Premier League: Manchester United vs Arsenal Match Preview

Manchester United Aim to Continue Winning Ways

Manchester United attempt to drag themselves back into the title race as they welcome league leaders Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday. Eight points separate the two clubs after ten matches, with Arsenal impressing immensely while David Moyes and Manchester United have experienced some growing pains in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

A defeat would see the Red Devils fall eleven points off the pace and leave them more than likely chasing a Champions League place rather than the championship. Recent weeks have seen Manchester United start to look like a more solid outfit with the bright spots being Shinji Kagawa’s contributions and the return of Nemanja Vidic. Chances may have been spurned left and right against Real Sociedad in Champions League action this past Tuesday in a 0-0 away draw, but the team’s performance was improved and followed up on last weekend’s positive display against Fulham in a 3-1 win at Craven Cottage.

Manchester United have quietly put together an eight-match unbeaten run and defender Chris Smalling has explained that his side are confident of taking care of business when Arsenal come to town. “I don’t think there are any must-win games at this stage but it is still obviously a massive game”, admitted the defender. “We are at home and we have to be the favorites to win. We have to take the game to them and show that we are the team that wants to win and close the gap.”

Arsenal Winning Over Doubters

Are they for real? Can they last the pace? As the season progresses, Arsenal continue to have questions thrown at them as observers try to gauge whether such an incredible start to the campaign can be sustained. This past week has been considered the toughest yet this season with matches against Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United all crammed into eight days.  So far so good though for Arsene Wenger’s side as the Frenchman has seen his team sweep aside Liverpool in convincing fashion at the Emirates Stadium and then go on to produce a battling display at Dortmund, which resulted in a fine 1-0 win over last season’s Champions League finalists.

The last test of a revealing week into how good this team are now awaits at Old Trafford. Defeat could bring out the doubters once again, but there is a real belief amongst all involved with Arsenal that this current side could be the one that ends eight years of trophy-less pain. 

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey, currently in the best form of his career, insists there will be no shortage of confidence on the part of the visitors. “It is going to be another massive game – this was always going to be a big week for us and we couldn’t have got off to a better start. Hopefully now we can go to Old Trafford and finish the job off”, the Wales international said. “It would be massive. We are feeling really confident at the moment and we’re in good form in the league, so why not go there and win?”

Match Prediction

With Manchester United’s recent improvement after a difficult start, this match is certainly the highlight of the Premier League weekend as it always is. The Red Devils have looked far from convincing at home, while Arsenal have looked good wherever they have been this season. Still, the home side will fancy their chances of a win thanks to the prolific duo of Van Persie and Wayne Rooney. It might be considered a mini-shock though should they find a way to claim the three points against an Arsenal side that appear to be the real deal this season and are firing on all cylinders at the moment. Manchester United’s title hopes could be dashed by a defeat and judging by Arsenal’s superb form and high confidence at the moment, conditions could point to another big Arsenal victory. Manchester United 1-2 Arsenal.