Arsenal v Man United

[Goonanana]

Whilst looking forward to tomorrows game, I can't but help feeling my usual supporters doubt and dread. I'm glad the boys have confidence, because at times like this I always worry, usually unnecessarily so.

So I thought I'd take a deep breath and have a good look at our team and try to give myself that confidence.

I started at the back

Almunia - Personally I've always been a big fan and I refuse to doubt a player who waited so patiently for his chance and really took it when it came

Toure and Gallas - assuming they are on form they are world class

Sagna and Clichy - Both been fantastic for me and fill me with complete confidence both going forward and in attack

As far as I'm concerned then our defence is as good as if not better than Manure's

It was when I got to midfield though that the real cracks started appearing. Obviously Cesc goes without saying, best player in the world at the minute in my opinion and I have no worries whatsoever. Nobody can fault the Flanimals form or commitment this season and although I wasn't his biggest fan before and a part of me still sees him as a squad player, he's given me cause for confidence. As far as I'm concerned those two are again equal to United's centre mids

Now comes the realisation at what I see at the major flaw in our team

Eboue v Ronaldo/Nani

As much as I hate Ronaldo with every fibre of my being he is simply a class or two above Eboue, and this is something that needs to change in January. Imagine as a full back having the choice to play against either of those two, frankly eboue wouldn't bother me, yea he may whip the odd cross in but who at Arsenal can header? Dudu - who won't be playing

Who else might be on the wing? Diaby?? Great player but never a winger in a million years, he was shown up as that against an awful Sheffiled United side on Wednesday

Ok granted we'll prob play 5 across midfield - going on the defensive at home never does sit well with me, If we do hleb will prob play behind the striker which to me is fine with Van persie but Adebayor clearly hasn't learnt the offside rule yet so balls slid through is going to cause a problem and he never was one for 20 yards screamers

I think questions can also be asked about Adebayor. On his day he is world class, however half of the time he's just not in the game - with his dip in form at the moment, for me, Eduardo might be a better alternative.

So why should I worry

Eboue v Ronaldo?
Adebayor v Rooney?

The answer is my friends, for once I'm not going to worry, because we are the Arsenal. We're not going to roll over at the grove for anyone, we taught Liverpool a footballing lesson at Anfield and we can do the same again tomorrow!! Eboue is going to play the game of his life and shut me firmly up, and our five man midfield is going to reign down terror from every angle! Up the Gunners!!!

[All_Arsenal_1886]

This will be the game where we learn who is up for a fight and who is not. I'm not worrying YET however come matchday i will be full of nerves although i always believe we will win basicly i make myself ill when i shouldn't Oh well for now im just enjoying the build up and trying not to get to worked up.

[26may1989]

Plenty of valid points Goonana, but I would look at things differently, i.e. that one should think about the battles on the pitch rather than, for example, compare Ronaldo and Eboue to decide who's the better right-sided midfielder (not that there can be much debate on that one).

So:

1. Tevez and Rooney vs Toure and Gallas: The crucial battle I think. And although I subscribe to the view that Toure and Gallas are too similar usually, in this case, I think they will make an ideal obstacle. Tevez and Rooney are all about movement, one-touch play and pace, all of which Gallas and Toure are well placed to deal with. It'll be tough but I think they could keep a lid on things well.

2. Clichy vs Ronaldo: English football's best left-back against its best right-winger - and again I think our boy could do it but Ronaldo is bound to have his moments, just a question of whether he can do damage in those moments.

3. Sagna vs Giggs: Giggs is still good but as good as he was and it should be an easier game for Bacary than for some others.

4. Centre midfield: In my opinion, this should be Cesc and Gilberto vs Carrick and Hargreaves but Flamini will probably keep his place despite underperforming (by his standards this year) against Liverpool. Either way, I reckon it's a weak area for United - Carrick has ability but can go missing and Hargreaves is coming back off injury. I think we'll do better in the centre.

