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While all the talk will centre on Arsenal’s tremendous start to the season in the build up to the Old Trafford meeting, David Moyes and his side can be confident of hurting the table toppers with the sort of game plan that worked wonders during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Arsenal passed their latest litmus test with flying colours in the 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund, as the Gunners combined resilience with a clinical touch to make a giant stride towards the knockout stages of the Champions League. Next up, the small matter of a trip to Manchester United.
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But, given the Gunners’ record in this fixture, all form that goes before this historically fiery encounter will count for very little when the players step out onto the Old Trafford turf.
Granted, David Moyes’ side have endured a painful teething period since the former Everton manager’s arrival, but United have shown recent signs of recovery, until the midweek blip in Sociedad, with Robin van Persie fluffing his lines from the spot.
The Dutchman will be keen to atone for his error against his previous employers and with Arsenal currently sitting atop the Premier League standings, there will be extra fire in the Dutchman’s belly to fire United back into contention, or at least a kid inside him to spur him on.
Remarkably, Arsenal have only tasted victory at Old Trafford just three times during the Premier League era – by the odd goal on each occasion – and it is something of a psychological barrier the Gunners must overcome if they are to seal a third successive scalp in what has so far been an extremely productive week.
Tactically speaking, it is difficult to find many flaws in a side that are currently matching the attacking verve so accustomed to their style of play with a watertight defence often considered a pre-requisite in any title-winning side.
Look under the surface, however, and there are slight chinks in the armour to be found.
Although Dortmund floundered in front of goal in the 1-0 defeat, they displayed the sort of clinical edge that has hurt Arsenal down the years in their 2-1 win at the Emirates a fortnight ago, something United can certainly take heart from.
Arsenal perfected that strategy themselves on Wednesday night but the opening day blip against Aston Villa and the recent defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s men suggest there is still a vulnerability in the Gunners’ ranks when they lose possession of the ball.
The return of Mathieu Flamini is therefore a welcome boost and should extinguish any lingering fears of such goals being conceded. The Frenchman has been a revelation in the holding role since his return to the club, evidenced in his 55% success rate in tackling.
Wenger is expected to field Mikel Arteta alongside Flamini at Old Trafford for extra indemnity and the Spaniard’s knack of recovering possession is even better; emerging with the ball 63% of the time.
Where United may find more joy out of the midfield double pivot is in the air, with 43% and 30% aerial duel success apiece reflecting the Gunners’ dedication to keeping the ball on the floor.
Mikel Arteta’s duel success this season
Mathieu Flamini’s duels this season
Marouane Fellaini has cut a much-derided figure since his move to the champions but this is where his strengths – should he play, that is – could serve to aid United in the midfield engine room.
Arsenal will undoubtedly retain a lion’s share of the ball and United cannot expect to outplay a side whose defensive midfielders can boast possession records of 94% (Arteta) and 93% (Flamini) but Fellaini can certainly be utilised to ruffle a few feathers with his prowess in the air.
The rangy Belgian’s 73% headed duel wins epitomise where his qualities fall best and any flick-ons or lay-offs he is able to contribute can only prove a positive for van Persie and Wayne Rooney in their attempts to disrupt the blossoming partnership between Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.
Marouane Fellaini’s duels this season
The central defensive duo have been imperious for the Gunners this season and it will be United’s wing play, a key aspect of previous wins in this fixture, that could dictate the outcome of this contest.
It is one of the primary reasons Moyes and his charges have toiled at the start of the season, with Antonio Valencia desperately out of form, Nani continuing to flatter to deceive, Ashley Young condemned for his diving and inconsistency and Wilfried Zaha not yet considered for a first-team berth.
Adnan Januzaj has been the beacon of light in an otherwise stale opening three months for United post-Ferguson but the right-wing conundrum is one the Scot must rectify at once.
Of Arsenal’s defence, the most susceptible figure appears to be Kieran Gibbs, which initially seems incredibly harsh given his excellent start to the season amid finding the consistency to supplement his undeniable potential.
But Gibbs’ passing accuracy (79%) along with his average duels won (55%) are markedly lower than fellow defensive ever-presents Mertesacker (91% and 65%), Bacary Sagna (85% and 65%) and Koscielny (93% and 57%).
Kieren Gibbs’ pass accuracy this season
His duels are slightly out-weighted by the fact he has committed 13 fouls as part of that particular statistic, and – of those most likely to operate in a right-wing berth – it may play into Nani’s hands the best.
The enigmatic Portuguese has a 67% take on success rate in comparison to Valencia’s 50% and Young’s 30%.
The opportunity to play Januzaj as an inverted winger may appeal to Moyes, given the youngster’s ability to beat the full back 64% of the time so far this term but Rafael’s potential absence limits the likelihood of an overlapping full-back behind Januzaj, with Chris Smalling or Phil Jones likely to fill in.
The duo have delivered six and seven crosses respectively in comparison to Rafael’s nine in just three games, illustrating the lack of attacking intent United will come to suffer.
The Premier League holders approach this game for the first time in what seems an eternity as the supposed underdogs. Arsenal’s form is no fluke and United will have to re-discover the formula Ferguson tried, tested and honed in his past battles with Wenger if Moyes is to prosper and pass a litmus test of his own this weekend.
