Arsenal host Manchester United in the Premier League’s biggest game this weekend, one fulled by the historic rivalry between not only the two clubs but also the two managers, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho. Throw in the fact both teams are jostling for superiority amongst the mini-league at the Premier League’s summit and will be desperate to gain ground on Manchester City, at least until Sunday when the pace-setters face West Ham, and Saturday’s 5.30pm kickoff looks set to be a key encounter that could have a significant impact on both the Gunners’ and the Red Devils’ respective campaigns. So how will this game pan out and more crucially, who will come out on top? This week’s experts, Snack-Media’s very own Arsenal fan Josh Challies and Niven Marston from ManUNews, share their thoughts…
Arsenal enter Saturday’s game off the back of a resounding 5-0 win over Huddersfield but it did come with a price – Alexandre Lacazette came off at half time with an injury that has ruled him out of the Manchester United game, something Wenger confirmed in midweek. That leaves the Arsenal boss facing a big decision up top, with Danny Welbeck, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez the leading candidates to fill the void. Who would you start up front in Lacazette’s absence and why?
JC: “Given his performance off the bench in midweek against Huddersfield, Giroud should not be overlooked. His presence in the attack can bully Manchester United’s defence, whilst his movement is often extremely underrated. With Mesut Ozil and Sanchez supporting him, as well as the flying wing-backs of Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin, Arsenal’s attacking ranks look devastating- and Giroud can also help with defending set pieces, so it’s a win-win situation. Alexis Sanchez blows hot and cold, whilst Welbeck still looks shaky. It really shouldn’t be too much of a decision for Wenger.”
Perhaps the biggest selection dilemma for Mourinho, meanwhile, is whether his side should look to ‘match up’ with Arsenal – an increasingly common phrase since the emergence of 3-4-3 at the top of the Premier League last season. We’ve already seen United match up with Chelsea and Tottenham this term and the 3-4-3 used against Watford in midweek suggests Mourinho plans to set his side up that way at the Emirates Stadium too. Should Mourinho stick with three at the back against Arsenal or revert to his more trusted 4-2-3-1 system?
NM: “I’m not usually one for favouring three at the back, but I think United should continue playing with the 3-4-3 formation they displayed against Watford. United looked extremely comfortable at the back against the Hornets, and despite conceding two goals they were actually fairly solid. I think it’s fair to say United’s first choice centre-backs are Eric Bailly and Phil Jones, but with the pair likely out injured it leaves Mourinho having to pick from Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof. Each of them are prone to a mistake or two, and I think Mourinho will try and avoid this happening by deploying a defensive 3-4-3 against Arsenal. Lindelof may not have had the start to life at United he hoped for, but the Swede looks like a different man when playing in a back three. With the added protection of two further centre-backs and the brilliance of Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia, who look like the best wing-backs in the league at the moment, Mourinho may have found a perfect defensive formula.”
If there’s another significant change we could see from United, it’s up front. Romelu Lukaku may be the most expensive striker signing in Premier League history but he’s scored just one goal in his last eleven games. Mourinho’s almost made a point of not publicly criticising the Belgium international, insisting he continues to put in a good job for the team, but the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the bench makes that barren spell hard to ignore. Would you start Ibrahimovic at Lukaku’s expense against Arsenal?
NM: “Lukaku’s poor form in front of goal has seen him come under an awful lot of criticism lately. Strikers simply have to score goals if they are to keep fans and pundits happy. We all know how quick the Belgian got off the mark at United, and he looked like an early contender for the Golden Boot award, but things haven’t gone quite so swimmingly since. Lukaku finds himself with one Manchester United goal to his name since the end of September, and the suggestion that Ibrahimovic should take his place up front is turning into a real debate. I personally think that Lukaku has been excellent for United all-season long. The goals haven’t been coming as much as we’d like to see, but his performances regardless have been spot on. Jose Mourinho isn’t one to shy away from criticising his players for their short comings, but he has given Lukaku nothing but praise since signing him. The Belgian clearly works hard on and off the pitch for the Red Devils and I’m confident he will find the net against Arsenal or City in the upcoming fixtures. I don’t believe Ibrahimovic should take his place up front at all, but I would like to see the pair start alongside each other at some point.”
In any other season, United would probably be enjoying far more critical acclaim. Only second to Manchester City who have been simply phenomenal, Mourinho has put a strong, quick and powerful side together that can win different kinds of games in different ways. From an Arsenal perspective, what concerns you most about this United side?
JC: “A lot gets said about Mourinho’s tactical set-up away from home and it’s likely to frustrate Arsenal this weekend. Their organisation should be the biggest concern for Arsenal, who have often struggled against a well-drilled team. The midfield battle will be crucial and Manchester United will certainly feel they have the edge in this area. What Arsenal cannot do is get complacent, even if they are dominating possession, and they need to be wary of counter-attacks.”
At the same time though, Mourinho’s side clearly isn’t perfect. They’ve dropped points against two huge rivals in Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as against lesser teams like Huddersfield and Stoke. Likewise, Arsenal have won all seven of their home games so far this season, so the north Londoners should feel confident going into Saturday’s game. What United weaknesses can Arsenal take advantage of?
JC: “I think Mourinho’s tactics could benefit Arsenal, often going negative in the big games, as long as the Gunners hit the ground running. Scoring an early goal would get the crowd at the Emirates Stadium going properly, just like it was during the north London derby a few weeks ago. Manchester United’s attack hasn’t been firing on all cylinders over the last few months and their recent record visiting us isn’t great, whilst our defensive trio of Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal has been strong. I think that’s where we’ll edge the game, though we need to take our chances.”
What do you see as the deciding factor in this game?
NM: “I think Paul Pogba will be a key factor in this game. He missed United’s ties with Liverpool and Chelsea, and the general view is that if he was playing things would’ve been much different. He will be expected to play against Arsenal, and in doing so it will be interesting to see what sort of impact he has on the game. If he is up to the standard we know he’s capable of, I don’t see Arsenal’s midfield being able to cope.”
And finally lads, let’s hear your score predictions…
NM: “0-1 United.”
JC: “Ever the optimist, I’m going for a 2-0 Arsenal win. I certainly don’t think Arsene Wenger’s side will lose this weekend, especially as they’ve won their last 12 Premier League matches at the Emirates Stadium in a row.”
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