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Arsenal and Manchester United face off at the Emirates on Wednesday, with both looking to bounce back instantly from massive weekend disappointments.
Arsenal were knocked off top spot in humiliating fashion as they went down 5-1 at Liverpool, while United’s recent travails continued with a home draw against bottom of the league Fulham.
Arsenal remain a point behind first-placed Chelsea but know they will need a victory against their former title rivals in order to maintain their push, while United need a victory to relaunch their top four campaign, especially after Jose Mourinho expressed his sorrow for the club’s current situation
Manchester United won the reverse fixture in November 1-0, with Robin Van Persie scoring the only goal of the game.
Team News
Arsenal
Arsenal could be handed a perceived boost in their striking options as Yaya Sanogo should be fit for selection, but the game comes too soon for Thomas Vermaelen who will not be able to return from his calf strain until the weekend at the earliest.
Mathieu Flamini will also serve the last of his three game suspension for his dismissal against Southampton, but Arsene Wenger will at least be pleased that he has no new concerns, with Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Kim Kallstrom all still sidelined.
Manchester United
Manchester United don’t have any new injury concerns either and could be able to include Phil Jones in the side after he missed the draw against Fulham with concussion.
He undergoes a late fitness test on a hip complaint, while Tom Cleverley will also be assessed after picking up a knock in training.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal
There’s little room for manoeuvre for Wenger at the moment with injuries restricting him from ringing the changes after the destruction at Anfield.
Nacho Monreal will probably be one casualty however with Kieran Gibbs ready to come back in and the big call will be whether to drop Mesut Ozil after a string of underwhelming performances in big games, with Tomas Rosicky ready to come in should Wenger go brave and leave his £42million summer signing kicking his heels on the bench.
Manchester United
Phil Jones could be the main change to United’s starting lineup and it is quite possible that he will come in for Rafael, with Chris Smalling moving to the right-back position.
Darren Fletcher could drop back to the bench in favour of Tom Cleverley as his easing back from illness continues; two matches in four days cold prove excessive for the Scotland international.
Ashley Young is another that could make way after his poor showing against Fulham and it could be the chance for Moyes to show that he is not inflexible from his gameplan and play Shinji Kagawa, in a game that he could thrive in judging by Philippe Coutinho’s performance against the Gunners. But expect him to throw in Antonio Valencia or Danny Welbeck instead and throw Juan Mata onto the left flank and hope for better results.
Recent Form
Arsenal have hit a minor blip having dropped five points from the last nine, but they have still won six of the last eight matches and have kept clean sheets in four of those, suggesting Saturday’s humiliation was something of a freak result and not to expected again.
Manchester United could prove otherwise, as we thought their defeat to Spurs on New Years’ Day was a blip in a fine run of results, but they have now lost three from their last six, taking just seven points from the 18 available.
Giroud’s conversion rate of 17.5% is very average among Premier League strikers
Player To Watch
Arsenal - Olivier Giroud
Arsenal are still scoring goals with the midfield contributing, but with them all being overused due to the lack of options in the midfield, it is time for Giroud to step up his game after admitting how awful he was against Liverpool on Saturday.
Giroud completed just seven passes at Anfield and has amassed just three goals in Arsenal’s last 13 games, and without a viable alternative on the bench to replace him, he needs to be the man to get the goals, as United will not be pushovers.
Ten goals in 23 games doesn’t read too bad, but his conversion rate of 17.5% is among the average ones and far below the top strikers at the top clubs in the league, so he needs to be converting more if Arsenal are to get back on track quickly.
Michael Carrick is averaging over three interceptions per game.
Manchester United - Michael Carrick
Carrick enjoyed a more offensive game against Fulham on Sunday as the visitors operated an eight man defence on the edge of their own penalty area, but after being caught napping for their late equaliser he needs to get back to his defence-marshalling duties against an Arsenal side that will come to attack and have the players at their disposal to really hurt United.
Carrick mustered one goal from eight shots against Fulham and recorded a 96% pass completion rate but will find much stiffer opposition that won’t give him that time on the ball.
Carrick has made 55 interceptions in his 17 appearances, averaging over three a game, and will need to continue that to stop Arsenal’s attack from running riot, while his 41% tackle success will definitely need to be improved.
Prediction
More Moyes misery at the Emirates, as this match is going only one way.
Arsenal need a response especially in front of their own fans and will put in a performance that United, even on a good day will not be able to resist, as quite simply, Arsenal have better players and a better system than their visitors.
United will try hard, but unless Moyes makes a drastic change to a system that plays very wide, they will find themselves overrun in midfield and Arsenal should ease to a comfortable win.
