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Arsenal vs Manchester United

*sigh*

Where do I begin? Tell you what, if you’re not bothered, you can read my article of last season. The same factors and problems apply this season, because that’s the problem with Arsenal. It’s the same issues repeating year after year. It’s become an excepted in-house joke now.

Take last year. A strong side versus a mentally weak and vulnerable United side visiting the Emirates. “A must win game" we were saying last season. “This United side are there for the taking" we were declaring with confidence. And with good reason. United had lost their main man, and their poor quality squad was unravelling. They had pretty much become the laughing stock of the league. Moyes was doing a great job and dismantling a title winning team and setting them back a level or several. Yet, United managed to take 4 points off Arsenal, including a very comfortable draw at the Emirates.

So here we go, 22nd Nov 17:30 kick-off, United enter the Emirates with a vastly improved attacking line-up but an average Midfield and awful defence. A squad visiting ravaged with injuries throughout the defence. Cries of “A must win game" and “This United side are there for the taking", are reverberating in our heads, if not publically on the ¬forums. Logic should dictate that Arsenal should finally get 3 points against a weak and depleted United side. Yet why is it we all know we’ll flatter to deceive? Why is it we all know that even if United have a back 4 of Valencia, Blackett, McNair and Shaw, we’ll still not score?

I want to see some positivity from Wenger. He bottled it last year after a thrashing away to Liverpool, and I just hope he doesn’t bottle it again. Despite our own defensive worries, I do believe we have it in us to win the game. Naturally, we are awful defensively, so we’ll definitely concede. I want to see a positive side out, with perhaps Walcott starting. Plenty of pace to get at United’s defence. Hopefully Arteta is fit, because I don’t see us getting anything with Flamini in the side. Would also prefer to see Wilshere alongside Arteta. Ramsey is out of form and he needs a reality check.

So lads, predictions, line-ups, confident or not, etc.

posted on 20/11/14

Why can't all the other players have fitness like Giroud? Why does it have to be our worst player who is the most fittest??

posted on 20/11/14

TBI I think we would be better with Roy at the helm. Look at the way our boys have played for England.

We won't win, Wenger is a dinosaur.

posted on 20/11/14

think you'll beat them....they willstruggle(as lots do) with sanchez.

posted on 20/11/14

I fancy Arsenal for this. The balance of the side is better and they have more pace in important areas. I can see a Utd player being sent off if they start losing as well and a few have walked this season already.

This Utd side has dropped points in 7 of their 11 games and don't really have any players in form. You could make a case for Di Maria (who may be carrying an injury) and possibly Rooney but in all truth Palace gave them all kinds of problems.

De Gea will have to play very well indeed I reckon.

posted on 20/11/14

If Sanchez returns in the same form as he left, I am fearful for this game.

He could rip us apart.

posted on 20/11/14

comment by DaStuDogg (U9291)
posted 2 hours ago
I sort of agree with both sides of the argument on the Monreal debate.

He certainly isn't the answer to our CB problem, and as has been said, his lack of aerial ability is going to be targeted, but lack of aerial prowess aside, I've been surprised by how well he reads the game from the CB position.
With his experience at LB, he's very comfortable at dealing with balls down the channel, and on the ball, he looks very assured.

As good as Chambers is at CB, I suspect that Wenger has concerns about the Mertesacker-Chambers partnership.
Chambers' main problem at CB is his proclivity to try and win the ball-back early and get caught out when diving in - we've seen this on numerous occasions this season, with the likes of Dzeko, Ba, and Lukaku all getting the better of him because of this rashness.

Whilst this is always going to be a problem, at least when we had Koscielny alongside him, he had a partner with enough pace to cover for his errors. Alongside Mertesacker, if Chambers gets caught out, there's no-one who can make up the ground and bail him out.

Similarly, if Mertesacker gets beaten, Chambers' all-or-nothing style can leave us very vulnerable. Take the Naismith goal against us for example: Lukaku takes Mertesacker out of the game (arguably illegally), and instead of holding the Belgian up and waiting for defensive cover to arrive, Chambers flies in, misses the ball, and leaves us completely exposed.

For all his flaws, Monreal has the composure and intelligence to effectively cover for Mertesacker.

I'm not saying he's the answer, and I'm not necessarily saying I'd prefer him there to Chambers (both have their flaws); I just think the Monreal vs Chambers debate isn't as clear-cut as some suggest.
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good post absolutely spot on.

comment by Bruno (U1664)

posted on 20/11/14

comment by Say My Name (U18558)
posted 2 hours, 1 minute ago
If you lose to this atrocious United team managed by Mr Ego but worse than Moyes then Wenger should walk.


What by a few points while players are yet to gel, ok then

posted on 20/11/14

What by a few points while players are yet to gel, ok then
====================

Can't wait until LFC's players "gel".

posted on 20/11/14

Thanks Godfather

posted on 23/11/14

Well unfortunately looks like I was right again. Wengers bunch of bottlers

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