Manchester United V Arsenal: Why United Is a Sure-Fire Favorite for a Repeat

The third week of the 2011/12 English Premier League season is officially in the books.  This week holds a little more importance than the others. Why you may ask?

Week 1 is driven by passion, excitement and hope. Newly-promoted teams are ready to jump on underestimating opponents, and the big summer signings still have the jitters of playing their first game with their new clubs.

The second week is like a hangover. Most squads have begun to cool off since that opening weekend, but some still have the fervor boiling inside. An upset or two is still expected. You know, the kind of upset that by the end of the season makes perfect sense. For the most part, the jostling of positions starts to declare a front-runner.

But by Week 3, it is all about class. Those that will be fighting to stay alive in May begin their uphill battle. Many teams have begun their second competition (the Carling Cup) and managers make their final assessments as the close of the transfer window looms only days away. Most importantly, the teams that are destined to remain at the front of the pack take their positions.

Going into Week 4, it should come to no one’s surprise that Manchester United is seated right on top.

United’s 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday was a poignant sign of the greatness that the club exudes. The margin of victory in this most recent contest between two of England’s most successful club’s was the biggest in the rivalries' history.

It not only gave United an early lead in the long season, but more importantly, silenced many critics who had feared that the Red Devil’s dominance over the Premier League may be on the decline as they move into a phase of rebuilding.

With last season’s retirement of one of England’s all-time legends in Paul Scholes, as well as arguably one of the greatest keepers in the history of the game, Edwin van der Sar, there were voids left to be filled at the Theater of Dreams.

Couple that with aging legs of long-time stars such as Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, the United front which has overwhelmingly dominated the English game over the past two decades is beginning to change.

Sir Alex Ferguson is well aware of this fact and faces up to it, bringing in eight transfers over the past two windows, six of which are 23 years old or younger. This is not unusual for a club that is at a crossroads of transition.

But what makes United different, what makes Ferguson great, and what makes Old Trafford the Theater of Dreams, is that this supposed transitionary side seems to already have risen to a level of greatness.

The side that beat Tottenham 3-0 in Week 2 was the same starting 11 in the rout over Arsenal. The average age of these players (with the exception of 30-year-old Evra) is just over 22 years of age. This includes a center-back paring of a 23-year-old (Evans), 19-year-old (Jones), anchored by a 20-year-old goalie (De Gea).

However, the amount of promise these youngsters show is not enough to win a title this season. Team’s such as Liverpool, Chelsea, and cross-town rivals Manchester City have all been showing their fortitude in challenging United for the title.

Liverpool’s dramatic climb up the table the second half of last season has seemed to carry over into this one.

Kenny Daglish has his men playing great ball, and Luis Suarez is making an early case for the club’s Player of the Year. The defense that was the subject of much ridicule last year has been tightened up allowing only two goals at this early juncture.

Chelsea started slow but has been making progress under new manager Andre Villas-Boas. It takes time for a new manager to come into a club learn the players and figure what works best for all of them. This past Saturday against Norwich, he seems to have solved the puzzle. With a striking force unrivaled by any other club, and the signing of Juan Mata last week, Chelsea will only get better as the season goes on.

City have been the most exciting team to watch this far. The Sheik’s riches which have been splashed all over Europe to bring the world’s greatest talent to Eastlands has been paid off, with high scoring and confident victories.

Sergio Aguero has already proved his worth in only three games, and Edin Dzeko is already making room for the Golden Boot on his trophy shelf. As it stands now, the fight for the heart of Manchester is unfolding beautifully.

However, each of these sides has a fatal flaw in their names.

Liverpool has the pressure of attempting to regain success that has eluded them for so long. What is more is they are wholly dependent on their stars to get them there. A short bench of true talent will make the winter months ever the more arduous and could prove too much for them to overcome.

Chelsea still lack the creativity in the midfield that has proven to be their Achilles heel. The 4-3-3 attack Villas-Boas had so much success with at Porto, has not quite yet been understood by the Chelsea stars. They have seven points in three games, but against much lesser sides. As the competition gets more difficult their true colors will be exposed.

And then there is City. Commentators, fans and pundits alike have seem to already crowned them the champions. Their 12 goals in three games has been all the rave of England. The signing of Samir Nasri over the past week added to a list of summer transfers that include Sergio Aguero, Stefan Savic and Gael Clichy and a squad with Gareth Barry, David Silva, Carlos Tevez, and Yaya Toure. A seeming dream team of club football.

But for all the greatness in those names. All the talent in youth and incredible skill it is a list of winlessness. A group that has been formed to bring championships to their side, but as of yet, have barren trophy cabinets.

Yes there are names there that have had success in the past, but none have been the leaders of that team. The run they are on now will not hold up for nine more months. When they begin to lose and wins are more difficult to come by, who will be the leader that seems them through? Who has been there before? No one.

Manchester United is the favorite to retain the title because despite all the changes and new faces on the squad, this is the same team that has won England 19 times before. They are a side that plays with the vigor and vitality that every game matters. They have a balance of youthful spirit and veterans with a history of winning.  And perhaps most importantly, they have a coach who never allows their fatal flaws to persist from game to game.

If you want proof of this, look no further than a two-minute span in the game against Arsenal. Johnny Evans foolishly pulled down Theo Walcott for a penalty. David de Gea, the new United keeper asked to fill the boots of a legend, the young Spaniard who has goofed on enough goals for a while season, was asked to hold United’s 1-0 lead as Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie stood ready to take the PK.

Van Persie approached the ball and hit it low and to de Gea’s right—the same direction he was diving. The ball struck the outstretched arm of de Gea and bounced without emotion behind the goal.

Two minutes later, a seemingly nothing ball was played into the path of another newcomer to Old Trafford Ashley Young. With almost an air of ease and swift wind behind him, he gently floated the ball into the top right corner of the Arsenal goal to make it 2-0 United and effectively open the flood gates for six more goals.

If there was one kink in the United armor that an opponent could point to, it was de Gea. He showed a lack in confidence since the Community shield when he let in a howler from Dzeko. Through it all, Ferguson never questioned his young keeper. He always supported him in his misery and was confident he could work his way out of it. Today, he did just that. Fatal flaw fixed.

Of course, United are far from winning their second straight title and adding to their lead over Liverpool for most in English history, but of any team, none have played as well or convincingly as the Red Devil’s.