United vs Arsenal Big Match Preview

Introduction

Manchester United will look to continue their 100% record in the Premier League when they take on Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday. The Reds will be fresh after a clear week while their opponents have had a tough assignment in Italy as they edged past Udinese to seal their spot in the group stages of the Champions League.

The Gunners are yet to score after their first two league games following a goalless opener away at Newcastle was succeeded by a defeat at home to Liverpool last weekend. United kicked off their campaign with a close win over West Brom before a comfortable home victory against Spurs last Monday.

This game will be the 46th one between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger with the wily Scot prevailing 20 times to the Frenchman's 16. Before their defeat at the Emirates back in May, the Reds had won the previous seven encounters between the clubs. These statistics are courtesy of the BBC Sport website.

The Opposition

Arsenal will go into the game severely restricted in terms of squad numbers as a mix of suspension and injury takes its toll. Song, Gervinho and Frimpong are suspended after misdemeanours in the opening two league fixtures while missing though injury will be the likes of Wilshere, Gibbs and possibly Vermaelen. With the departures of Fabregas and Nasri still fresh in the memory, the Gunners will put out a makeshift central midfield with only Ramsey a recognised player in that position. With Djourou fit once again, it has been suggested that he could slot in there which is apparently where he feels may be his best position in the long term.

Their main goal threat will come from captain Robin Van Persie who opened his account for the season in midweek. Theo Walcott continues to impress and frustrate in equal measures while Arshavin is playing like a man who wishes he were in sunnier climes with Fabregas.

What is clear is that Wenger is under pressure from media and fans alike in a manner unprecedented throughout his reign with the club. The next few days could well define their season as not only do they have United to contend with but there is precious little time to supplement the quality in their squad with reinforcements as the transfer window slams shut late on Wednesday night.

Tactics

United have won six of their last seven fixtures against Arsenal and in the main, these have come with the Reds adopting a 4-5-1 formation with counter attack at the heart. Memories come flooding back of Ronaldo, Rooney and Nani breaking at such speed, catching the Arsenal back line dawdling before applying a quality finish. However, this is currently a very different Arsenal. Shorn of the creativity and flair that lies at the heart of the talented trio of Wilshere, Fabregas and Nasri, the Reds will go into the game not fearing the potency of the team from the Emirates. For this reason I would expect a 4-4-1-1 formation from United that has been favoured in the opening two Premier League fixtures as they look to impose their talents on the opposition.

Central midfield will be the key battleground in the game with Anderson and Cleverley (if selected) looking to continue their blossoming partnership up against a makeshift one from Arsenal. With Rooney and occasionally Welbeck supplementing this area, the upper hand should be gained and allow United to spread the ball wide where Jenkinson and Sagna at full back can be exposed if the Gunners' wide players do not track back. Young and Nani will therefore have a large role to play and once again I would expect them to switch flanks on a regular basis.

It is likely that Jones and Evans will be given a stiffer test up against Van Persie than they were against Defoe last Monday night. They must be wary of his movement and not get caught out of position if he drops deep in search of the ball. It will then be the midfielders role to patrol the Dutchman. He can be lethal on his left foot so he must be encouraged to pass or shoot with his right as often as possible. 

United

The team I have gone for above is the same as was selected on Monday and I have plumped for a "if it aint broke don't fix it" philosophy from the manager. It sounds like Ferdinand is back in training and if so, then he must stand a good chance of returning but I feel another spell on the training field will do him no harm before he joins up with England next week. Vidic and Rafael are expected to be out for another month and two months respectively.

The midfield question will be whether the boss is tempted to go for experience in the likes of Giggs, Carrick and Park (who has had success against Arsenal before) or stick with the youthful vibrancy of Anderson and Cleverley. I would hope he would stick with the latter, with the old hands ready to rescue the situation from the bench if the need arises. Out wide both Nani and Young deserve to start after impressing in the early stages of the season but the fit again Valencia and the industrious Park are waiting patiently for an opportunity.

Up front, Rooney is a certainty but the identity of his partner is less so. Welbeck is the man in possession after a fine second half display against Spurs, but the sight of the returning Henández will gladden the hearts of the Old Trafford faithful after his epic debut season last year. I would envisage another bench role for the Mexican with the possibility of two matches on European soil with his national squad a useful opportunity to give him some much needed game time. The other possibility is the inclusion of Dimitar Berbatov after a watching brief in the season thus far. At the current time, he looks to be 4th choice in the pecking order for a slot up front but he will surely get plenty of opportunities in the busy campaign to come. Owen, Macheda and Diouf will all likely to be in their suits watching from the stands.

Although it was encouraging to see Darren Fletcher continue his return from the debilitating virus that has engulfed his life over the last few months, he still looked a little short in terms of match fitness although a place on the bench cannot be ruled out.

Scoreline prediction

With United in good form and well rested and Arsenal in a state of turmoil, I can only foresee one result. However, I do not think it will be quite as straightforward as some expect. It could be a frustrating afternoon at times as the Gunners look to soak up pressure from the home side but United will ultimately prevail by two goals to nil with second half goals from Young and Hernández (on as substitute) sealing the three points.

International break then follows where squad members will hope to get a game or two to supplement their fitness levels while others will remain back at Carrington. The Premier League fixtures return on September 10th with a tricky trip to Bolton.

For further analysis of the Arsenal match and much more, please listen to our latest podcast

Click on the button at the top of the page to retweet this post on Twitter and/or recommend this post on Facebook.

If you would like to leave your predictions for the match, please do so below and I will respond to each one.

Follow @writtenoff_mufc