Key Battles Arsenal Must Win vs. Man Utd on Sunday

With Arsenal enjoying a rare Saturday off, they can sit back and take stock of their rivals before their crunch clash against defending champions Manchester United on Sunday.

It is not only huge match in terms of Arsenal's season moving forward, but also a huge test of Arsenal's title credentials. Victory—or even simply avoiding defeat—would send out a firm message that the Gunners are ardent enough to sustain a run at the top of the table.

Despite their sluggish start to life under David Moyes, United are still a force to be reckoned with—especially at Old Trafford. With a familiar face likely to lead the line for United, Arsenal will have to be firmly on their game if they are to get a result from a ground that has made for happy hunting in previous seasons.

The middle of the park will take center stage in terms of the key battles, and Bleacher Report has looked at three in particular that Arsenal will have to come out on top in, if they want a result.

Per Mertesacker vs. Robin van Persie

It's impossible to overstate the form of Per Mertesacker this season for Arsenal. He and Laurent Koscielny have shone at the back for the Gunners throughout this season, but it is the German who will be under the spotlight on Sunday afternoon.

Not exactly renowned for his pace, he will face a stern test against United's attacking options such as Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia. If he can keep Robin van Persie quiet though, Arsenal will be well on the road to victory.

Arsenal fans need no reminding of van Persie's last appearance at Old Trafford against the Gunners—his early strike set United well on the way to victory. If Mertesacker can prove a match for the Dutchman on Sunday, United's goalscoring threats will immediately become hampered.

Mathieu Flamini vs. Wayne Rooney

In another key role in the middle of the park, Arsene Wenger will likely restore Mathieu Flamini to the fold after his absence with injury. Flamini has played a key role for the Gunners since his return to the club, and has struck up an excellent partnership with Mikel Arteta.

Flamini's insistence on operating in a defensive role benefits Arsenal's attacking midfielders greatly, and he will need to control United's in-form man on Sunday afternoon.

Wayne Rooney has had a stunning start to the season for the champions—despite ongoing speculation about the England international leaving the club. He has proven to be United's key fulcrum and makes the forward line tick with consummate ease.

Flamini's job will be simple on Sunday—sit deep and keep tabs on Wayne Rooney. With his no-nonsense approach, if Flamini can get on top of the 28-year-old, Arsenal will be onto a winner.

Olivier Giroud vs. Nemanja Vidic

United are arguably at their best when Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are at the heart of their defence. Like Mertesacker and Koscielny, they form a solid partnership at the back, and let United go forward without worry.

They face one of their toughest tests on Sunday though, when Arsenal's creative forward pack roll into Old Trafford. And at the head of that attack is Olivier Giroud, who has enjoyed a stunning start to the season.

As well as being excellent with the ball at his feet, Giroud provides a presence unlike many Vidic and Ferdinand will have faced so far in the 2013/14 campaign. It will be a true battle of grit when the steely Vidic and the tough aerial presence of Giroud go head-to-head in the air. That battle may just be the biggest of all, if Giroud gets on top of Vidic—not many do—then he will again be doing his job magnificently as Arsene Wenger and his men hunt yet another victory.