Is United away the perfect fixture for Giroud to start?

Match Preview: Manchester United vs Arsenal – Premier League – 18.11.2016

It seems like an absolute age since Arsenal last played and there are few places harder to visit than Old Trafford coming off the back of an international break. This was once a legendary fixture played between two titans of the Premier League but in the last 5 or 6 years it has lost a lot of meaning. However, with Jose Mourinho now in charge of the Red Devils this game may once again have the explosive potential of a spark in a tinderbox.

This match certainly has a bit more edge to it than in recent seasons with Wenger still winless against Mourinho in a “competitive” fixture. (I am one of the few people who consider the Community Shield a competitive fixture—albeit a tame one). And fuelling the enmity between these managers is the surfacing of a rumour that Wenger is attempting to steal Chris Smalling away from Mourinho.

Now if you lined up football players in the casino as prizes few would consider Smalling a jackpot. Tempting Smalling away has none of the legend or controversy of Robin van Persie but anything that irks Mourinho can be seen as a win. I’ve suggested before that Jose is obsessively jealous of Wenger and is such a vindictive character that he’d rather hang on to a player he doesn’t want than see them play under his arch-rival. Even a rumour tenuously linking Wenger with one of his players is enough to wind him up, especially with regular reports that he is struggling to win over his dressing room and his antagonistic and combative character could yet see him lose another job while Wenger signs yet another contract at Arsenal (rumoured).

It’s been 10 years since we won in the league at Old Trafford, courtesy of Emmanuel Adebayor, and right now I think the majority of Gooners would be happy to wait a while longer and take a draw. United are weak, bereft of some of their best players, unable to find their best form under Mourinho and seemingly struggling to adapt to being managed by such an abrasive character. This is precisely the sort of match Arsenal are expected to win but so often lose in humiliating fashion. I attended this fixture last year and foolishly believed Arsenal would prove too much for United to handle. What transpired was an ignominious defeat at the hands of a dreadful team. United were woeful in that game and had Arsenal even put in a slightly below average performance they would have been comfortable winners.

The worry for Arsenal is that they too are missing players and could be putting others at risk by playing them through niggles. Hector Bellerin is out for four weeks and Arsenal choices at right back are Carl Jenkinson who is incredibly rusty and Gabriel who has not played there before. This is not a game for dusting off the cobwebs or square pegs. It is likely that this will see Aaron Ramsey played wide for stability, which detracts from our most successful tactics. Worse, Alexis put a Herculean shift in for Chile on Tuesday night having “recovered” from an injury to feature. Is he fit enough to start? It’s a game we may struggle to win without him but one history suggests we won’t win anyway and therefore shouldn’t risk his fitness for.

It’s a conundrum I do not envy the manager but with United devoid of some of their best defensive assets I could make a case for a handsome battering ram bullying the hell out of the replacements. If Jenkinson does start his crossing ability will be a boon to Arsenal’s target man, if indeed they opt to play with one.

As always I am hopeful of a win and believe we have enough talent to win comfortably but recent results and history has imbued me with a sense of scepticism in such games.

Predicted Line-up

Cech; Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Özil; Ramsey, Giroud, Iwobi

I expect to see substitute appearances from Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis and Walcott.

Match Quote

“Winning there has always been a very positive sign, yes, but it’s too early in the season to say it will be decisive this time” – Arsène Wenger

Last 3 Meetings

• Man Utd 3-2 Arsenal (28.12.2016)
• Arsenal 3-0 Man Utd (04.10.2015)
• Man Utd 1-1 Arsenal (17.05.2015)

Form Guide

Arsenal
DWWWD

Manchester United
WLDWL

Opposition watch

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended for this match following his fifth caution of the season but Ander Herrera returns from a ban, as does Mourinho who was forced to sit out the match against Swansea after abusing a match official in their match against Burnley. Marouane Fellaini is doubtful with a calf problem however Michael Carrick has been performing well for United, adding much needed experience and quality passing from deep to the United midfield. Wayne Rooney has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of England’s game with Spain. The England captain has an excellent record against Arsenal and with Zlatan banned he may get a chance to continue his tormenting of Arsenal defences. Luke Shaw faces a late fitness test but Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling are injured.

Wenger’s side are winless in the league against United for over a decade. A Danny Welbeck-inspired FA Cup win in 2015 their most recent taste of victory at the ground Arsenal won the league at in 2002. Jose Mourinho been an easy opponent for Wenger but the Arsenal manager goes into this game unbeaten in 10 league games and within two points of the top. Manchester United by contrast are eight off the top and yet to find any consistency this season.

This is the match Mourinho will want to win above all others because of his loathing of Wenger. As if Mourinho’s jealously and bitterness was not utterly obvious enough the United manager used his pre-match press conference to complain about how he is treated by the media, saying: “[Saturday] is a match between the two managers with the best record in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t here any more… I have three [titles], he [Arsene Wenger] has three…Does that mean we should be respected, even in periods where our results are not the best? I think Mr Wenger has that respect from all of you, I don’t think I have, especially because my last Premier League title was 18 months ago, not 18 years ago.”

Factfile

• Arsenal are winless in their last nine Premier League games at Old Trafford, losing seven of those matches.
• United could draw a third successive home league game for the first time since a similar run between February and April 1992.
• Arsenal’s only Premier League away defeat in 2016 came at Manchester United in February.
• A defeat would leave United on 18 points and equal their lowest tally after 12 matches of a Premier League season, set in 2004-05.
• Arsene Wenger’s only win in 15 previous encounters as a manager in any competition against Jose Mourinho came in the 2015 Community Shield (D6, L8).
• Jose Mourinho has never lost a Premier League game against Arsenal, winning five and drawing six of his 11 previous meetings with the Gunners.
• Arsenal have lost just one of their last 21 top-flight matches.
• Wayne Rooney has scored 14 times in all competitions against Arsenal during his career. He only has a better record against Aston Villa, with 15 goals.
• The Gunners are one of two Premier League sides yet to concede in the opening 15 minutes this season, along with West Brom.
• Rooney scored his first Premier League goal against Arsenal, while his first league goal for United and his 100th Premier League goal also came versus the Gunners.

Courtesy of Opta & BBC Sport.

Prediction

I can’t see anything more than a draw here. 2-2.

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