Arsenal vs Manchester United: A Must-Win Clash for Both Teams

Monday will see table-toppers Arsenal take on second place Manchester United at the Theater of Dreams in what is already shaping up to be an intense and fiercely contested battle. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have had an intense rivalry over the past many years, but Ferguson has gone out publicly and stated and vehemently that he would like the Manchester United fans to stop their chants against Wenger. 

Both teams, despite holding the top two positions in the league, have failed to show the consistency associated with champions. Both teams have been highly unconvincing at times and are yet to reach their full peak.

Arsenal have already managed to lose four games including three at home to newly promoted sides West Brom, Newcastle and arch rivals Tottenham. Man United, on the other hand, have drawn seven of their 15 league games. Arsenal also have worries at back with Vermaelen not back until January and Koscielny and Squillaci still getting adjusted to the Premier League. 

Manchester have looked lost at front at times and look devoid of ideas while attacking and have been conceding many cheap goals and throwing away games from easy positions. They have lacked that killer instinct that one has come to associate Manchester United with. 

But both teams going into the game on the back of a good run of form, with both teams winning their last two games in the League. Arsenal battled to a 2-1 win against Fulham last week while Manchester United's clash with Blackpool was called off due to snow. But United thumped Blackburn 7-1 in their last PL fixture and will look to continue their scintillating form into this game.

Manchester United will be boosted by Wayne Rooney's impressive form since his return. He was brilliant in United's midweek clash against Valencia and looks to be back to his best. Arsenal are most likely to miss influential captain and playmaker Fabregas. The talismanic midfielder has been out due to a hamstring injury and Wenger is unlikely to risk him.

This clash will be an extremely important match for both teams as it is a serious challenge to each teams title credentials.

Arsenal

Arsenal have been accused many a times of being fragile in  crucial fixtures and have a tendency of being played off the pitch by a more tactically sound team. But this season, Arsenal have shown more steel and spine this season as they have battled to many wins this season. This match will be the perfect test to Wenger's boys to show if they have truly matured or its merely hype surrounding them.

Arsenal are most likely to use both Van Persie and Chamakh with the Dutchman playing behind Chamakh. He has looked extremely bright since returning and is back to full fitness. Chamakh will offer Arsenal another option if their passing game fails and Arsenal should look to exploit his physical presence up front by putting in a few more quality balls.

Last season it became evident that Arsenal lack a proper Plan B when playing the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea and Chamakh looks to be the ideal solution. Nasri has been in ominous form this season and if he can maintain his recent performances Arsenal stand a really good chance.

Wenger has said that this Arsenal side is capable of winning trophies and a win at Old Trafford would do wonders for their morale and confidence and would establish them as real contenders for the Premier League crown. 

A win is also necessary for Arsenal to show that there has been an improvement since last season and that their defense can hold strong against the best of teams.

It would also go a long way in silencing their critics who have targeted their failures against the top teams. Arsenal have the best away form in the Premier League and have surprisingly looked more comfortable away from home.

Arsenal will be banking on this fact and a total team performance will be required if Arsenal are to hand Manchester their first loss this season. They will have to go with the belief that they can beat United and offer some variety in attack. If they are able to put it all into action then they stand a very good chance.

Manchester United

Going into this fixture, Manchester United are the only unbeaten team in the Premier League but the worrying fact is that many of these matches have been draws. They have failed achieve their peak, yet they find themselves only one point behind leaders Arsenal, despite having played one game less.

Manchester City have looked devoid of a creative spark in the absence of Rooney and have been leaky at the back. The most surprising aspect of their season has been their uncharacteristic squandering of leads against Everton, Fulham and West Brom which can come back to haunt them at the end of the season.

Although they have shown plenty of heart and desire, the quality seems to be lacking at times and United look extremely pedestrian at times. A win over the Gunners would continue their rejuvenation and would see them peaking up at the right time.

Despite being unbeaten, it is a widely held belief that has been mainly because they are yet to play Chelsea and Arsenal. Manchester United will look to silence their critics and the best way would be to beat Arsenal. A win would ensure Man United top spot despite playing a game less. 

The return of Rooney and the good form of Rooney and Berbatov would be key to United's chances. 

The match will be an extremely fiercely contested and evenly matched contest with plenty of chances for both teams. I'm going for an Arsenal win not only because I'm an Arsenal fan, but also because Arsenal have more depth and will want to win this badly. Expect Arsenal to dominate possession and for United to look to score goals on the counter.

The season is turning out to be one of the most closely contested ones in recent times and it maybe fixtures like these finally tip the balance in favour of a team come May.

PREDICTION- ARSENAL 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED