Arsenal V Manchester United
Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 1 may 2011 – 16:00 (GMT)
Competition: Barclay’s Premier League
Stat Attack:
Manchester United have won six and lost none of the previous seven meetings in all competitions with Arsenal, who were last victorious in this fixture back in 2008 – Samir Nasri on target twice as the Gunners recorded a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.
A 2-1 reverse at Bolton last time out was Arsenal’s first league defeat for seventeen games, though the Gunners have managed a miserly one win from their last seven (W1 D5 L1).
Man Utd have only won 5 of their 17 away league games this season, and are yet to record a win over a top-six opponent away from home, drawing with Man City (0-0) and Tottenham (0-0) but losing at Chelsea (2-1) and Liverpool (3-1).
Arsenal bowing out of the title race with a whimper away at Bolton last week may have taking some of the gloss off this fixture, but Arsene Wenger insists his team are gunning for United on Sunday and that they’ll be doing everything within their power to sabotage their fierce rivals’ bid for a record 19th English league title.
That said, the Gunners haven’t won any of the previous seven encounters with Manchester United – one draw and six defeats – while their form doesn’t make for pleasant reading material either, especially if you’re one of so many neutrals desperate to see Arsenal scupper United’s title surge.
Just one win in seven is drastic, and in Arsenal’s case catastrophic, as now the club are resigned to the fact that for a sixth successive season Arsene Wenger has failed to deliver silverware.
The 2004/2005 FA Cup remains their most recent capture, when Arsenal fittingly beat Man Utd on penalties in the final. Since then, however, Arsenal have won only three of the fifteen meetings in all competitions with their arch rivals, whom would take a massive stride towards a fourth Premier League title in five-years with their fifth consecutive win over the Gunners at the Emirates on Sunday.
Not even a UEFA Champions League semi-final with Schalke can be marked down as a negative for the visitors. Yes they were in action during the week, and yes they’ll host the same side on Wednesday, but United strolled to a 2-0 first leg victory in Gelsenkirchen on Tuesday – formidably producing arguably their most accomplished away performance of the season – and the three-time winners are now in pole position to qualify for the final, which will be held in close proximity to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium at Wembley in north London.
So any suggestion of a fatigued United travelling to London can be rubbished. And with qualification all but sewn up, it is actually Wednesday’s second leg where Ferguson has the opportunity to possibly rest some of his seasoned players, not that he will.
Meanwhile, there are increasing concerns over the mental state of the Arsenal dressing room. It’s been a mentally draining season for those Gunners; losing in the final of the Carling Cup to a defensive mix-up, bowing out of the Champions League in controversial circumstances to Barcelona at the Camp Nou, while their most recent was unquestionably the most damaging to morale and confidence, and that was last Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Bolton which spelled the end of their title challenge.
I’m sure punters, and especially Chelsea fans, were delighted to hear Arsene Wenger’s pre-match comments. But he isn’t the one playing, and I’ve lost count of the times his players have failed to back up his fighting talk. To compound matters, talk of Cesc Fabregas leaving in the summer can only have a detrimental affect on their chances of success in their final big game of the season.
United have been suspect on their travels this season – winning just 5 of 17 away from home in the league, however, they were mighty impressive in Germany in midweek and have a useful habit of producing some of their best football against Arsenal, whether that be at Old Trafford or in Arsenal’s backyard. And with Rooney back to his menacing best, the Red Devils, who have won 3-1 on their previous two visits to the Emirates, are likely to prove too hot for the Gunners once more.
Betting Selection(s):
Manchester United to WIN – 2.90 WilliamHill
Value Bet(s):
Manchester United 3-1 (Correct Score) – 29.00 SkyBet
