Will Arsenal extinguish Manchester United’s title challenge on Sunday?

Ozil and Ramsey

Arsenal have lost on their last five visits to Old Trafford although they have a chance to put a great deal of daylight between themselves and Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, with Arsene Wenger’s team eight points clear of one of their main title rivals.

While Premier League titles aren’t won in November, three points for the Gunners would further cement their credentials after a comprehensive 2-0 win against Liverpool, with Arsene Wenger citing the fact that Arsenal have some genuine momentum coming into this game.

Wenger said:

“It was a huge test because it came after two home defeats and [with] another one then you create another problem against Manchester United [on Sunday]. You could see at the start we were focused but a bit nervous and we put Dortmund and Chelsea on the front foot ourselves. You could feel at the start that the players did not want to do that at all. After we scored you could see that we controlled the game.

“The players believe, of course. Every win makes you stronger. Tuesday raised a little bit of doubt, but not so much because many players did not play. When you lose, the players that do not play don’t drop their confidence. They raise their hopes.”

David Moyes saw his team win 3-1 at Fulham on Saturday to remain in touch with the chasing pack after ten games played, although the Scot will be aware of this game’s significance due to Arsenal’s flying start.

Manchester United are favourites to win on Sunday, although the plain fact is that they have won just two of their five Premier League games at Old Trafford this term, while the most recent victory against Stoke was a massively fortunate one.

Defeat against Arsenal is unthinkable. Not only would Wenger’s team go eleven points clear of the Red Devils, United would also lose ground on the teams above them in the table, with Chelsea and Manchester City regarded as the teams most likely to win the title by the bookmakers.

The fact that Robin van Persie‘s departure from the Emirates was down to Arsenal’s perceived lack of ambition is now an interesting talking point, with the Gunners trumping United in the transfer market over the summer by acquiring the services of Mesut Ozil and Mathieu Flamini.

RVP scored after just three minutes in the corresponding fixture last season and Moyes will be hoping that the Dutchman is wearing his shooting boots against a Gunners team that are heading north sniffing blood.