Arsenal's Season Could Hinge on the Manchester United Clash and Week Ahead

We may only be a third of the way through the season, but Arsenal are about to enter a defining week in their 2014/15 campaign. Over the next five days, they face two tantalising clashes with Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. The outcome in those games will have an enormous impact on the mood around the club.

Arsenal are currently teetering on a precipice. After an uninspiring start to the season, disenchantment is mounting among the supporters, and a couple of good results would lift morale and potentially give Arsenal’s campaign the kickstart it needs. Defeats, however, would merely compound the mounting frustrations.

These days, it seems Arsene Wenger is only ever a couple of bad results away from intense scrutiny.

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The United match is undoubtedly the more important of the two. Although a loss to Dortmund would extinguish Arsenal’s slim hopes of topping the group, the Gunners would still be in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. 

In the Premier League, however, Arsenal urgently need to get points on the table. At present, they have won just four of their first 11 league fixtures. That’s not good enough for a side hoping to make the top four, let alone challenge for the title.

With Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton all struggling, the indications are that United could be one of Arsenal’s closest challengers in the fight to secure a Champions League place. A win at the Emirates Stadium would open up a gap over their rivals. What’s more, it would lay a few ghosts to rest.

Arsenal’s recent record against United is poor. The Gunners have won just one of the last 14 encounters between the two teams.

Even when United were struggling under David Moyes, Arsenal failed to capitalise. 

Speaking to the club's official website, Wenger refuted allegations that his side face a mental block against the Red Devils:

"

We have drawn a lot against Manchester United and we’ve lost a lot recently at Old Trafford, but I don’t think we’ve lost a lot at home.

They have always been chasing recently for the championship, we went through a period where we did not. But there is no block there. We feel strong at home at the Emirates and we have a good record in the last 25 games.

"

Wenger needs his team to now justify his confidence. One of the main criticisms of Arsenal in recent seasons has been their inability to beat the bigger teams. Even if United are not what they were, they still have a certain aura. It will be fascinating to see if Arsenal can overcome their inferiority complex to put them to the sword.

The motivation is undoubtedly there. After throwing away leads against Anderlecht and Swansea prior to the international break, Arsenal will want to show their mettle. Individuals will be keen to impress, too. Jack Wilshere will hope to translate his international form to the domestic stage, while Danny Welbeck will be keen to make a point against the manager who sold him.

Arsenal's rivalry with United may never be as intense as it once was. However, the value of a win in this game can't be underestimated. Ending their woeful record against the Manchester side could see the Gunners inject some much-needed optimism into their ailing campaign.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2014/15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.