm favourites.
United’s reputation and the long-term stats suggest this will be a tough game for the Gunners: Arsenal haven’t won a league game at Old Trafford since September 2006, with Man U winning six of their last eight meetings at home in the league, with two draws.
But for United this is not a normal season: They are currently ten points behind Arsenal in the league table. And despite consecutive victories against Shrewsbury Town and Midtjylland, in the FA Cup and Europa League respectively, their recent league form has been patchy at best, having won only two of their last six.
In fact, Louis van Gaal’s side have scored fewer goals (33) after 26 league games than in any season since 1989-90, and have earned fewer points at this stage of the season than in any other Premier League campaign.
They are also nursing a horrendous injury list which may now include Chris Smalling and Anthony Martial, who are both doubtful for Sunday’s clash.
Arsenal will be without Oxlade-Chamberlain who could be out for up to seven weeks with the knee and ankle injuries he picked up clashing with Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano on Tuesday night.
Wenger’s men beat United on their home ground in the FA Cup last year; and when the two teams met in the BPL at the Emirates earlier this season, Arsenal easily came out on top having raced into a 3-0 lead inside 20 first half minutes.
Sanchez scored a brace that day, and Arsenal fans will be hoping the Chilean, who missed nearly two months with a hamstring injury and has been below par since returning in January, can regain the kind of form that made him the Gunners’ stand out player last season.
Gooners will also be hoping the rest of Arsenal’s attacking players can find their shooting boots again after a run of form which has seen them score just six times in their last eight league games.
Danny Welbeck is no exception. All eyes will be on the former United frontman, who arrived from Old Trafford in 2014. Following an injury-plagued season, he will be looking to show his former club what they are missing. His crucial goal against league leaders Leicester City on his return two weeks ago suggests he still has what it takes to pose a potent threat.
Speaking in yesterday’s pre-match press conference, as reported in the Daily Star, Wenger stressed the importance of Arsenal playing to their strengths in Sunday’s game:
“In the last five, six or seven games we have struggled to score,” said Wenger. “There’s many aspects that I analyse at the moment and we have to find a quick answer. We need to play at a high pace to be dangerous. Our game is based on pace and speed and if we don’t have that I don’t see how we can win there.”
With an FA Cup replay against Hull City and the Champions League return leg against Barcelona, Arsenal now face a busy run of seven games in three weeks which will likely determine the success of this season. A victory against (even a depleted) United in their own back yard would go a long way to giving the Gunners the confidence and momentum needed to achieve their aims.
Added Wenger: “It’s a key period. We work the whole season for this period and that’s where you’re really tested but it’s where you have an opportunity to show your quality as well.”
Predicted Result:
Manchester Utd 0 – 2 Arsenal
Probable Starting Line up:
Cech,
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal
Ramsey, Coquelin
Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez
Giroud
Subs from: Ospina, Macey, Chambers, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Arteta, Elneny, Reine-Adelaide, Campbell, Iwobi.
Injured: Wilshere (leg, 19 Mar), Cazorla, (knee, Apr), Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee, Apr), Rosicky (thigh, May)