United Game away

[northbank123]

I know that people want to capitalise on the change in fortunes this season and current momentum but I would be extremely happy with a point here. Keeps a nice buffer between us and genuine challengers (4+ points to Citeh, 5 to Chelsea, 8 to United), keeps our momentum going and shows that we're not so susceptible to wilting in the big games.

Have to remember that despite their struggles this year they're a team with van Persie and Rooney up front, a referee who'll no doubt think twice before giving any marginal calls our way and a history of making it very difficult for big teams to go there and win.

[wibble]

I know that people want to capitalise on the change in fortunes this season and current momentum but I would be extremely happy with a point here. Keeps a nice buffer between us and genuine challengers (4+ points to Citeh, 5 to Chelsea, 8 to United), keeps our momentum going and shows that we're not so susceptible to wilting in the big games.

Have to remember that despite their struggles this year they're a team with van Persie and Rooney up front, a referee who'll no doubt think twice before giving any marginal calls our way and a history of making it very difficult for big teams to go there and win.

Agree totally with this-would be happy with a point.

First time i'm actually looking forward to a game at OT in years though

[nexum5me]

they will be diving like fuck if they aren't winning with 10/15 minutes to go, and you can bet your arse the ref will be desperate to give anything in/on the edge of the area to help them out.

our only real chance of 3 points is to be 2+ goals up (unlikely) going into the last fifteen minutes, with utd having given up (also unlikely)

i WOULD however, take a draw now if it was offered

[OneBardGooner]

F*CK!!! the tension is building already.....


Oh well! let's crack open that new bottle of Tequila that'll help me sleep!

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!!!!

[greengooner]

F*CK!!! the tension is building already.....


Oh well! let's crack open that new bottle of Tequila that'll help me sleep!

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!!!!!

It's the hope that kills you, if I were to look at this match through the eyes of a non supporter and try and predict it I would tip Arsenal to win by a couple of goals with no problem but as a gooner wracked by traumatic memories of the past eight years I just can't allow myself to believe in us winning. It must be a self protection mechanism, a fail safe to protect against more pain.....I am however f***ing desperate for three points, a performance to humiliate them and judas....I want a win.......come you rip roaring gunners . THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR DAY!

[topgoon]

The ref will decide this game, if he stands up to Shrek,Evra Ferdinand and co, we will definitely get something from this game but if he has a Mike Riley or Mark Halsey moment then we will come back with nothing.

Heart says we beat them 1-3. Head says 2-2. Ref says 2-1 both goals from Shrek dives.

Since when does Tequila help you sleep OBG

[Midz]

Impossible to predict, but I hope we win.

[g88ner]

Since when does Tequila help you sleep OBG

Asleep. Unconscious. Same thing really

[euphoricone]

I would play arteta ramsey rosciky cazrola ozil giroud and not change things around for this one. Walc on bench is fine, flamini on bench if recovered

4/11 players that started the 8-2 game will start tomorrow most likely. ramsey rosciky kos and schez. If we get past the pscyhological aspect of them being the superior side, we'd do them well and good cause the quality is there.

[1989]

COYG

[SteveO 35]

I know that people want to capitalise on the change in fortunes this season and current momentum but I would be extremely happy with a point here. Keeps a nice buffer between us and genuine challengers (4+ points to Citeh, 5 to Chelsea, 8 to United), keeps our momentum going and shows that we're not so susceptible to wilting in the big games.

Have to remember that despite their struggles this year they're a team with van Persie and Rooney up front, a referee who'll no doubt think twice before giving any marginal calls our way and a history of making it very difficult for big teams to go there and win.

I agree and I think people are getting ahead of themselves - one win from the last 15 against United !

Talk of their demise and our dominance is far far too premature. I still think they will finish above us. People seem to forget they are still unbeaten in the last 8 and Rooney and Van Persie are still scoring plenty of goals

If someone offered me a battling draw now I would take it.

The 2 games against United and Chelsea will shape the season because most of our recent memories against both have been awful and a large majority of our players have suffered against both.......far more so than City or Spurs.

For all the talk of the Chavs transition and United's demise under Moyes, Wenger has to turn around a woeful record against Mourinho and the plastic Mancs if we're genuinely going to compete

[hugh jardon]

Agree with SteveO35 - one win in last fifteen up there is awful but also the manner of our defeats is usually appalling; 8-2, 4-0, 6-1 all spring to mind where we have just layed down and died up there with little or no fight offered.

However today I am optimistic - regardless of the result we will still be top afterwards, couple this to Man U's current wobble may allow us to play with more confidence up there than normal.

A draw will be a fantastic result (especially after beating Liverpool and Dortmund this week) but a win is achievable today.

[robbo10]

TBH I'd be very disappointed with a draw even.

This man utd team is there for the taking. They've been demolished by Man City and L'pool and pretty much unconvincing in the CL. ffs even West Brom and Southampton beat, ffs EVEN stoke nearly beat them. We can easily beat them, utd are nothing nowadays without red nose.

I'm still not sure,as much as we are ahead of them on current form and you would like to think we will run all over them at OT its their Cup Final,their big players always seem to turn up against us and I still think psychologically they still hold something over us,fuck,I hope I'm wrong.

[northbank123]

Not that this game needs it but it also has the added importance of coming right before an international break, meaning that this result is going to shape the atmosphere around the club for the next fortnight.

Get a positive result and we'll be sitting well clear after a superb week. After the internationals we then have the chance to extend that with 3 very winnable home games and a trip to lowly Cardiff making up our next 4 PL games alongside the chance to qualify in CL with a home game against pointless Marseille.

Get turned over and all the talk will be about how we've not changed and negativity will no doubt creep in. All of a sudden games against an in-form Southampton and stubborn Everton as well as a trip to Cardiff start to look a bit trickier, we're looking over our shoulders and preying on our mind will be the impending run of fixtures that reads Napoli (A), Man City (A), Chelsea (H), West Ham (A) and Newcastle (A) between Dec 11 and 29th (especially with our squad being light on the ground).

Even this early in the season for me it's without doubt one of the biggest games we've had in years and years.

[Dan_85]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24887077

Why does Wenger always come out with these embarassing quotes before every Utd game? 99% of the time they bite him on the arse. He should shut up and let the results on the pitch do the talking.

Anyway, huge game today. A bit nervous already & still 4 and a half hours to go. Just hope that we play as well as we can because they're there for the taking. Utd's defence is so bad, so if we play this sideways tippy tappy bollocks on the 18 yard box, letting them get everyone back in position, i'll be pissed. Speed, precision and penetration please, make their keeper work.

UTA.