Robin van Persie, Manchester United
English Premier League leaders Arsenal are in the spotlight again this weekend as they travel to face defending champions Manchester United at Old Trafford. This match will test the Gunners’ title credentials just as Liverpool did last week with Arsene Wenger’s men passing with flying colours. For United this is a chance for David Moyes to cut Arsenal’s lead over them to just five points. Both teams are yet to play their important midweek Champions League matches at the time of writing this article.
Manchester United must look at the Premier League table with a sense of relief. This has been a difficult start to the season for them and yet they stand only three points off second place. United continued their recent turnaround in form with a 3-1 victory over Fulham last Saturday which marked their fourth win in a row. Antonio Valencia opened the scoring for the Reds early on from close range, before Robin van Persie’s thunderbolt made it two in quick time.
Wayne Rooney also got on the scoresheet after combining with Van Persie in the 22nd minute. A run of six games without defeat suggests the Premier League champions have finally discovered a level of consistency under the new boss after overcoming a stuttering start to the campaign. Unlike the games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City at the start of the season, Moyes may now feel he is ready to beat the top teams. The 0-0 draw with Chelsea was creditable – the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, disappointing, but understandable, particularly with Wayne Rooney ruled out after suffering a gash to the forehead just the day before the clash at Anfield.
The 4-1 defeat to City – albeit without the injured Robin van Persie – was the major low point of his United career so far. Against Arsenal he has the chance to go into a game against one of United’s title rivals having had time to build up a run of form and impose himself on his squad.
After this match at Old Trafford we’ll have a clearer idea of whether Arsenal can finally end their trophy drought. The signs are promising. Excellent, in fact. They passed the first test of a high-pressure nine days, not only beating high-flying Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium but brushing them aside in a dominant display. Two superb goals from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey opened up a five-point lead at the Premier League summit and even Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers was purring.
“Arsenal have wonderful technicians, good mobility,” said Rodgers. “Mesut Ozil is world class, Ramsey has taken his game to another level, Mikel Arteta is a good player, Santi Cazorla joining in, Tomas Rosicky — five players who are top-class technicians.” The Gunners are unbeaten away from home having won four of their five matches and drawing once. Theo Walcott has provided Arsenal with a much-needed fitness boost as he is set to return for this match and will look to make an impact from the bench.
Manchester United have dominated Arsenal in recent seasons with the Gunners only managing one win and three draws in the last 12 meetings. Last season United won this fixture 2-1 but this time around Arsenal have looked the much better side. United have only won two of their five home games, drawing twice.
They have scored just seven goals at home while the Gunners have scored 11 on the road in the same amount of matches, five. United have found some form but Arsenal are tipped to impress once more in the league this season with a win at Old Trafford.
