Morning all.
Think of Old Trafford, think of Man Utd v Arsenal and immediately it’s easy to think it’s going to be a tough game. A game we’ll struggle to get something from. Yet, the BBC stats tell a different story.
Head-to-head
- Manchester United could go seven Premier League games without beating Arsenal for the first time in their history.
- Arsenal can win consecutive league games at Old Trafford for the first time since February 1979.
- Arsenal’s past six league away wins versus Manchester United were all by a 1-0 scoreline.
Arsenal won this fixture last season under Mikel Arteta thanks to a penalty conceded by Paul Pogba and converted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, his first league goal since the opening weekend of the new campaign.
United’s best opportunity came late in the game to go when Donny van de Beek’s cross deflected off Mohamed Elneny and Bernd Leno before hitting the post.
Two of the players in that starting eleven have gone, three are no longer first team regulars. Three of substitutes used, Mustafi, Nketiah and AMN, only AMN is getting any kind of playing time in the League fixtures and I’ve no idea where Mustafi is these days. Ceballos, Runasson, Pepe and Xhaka made up the rest of the bench.
So much has changed at Arsenal after a productive summer in the transfer window, all mostly for the better. Martin Odegard is the only summer arrival struggling a bit but to be fair to him, I don’t think he’s been fully fit.
We go to Manchester without Xhaka, Kolasinac and perhaps Saka. Utd’s Pogba and Varane are still injured and Shaw a doubt. Three big players for them. We’ll miss Saka if he doesn’t play but whoever potentially replaces him, well it’s his chance to make his presence felt. Pepe, Odegaard or Martinelli are the most likely candidates.
Much has been going on at Utd, most of which hasn’t been good but since OGS was sacked, they nicked a point a Chelsea by parking the bus at Stamford Bridge and capitalising on some shoddy control, or lack of control by Jorginho.
Arsenal have done ok away from home this season, certainly since Mikel Arteta had all his new signings available and Covid left the building. Barring Anfield of course but hopefully lessons have been learned from that defeat. Whether or not Utd try and match their energy up front remains to be seen.
I certainly can’t see Mikel Arteta’s team parking the bus at OT, nor I suspect will Carrick, not in front of the home fans. New manager Rangnick hasn’t yet taken control of training but I’m sure he’s had an input on how they approach this game and the team selection.
West Ham dropped two points last night so there’s a huge incentive for this Arsenal team. Win and we’re in the top four for the first time in ages. I know it makes no difference at this stage of the season but it’s confidence building in my opinion. And that’s what we need, more confidence, more control of games and certainly more goals. I don’t think Utd’s defence is anything special, in fact if you look at how many goals they’ve conceded this season, Arsenal should be looking to score a few tonight. We’re creating the chances, but we’re not taking enough of them. Aubameyang needs to select his shooting boots for this game and not the duffers he’s been wearing previously. Although I’ve a feeling he might be on the bench.
Midfield is also key today. Partey was excellent in this fixture last season and we need to see more of that level from him tonight. On form, he’s a special player. If we can win the midfield battle, we have a good chance of getting something, if not everything from tonight’s fixture.
COYG’S
See you in the comments.
Morning Rico Rico and All
This is one of our best chances to beat Man u, but we have to come out fighting from the very first whistle and no stupid tackle and lets hope that Ramsdale stay’s fully focused and although Ronaldo has not been scoring much lets hope he leaves his goal scoring boots at home.
Morning Geoff.
My hope is that Lokonga doesn’t get booked, otherwise he’ll be banned for the Everton game. Still, with Atkinson officiating, I imagine we’ll see a few yellow cards.
United look a bit better than since Ole left. We’ll have to be at the top of game to win at Old Trafford tonight
Welcome Jdash, agree they look a bit better. Just hope we turn up.
Team selection is going to be all important tonight . It will show if we are going to attack or contain. If we play Lokonga and Partey and risk the booking or Partey and Elneny and try to protect him. As much as I would like to see Tavares play there I am not sure that United away is experiment time.
As usual the T.V companies do their best to try and stop away supporters It’s an 8.15 kick off and with 10 minutes injury time . They would have 18 minutes to get from the ground to Manchester Piccadilly to get the last train before the 5 oclock in the morning next one.
Don’t stop for a bag of chips on the way. It’s approximately 3 1/2 miles.
I did wonder why we kick off at 8-15pm when the other game is a 7-45 start.
Elneny played well this time last year but I’d rather he played against Everton on Monday than Utd.
Good morning Rico and everyone
It’s going to be a big game no matter how weak manU might be currently as we have a chance to get into top 4. I just feel we can and we will beat them.
For me there is no need worrying about the starting line up, I will just keep calm and attempt to enjoy the game and hope I’m not disappointed.
We can do it.
Lokonga only has so many yellow cards because Arteta asked him to fill in for Xhaka why he is injured. LOL
This match is even a crap time in Australia, it starts at 7:15AM so most people don’t get to watch it as they are on there way to work or getting the kids ready for school.
Hi Mexzy, enjoy the game? Depends which Arsenal turn up. Lol
Arsenal:
Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tavares, Martinelli, Thomas, Elneny, Smith-Rowe, Odegaard, Aubameyang.
Subs:
Tierney, Saka, Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Pepe, Sambi Lokonga, Nketiah, Okonkwo.
Man Utd:
de Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Alex Telles, McTominay, Fred, Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Ronaldo.
Subs:
Bailly, Jones, Mata, Martial, Greenwood, Lingard, Diallo, Henderson, van de Beek.
@Rico I will try to enjoy it. I just hope the right Arsenal turns up…
Our lineup looks conservative and their attack look really sharp, Ronaldo, Sancho and Rashford… midfield will be really key.
Elneny for Lokonga might pay off… I hope it pays off.
What a crazy goal. Will Atkinson bottle it?
That’ll fire Utd up.
Give away by White, need to get Aubameyang off and switch martinelli at least that’s my thinking
And not drop so deep. Get back on the front foot.
Definitely get Auba off.
Might as well play with 10 men. How can Arteta not see it?
I have only seen 10 minutes A stupid tackle, Auba crap, and we also to relaxed trying to get out from back,
Henry can’t see why Captain Auba was taken off with 15 remaining. I think I’m living in an alternative universe.
I really don’t know are Aubameyang. Arteta must see something very different to what we see.
As a team there is not enough between the two sides except for the naivety of some of our players. They knew how to win where we knew only how to play
As the game wore on we were getting pushed out of it we had no outball no-one could keep it apart from passing in an area that didn’t hurt them .
Tomorrow we can have a post-mortem tonight it’s all about getting home.
I’m still cheesed off.
New post up now