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I just hope this hasn't all just been blown out of proportion with Szczesny, I've so much more confidence with him between the sticks
Previews
Written by Mean Lean on Monday, 13 December 2010 16:56
This has really felt like the longest weekend of my entire life, I have barely watched any of the highlights from any other of the insignificant games over the weekend.
My Arsenal were not in town so my interest was absent.
I have teased and tortured myself though, watching Arsenal TV online, Arsene Wenger's press conference and the Gael Clichy interview has brought the excitement and anxiousness almost to a climax.
Although this is certainly no title decider, it does give one of the teams a psychological advantage and can add some much needed momentum to a difficult month of fixtures.
Arsenal's recent record against Manchester United hasn't been favourable and the players will have to show plenty of character this evening.
Arsene has plenty of decisions to make all around the pitch and it is probably the first time in a long time that Wenger has had that 'problem' most of the times he has been without key players in the big games and has come up short.
The high profile decision will be to include Cesc Fabregas or rest his hamstrings further. I get the feeling that Cesc will be starting tonight, had the game fallen on the weekend then Wenger may have thought otherwise but everything points to a dramatic return to the team.
The rumours are that Wojciech Szczesny will be starting in between the sticks as Fabianski has picked up some sort of injury. Usually you would worry about a young keeper making his league debut at Old Trafford but with Szczesny, you almost feel that the bigger the stage, the better performance you are likely to see. Now really would be a time to show how good he is.
The center backs will also be sweating on a decision from le boss. Whilst Johan Djourou is many fans current choice due to his aerial ability, I do not imagine that Manchester United will look to hurt us from headers, they are likely to play on the counter or try and play through us. That being the case, I feel that Koscielny with his excellent intercepting and tackling will be the preferred option alongside probably the experienced Squillaci.
Robin Van Persie and Marouane Chamakh are competing for a chance to lead the line. If someone told me 12 months ago that Van Persie would be almost fully fit and still could struggle to start the game then I would have laughed myself silly. In December 2010, Wenger may have those very thoughts floating through his mind.
Marouane Chamakh has almost played himself into one of the first names on the team sheet, especially away from home where hard work and spirit is a must but at the same time Wenger must be wondering how he could possibly leave a player who can create a goal from nothing out of the starting line up.
Playing both players at Old Trafford could prove a risk, as they have not had a lot of game time together, unless one of them plays in a wider role in the team.
I am glad Arsene is the one paid to make those choices, although I would be up for being paid for Arsene to make those choices but hey.
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up
One to watch: Samir Nasri
The man of the moment will be a marked man. It just shows how far he has come in such a short time when Arsenal have Van Persie and possibly Cesc back fit and Nasri is the pre match talk of the town.
Should he come up against Evra then I am sure a majority of Gooners will be roaring him on to do the business more than usual.
Mean Lean's Match Prediction
Manchester United 1 Arsenal 2 (Nasri, Chamakh)
This really is a game that is almost impossible to predict, both teams at the top of the table and both teams desperate to get one over their rivals.
The game is just set up for Rooney to break his non goalscoring duck against us, so we will need to score at least two goals to win the game. We are very much capable of that, we will just need to be clinical in front of goal and that is not always the case with Arsenal.
Defensively the likes of Clichy, Koscielny and our midfield will have to be on their game to stop their attack.
I cannot wait for the game and I am hoping that we can prove a few people wrong and keep our place on top of the league.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
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13-Dec-2010 17:32 | | Ole GunnerMan Utd employ the wings quite a lot. That's their game these days. It's why they have no midfield creators....
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13-Dec-2010 17:35 | | James McKeanCheeky, Mean Lean, sneaking 12 players on to the pitch!
Should give us a great chance, mind you! ;o)
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13-Dec-2010 17:36 | | MeanLean
They do indeed, but not sure how many have been headers. can think of a few cut backs. although I haven't done my research regarding to their headed goals.
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13-Dec-2010 17:46 | | MeanLeanHaha RVP has even mastered the art of blending into the background to prevent being picked up.
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13-Dec-2010 17:46 | | GoonzillaBeen waiting all day for this preview ML, what was the hold up?
. Nice read as always.
Like most gooners around, I have been trying all the old tricks to make time fly, like watching tv, reading a book, sleeping, eating etc and now I am about to go to the gym to pass some more time away.
This is the biggest game of the season so far in the league. Man Utd's unbeaten run (nothing to write home about to be honest) and our strong away record this season are just two of many sub-plots in this upcoming installment of this rivalry. For once (in a very long time), it seems like parity has been restored and Man Utd v Arsenal is a top of the table clash and not just Arsenal playing catch up. That could prove to be a very significant factor in tonight game.
I really think tonight is the night we finally shut up our critics once and for all and prove to them that we are real title contenders. This could also help send a signal to spain and germany ahead of the champions league draw next week that we are the ones to be feared and not them. I am predicting a 3-1 win (nasri, chamakh and walcott). We usually score first in this fixture (and I expect that to continue) and then we go on to squander a host of chances but I see us going up 2-0 this time around with united pulling one back later on, before chasing the game and getting hit by a sucker punch.
I cannot wait any longer. Bring on the red devils.....
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13-Dec-2010 18:06 | | kellyI like your line up but I would start TR7 a head of wilshere, and JD ahead of squillaci . rooney will skin squillaci with pace and with cesc around the creativity of wilshere can isn't as important as the composure and defensive qualities of TR7. go go gunners. VAYA CON NDIOS!
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13-Dec-2010 18:36 | | Sobin the Indian goonerMY 11
schezsney-sagna-squillaci-djourou-clichy-song-koscielny-nasri-rosicky- arshavin-chamakh.
It will be a fantastic line up.we can do it gunners.COME ON ARSENAL.IN ARSENE WE TRUST.
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13-Dec-2010 19:01 | | MeanLeanThe Goonster!
How you doing? I have been running around like a headless chicken today, hence the late blog.
The nerves are with me right now. I like the sound of your 1-3 as well.
Fingers well and truly crossed
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13-Dec-2010 19:12 | | GoonzillaI'm doing okay ML, constantly refreshing newsnow for the lineup. Fingers crossed on my predictions.
The nerves are finally here. Its game time gooners!!!!!!....and what's your take on the Chicken Firm laying off Fat Sam.....
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13-Dec-2010 19:19 | | GoonzillaCONFIRMED LINEUP
Szczesny, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Rosicky, Arshavin, Chamakh
Subs: Fabianski, Fabregas, Van Persie, Walcott, Denilson, Djourou, Bendtner
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13-Dec-2010 20:57 | | Man United Killa - I told you soRubbish Arsenal is at it once again...Very very disappointing performance.yet I always get slated for saying that this Arsenal team is rubbish...not enough good players....no shooting,no ambition in front of goal,no composure in defense and to ice the cake a bunch of rubbish goal keepers.
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13-Dec-2010 22:07 | | dkgooner - Too cautious ...... in the first half and we never really got into our groove. But United are a good team, very solid defence and they had more movement than us today. I thought it would be 1-0 and Park would be the scorer. But you can't put money on a bet like that. Maybe I would have jinxed it though.
Thought Szczesny looked nervous at the start - his distribution was awful, but he came good. Dreadful decision by the linesman for the penalty - wonder how much he got paid for that one. Not as much as Rooney for missing it, I bet.
We're still looking shaky at the back. United did a good job of closing down and pressurising. Arsenal have less clean sheets than a Hong Kong whorehouse.
We're still in there. United at Chelsea next weekend. Us home to Stoke.
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