5. Eboue/Walcott vs Evra: It'll be tough for us to make much progress against Evra and I think he will probably do best on this battle.

6. Rosicky vs Neville: Neville's only just back from injury and isn't as good as he once was. Rosicky should comfortably do well against him.

7. Ferdinand and Vidic vs Adebayor and Hleb: Ade wasn't great against Liverpool but he can still be a big nuisance, even against Ferdinand and Vidic, the season's best centre back pairing so far. Hleb is on fire, and could do some damage when linking up with Cesc, Ade, Rosicky or Walcott.

Away from the battles, re goalkeepers, sorry, he seems like a nice guy and he's definitely patient, but Almunia isn't good enough. He's certainly a long way off the ability of van der Sar. I just hope Almunia's limitations won't be the difference between two evenly matched sides tomorrow.

I still think it'll be 2-1 to us but that's my blind faith as much as anything.

[TheOne2Smooth]

26may89 great post mate and I agree with you 100%

[26may1989]

I am honoured Smooth.

Just noticed I should have said "Giggs is still good but not as good as he was".

And I also noticed that was my 200th post. Woohoo! Though perhaps it means I should get a life....

[I Hate Hleb]

TO SOME OF US THIS IS OUR LIFE!!

[26may1989]

TO SOME OF US THIS IS OUR LIFE!!

Thank christ for you IHH, you make me seem normal....

[TheOne2Smooth]

TO SOME OF US THIS IS OUR LIFE!!

Thank christ for you IHH, you make me seem normal....

you obviously know where IHH's secret batch is ?

[I Hate Hleb]

I'VE BEEN CALLED MANY THINGS IN MY LIFE, BUT I'M AFRAID NORMAL ISN'T ONE OF THEM!!

[26may1989]

I'VE BEEN CALLED MANY THINGS IN MY LIFE, BUT I'M AFRAID NORMAL ISN'T ONE OF THEM!!

Don't worry, it's clear you're abnormal!

[I Hate Hleb]

PHEW... THAT'S A RELIEF!!

[Goonanana]

Very good point about Rooney and Teves vs Kolo and Gallas

The arguments against R & T were that they are very similar, as have been the arguments against K & G, you're right, if there are two strikers that will suit K & G's style it will be those united strikers.

Its the headers of the ball that worry our defenders most. If I was a betting man, which I am, but never when it involves Arsenal (I've cursed us before, losing out on an 8 match accumulator because we couldn't beat a crap Everton side a few years ago) I'd say that sods law dicates a headed goal by Ronaldo against us because i hate him so much

Good job we'll score 2 though

[highburyJD]

gr8 post '89
sounds like despite scoring a screamer of an og in a 5-1 win for the reserves the neviller won't make it
so wes beige will continue - hes just unlucky, even if he plays well v rosicky I predict a malfunction at some point

I'd rather see them play carrick, who's apparently now fit, than andersen -who I think is world class player in the making

fergie clever in bringing his scholes and giggs replacements in early
never let the limo leave before the helicopter arrives

and even though giggs was magic last season I'm more scared of nani
(that said giggs will defend a lot better)

RVP is a big miss
and the way to hurt vidic - who is an awesome defender - is on the ground
he's dominant in the air
even though imo hes been better than rio for quite some time
he's the one (of those two) we target with the ball on the floor

I also think a tempting option is swapping hleb out on to the wing at times
shift rosicky inside push cesc up
and let hleb twist wes beige inside out
with clichy bombing in on the outside
- ronaldo's not the most assidious tracker-backer

gael who's never scored will be long odds 4first or last goalscorer

scholes is a huge miss for manure if carrick replaces anderson

[TheOne2Smooth]

have a cheeky bet on Eboue given the critisms he has had this week

[Wayno]

have a cheeky bet on Eboue given the critisms he has had this week

My cheeky bet will be 4 - 1 win for the mighty Arsenal