Renewing Rivalries?: A Manchester United vs Arsenal Preview

Arsène Wenger said it and now I am posing the same sort of question: is it right for Alex Ferguson and Manchester United to start taking us seriously ahead of Saturday's evening showdown?

I mean, it has only been three or four matches, and, yes, the first signs look like we will be challenging, but, then again, how many times have we said that at different stages during the past four campaigns? With the first blockbuster of the season looming on the horizon, a true acid test awaits the Wenger boys.

Without running the risk of sounding a bit too wishy-washy, and thus incur the wrath of the masses by claiming that nothing can please me, I'll answer my question fairly simply and dogmatically. It all comes down to one magic word.

Complacency.

Yes, complacency. I saw glimpses of it right from day one. And I saw it again against Celtic on Wednesday night.

As pedantic and churlish as that may sound, but what we cannot deny is, the passages of play in midfield and in defence in the dying moments of the aforementioned matches with Everton and then Celtic at the Emirates cannot be repeated if United are to take us seriously on Saturday evening, as that could spell disaster at Old Trafford.

I know what you are thinking. We were comfortably in front with a barrage of goals to boot, several substitutions made, and with the opposition playing for pride. Credible statements.

But the fact remains that we are still conceding goals at a similar rate to what we have done last season, and the fact also remains that the players need to start playing right upto the final whistle. Not the 85th minute!

Especially considering that we can expect true hospitality from United and not least, the officials on Saturday, with a customary helping of "Fergie time" come the 90th minute!

Without dwelling too much on, what are essentially superfluous issues, it is important to preview how the game might pan out on the night.

Our play and technique might have been impressive during the first fortnight of the season, something we did not manage at the outset of the last campaign; however, a meeting with Manchester United has its own calculations, and all the good work from the previous few matches can only be built upon, and not overlooked, if we are to get a result on Saturday. If you get my drift!

What I mean is that all of the good work can be easily undone if we do not approach the match against the Champions just like any other match, with the sort of play that has underpinned our impressive start thus far.

None of us need reminding about May, where we entered the FA Cup and Champions League semi finals against Chelsea and the Red Devils in good spirit and on the back of great form. What did we show in the actual matches where such good play mattered? Absolutely bugger all.

Bedazzled by our rivals' sheer power and achievements over the past few years, and riddled with an absolute inferiority complex, our biggest players were found wanting. Not to mention the infamously bizarre tactical assignments and costly individual errors at all levels.

As we all know, the team hasn't actually changed all that much personnel-wise as we head north for yet another "stand up and be counted" clash, and so early in the day. And so, our players have it all to do in the rebirth of a renewed Arsenal. An Arsenal that will indeed stand up and be counted against the very best, and not just the so-called lesser teams.

The victors at Old Trafford will not be made "favourites" for anything, nor should they be. After all, the league season is a 38-week marathon, and it is against those lesser teams that had United efficiently sew up Championship after Championship over the past few years (indeed, their recent record against other members of the "Big Four" leaves some to be desired).

But a result for Arsenal would mean much more than early-season indications over who can win what. It would be an indication that we are back in contention, and that we can fight toe-to-toe with the very best when it truly counts.

Delivering an early blow to our chief archenemy as far as the Premiership is concerned, whilst also capitalising on Liverpool's early season shenanigans, would be most welcome!

While I have stated that this is virtually the same Arsenal side demolished so ruthlessly over two legs by United three months ago, we can argue that Ferguson's men are much changed by virtue of the loss of Europe's chief tormentor.

Ronaldo is a great loss, as his statistical goals and assists contributions of twenty-plus points over each of the last two seasons suggests, not to mention their Champions League success.

Don't get me wrong, it is a loss gratefully accepted by ourselves as well as anyone who would care to consider themselves United's rivals (and City), despite its overall detrimental effect on the quality of the Premier League.

But just as it has weakened the Champions in one way, it has also strengthened them, giving their players the licence to roam, relying on the sort of all-round game that we know and love, as opposed to a direct passing game, based on one talisman.

And with the plethora of talents of Rooney, Owen, Berbatov, Nani, and the like, the harmony between our defence and midfield will be vital, with the Gallas-Vermaelen partnership in for their stiffest test yet. It will also be a big one for Alex Song; his chance to show us and the whole world just how good a defensive midfielder he really has become.

Going back to my original point—the need to remain 100 percent focused and 100 percent committed for 100 percent of the time. We might have been able to afford some relaxation at 3-0 and 6-0 up, but this is a new ball game altogether.

A renewal of the classic duels that defined a decade of Premiership football, where, if we will be in a position to hold onto anything at the Theatre of Dreams, a moment's complacency will be much, much more costly.

The sort of spirit the likes of our opponents at the weekend are so renowned for will be needed, without a moment's switching off. That, coupled with showing the world that we play football wherever we go and whoever we play, will be the sole ingredients required if we are to get anything from Manchester United on their own backyard.

Unless we're only after a couple of their prawn sandwiches, that is. Or a few pizzas maybe?