Arsenal Have To End The Old Trafford Hoodoo

Match Preview – Manchester United vs Arsenal – Premier League – 28.02.16

This will be a less than usual match preview for me because not only am I writing it at 4.30am and struggling to keep the words in focus, it’s also mostly about me. In approximately 45 minutes I shall be hitting the road with my good friend @JokmanAFC and heading to Manchester to watch the match live.

Away games are a rare treat for me and visiting Old Trafford will be an entirely new experience. Thanks to Membership Rewards sponsored by Europcar I shall also be enjoying pre-match on a barge with Arsenal legend Ray Parlour to celebrate the launch of the Best Travelled Fan competition as part of the #FansOfTheSeason initiative.

Such an event means I shall have at least some memories to cherish from the day irrespective of the result. That said, I really don’t think I could cope with an Arsenal loss. Much as this season represents Arsenal’s best chance to win the league in almost a decade so is it the best opportunity to win in the league at Old Trafford, a feat we have not achieved since 2006.

This Manchester United team has the honour of being the worst I have witnessed, possibly even more so than the team that crumbled so spectacularly under David Moyes. Van Gaal’s team are in with a much better chance of finishing in the coveted Champions League spots but the quality of personnel and the football on display at the so-called Theatre of Dreams has been dire at the best of times.

With a raft of injuries our opposition is at the weakest we have caught them and if we can’t walk away with three points today then frankly we don’t deserve to win the league. It is entirely possible that we can lose and still claim the title but I’ll feel like we tripped over the finishing line and won by way of an extended tongue like an unconscious camel spread-eagled on the floor barring the path of possibly more worthy challengers.

This is a winnable match and should be a cake walk if the players we boast can find a semblance of form, cohesion and a clinical touch in front of goal.

Arsenal from; Cech, Ospina, Chambers, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Monreal, Flamini, Arteta, Elneny, Iwobi, Özil, Campbell, Alexis, Ramsey, Giroud, Walcott, Welbeck.

Predicted Line-up

Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Özil, Alexis, Giroud, Walcott

I expect to see substitute appearances from Campbell and Dat Guy.

Match Quote

“You can show quality, nerves and desire as well. We need to focus on the Premier League where we have a big part to play. Everybody drops points and it is unpredictable. We have rebuilt a good run in the Premier League and we need to continue that”  – Arsène Wenger

Last 3 Meetings

• Arsenal 3-0 Man U (04.10.2015)
• Man U 1-1 Arsenal (17.05.2015)
• Man U 1-2 Arsenal (22.11.2014)

Form Guide

Arsenal Last 5
LDWWW

Man Utd Last 5
WWWDW

Opposition watch

They’re cack. Possibly famous last words but they could be missing half of their best players today. Calling Chris Smalling, Schweinstiger and Rooney their best players highlights just how poor this United squad is in comparison to even the worst of Fergie’s era.

De Gea and Martial face late fitness tests.

Factfile

• Arsenal are winless in their last eight Premier League games at Old Trafford, losing six of those matches.
• Victory would see Manchester United become the first team to win 50 top-flight home games against Arsenal.
• Arsenal have only won two of seven Premier League away matches since October.
• The Red Devils’ points tally of 41 from 26 games is the lowest they have recorded at this stage of a Premier League campaign.
• Their total of 33 league goals from 26 matches is also their lowest since the 1989-90 campaign.
• Alexis Sanchez has failed to score in 19 of his last 22 league appearances.
• There have been just 20 Premier League goals scored at Old Trafford this season – fewer than at any other top-flight ground.
• Louis van Gaal’s side are winless in their last five games against London opposition, drawing the last four.
• The Gunners have dropped seven points from winning positions away from home, the joint-most in the Premier League along with Manchester United.
• Just 21% of Arsenal’s shots in this season’s Premier League have been taken from outside the penalty area – the lowest proportion in the top flight.

Stats courtesy of Opta

Prediction

2-0 to Arsenal. Welbz with a goal.

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