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PREVIEW: Arsenal v Man Utd, Injury News, Preferred XI + Prediction

By on February 12, 2014

Tonight could prove to be a pivotal game in Arsenal’s season as we welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium.

A win will see us move back to the top of the Premier League table following Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at West Brom last night – which is not bad for a side supposedly in ‘crisis’.

Sure, Saturday’s thrashing at Anfield was a huge blow but we simply didn’t turn up and collapsed after conceding two early goals. These things can happen to any team. We’re still second after 25 games, and have the chance to go top after 26, so lets ignore the ‘broken cannons’ we see in the papers and not forget that this has been a very positive season so far.

We haven’t had a better chance of beating United for years. They are a shadow of their former selves and while they still boast an impressive attack of RVP, Rooney, Mata and Januzaj, they are clearly very low on confidence right now and are there for the taking.

The latest blow to David Moyes was a 2-2 draw at home to bottom side Fulham on Sunday and if they play like they have done for 99% of the season so far, we’ll beat them.

Injury News

The only good thing from the Liverpool game was we didn’t pick up any fresh injuries, so we have a very similar squad to choose from tonight.

Yaya Sanogo is available again but I’m not sure he’ll even make the bench. Thomas Vermaelen is still out after suffering a set back in his recovery from a knee injury and he joins Aaron Ramsey on the sidelines with the Welshman still recovering from a thigh strain.

The other long-term injuries are Theo Walcott, Kim Kallstrom and of course Abou Diaby while Mathieu Flamini completes his three-game ban.

Preferred XI

I’d like to see Kieran Gibbs recalled for the game to replace Nacho Monreal at left-back, while Tomas Rosicky should also replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in attack. The youngster did okay at Anfield but we need Rosicky’s energy and work-rate and Wenger isn’t going to drop Ozil or Cazorla.

The rest of the team is expected to remain unchanged, meaning the team could be:

This side is more than capable of beating a beleaguered Man Utd team. It does lack a bit of pace, which is always a worry without Theo, but if we play our quick passing game we should be fine.

Prediction

There’s little doubt we’ll need to vastly improve from our performance on Saturday and the key is making a quick start. We’ve been slow out the blocks in recent weeks and while we’ve got away with it against some of the ‘lesser’ teams, we paid for it against Liverpool and could do so again tonight if we’re sluggish from kick off again.

Let’s get at them early and get the first goal. That will not only give us a huge lift but also deal a real body blow to their confidence. I’m backing the boys to respond tonight.

Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd. COYG!!!

What are your thoughts on the game? Will we bounce back? Or will out title bid take another hit?

14 Comments

  1. al

    February 12, 2014 at 12:36 pm

    3-o to the Arsenal. RvP’s little boy crying by the end of the 90!!! Come on you gunners!!!!

  2. umar hasan funtua

    February 12, 2014 at 12:48 pm

    i support united to beat arsenal again 3-0 all goals frm RVP

  3. olanrewaju

    February 12, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    2 0 in favour of gunners

  4. Seith

    February 12, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    Ths s d only chance 2top again,so we must win.the lneup ts nt so bad ithere4 we’l win

  5. jack...

    February 12, 2014 at 1:37 pm

    i know Wenger can’t replace carzola, but i prefer podolski instead. And the rest of the line the u predicted it…

  6. gift nweke

    February 12, 2014 at 1:43 pm

    I known gunes wil win 2nyt

  7. micheal

    February 12, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    Arsenal will win in Jesus name amen! Just 1-0 winning for Gunners.

  8. valentine francis

    February 12, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    Nver cn tel til d end of 90mins bt i wish gunner d best UP GUNNERS na ur boi AWATY…4rm manchok

  9. Hero

    February 12, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    Winger now regretted again for lack of courage to sign Luis Suarez by putting everything to get his signature, by paying asking price. Earlier he said i do not regret, but now regretted. You can’t take all excuses and get away with it, wenger must pay price for lack of decision and foresight and commitment. Arsenal can’t Man U at this lowest moral tempo, that is why wenger is desperate and confused. He is technically zero. For years wenger sat watch his team being butchered and he couldn’t even make necessary tactics to turn around but once Arsenal conceal a goal both Wenger and his team collapsed to the ground and accept defeat. What kind of manager is wenger, if he had stood up at Anfield and asked his men to fall back and closed the set paces after the first goal then the chance would have been better to response later in the first half and have a winning in the second half but just sit watch like Arsenal fan or ordinary football lover.

    Ozil is sad because the forward is zero because no ball ever stay with that sluggish striker for a minute without being disposed. Giroud always complain some foolish things and never opponent defense. So keeping round and round potential to score is just foolishness because this doesn’t payoff.

    Predict result at emirate is 1:1 or 0:1.

    Van will capitalize a chance and make different because psychologically Arsenal is dead but buried and wenger knows that it is the fans alive, management too dead, Today the chief executive will smoke pipe a lot after and go home happy a man because he is always happier when Arsenal loos a game, and today is of them. So bravo to Gardis and wenger.
    Thanks fans keep living.

    • karis

      February 12, 2014 at 3:48 pm

      I agree with you 1000% Hero.Where exactly are we expecting the goals to come from tonight when we have no class stricker?

  10. Benjamin

    February 12, 2014 at 2:35 pm

    Our boys have no choice than to bounce back in grand style. We need to go up again and nothin must stop us. Go ahead boys.

  11. chepoek simon

    February 12, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    Arsenal win 2:0

  12. Aminu Yawale Jahun

    February 12, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Wenger always not thinking on how to won derby only thinking on arguing with match officials

  13. Aminu Yawale Jahun

    February 12, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    Wenger not thinking on how to win derby games

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