How Arsenal can beat United and spoil their party – a look at two possible starting line-ups

Robin van Persie of Manchester United shoots at goal during the Barclays Premier League match between against Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 3, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Getty Images)

The absence of Olivier Giroud from the encounter at Emirates this weekend against Manchester United would require a re-think on Arsene Wenger’s part. Add to this the return of Robin van Persie, there is a huge understandable desire to rain on United’s title parade and the general recent failure by Wenger in the tactical battle of wits with Ferguson.

The First Line Up (4-3-3)

(GK) Lukasz Fabianski: This isn’t even a close call. He is the lesser of the two evils at present but there will be those that will argue that Szczesny has managed to keep consecutive clean sheets but he simply isn’t good enough at present. Look at Fulham’s disallowed goal on Sunday, the initial save is woeful as his weak wrists send the ball straight back into the danger area. Arsenal‘s clean sheets have mainly been down to the back four as Wojciech has only had to make five saves in two game.

(RB) Bacary Sagna: The Frenchman will need to be alert and track Nani/Kagawa because he can allow players to run off him, like he did with Steven Pienaar last Tuesday.

(LB) Kieran Gibbs: This might have been the toughest call of all but when it comes Gibbs vs. Monreal. I think Wenger trusts Gibbs more. Fulham are hardly a team with great width, unlike Everton in the game before so it was a sensible decision by Wenger to rest Gibbs.

(CB) Per Mertesacker & Laurent Koscielny: Enough said.

(CDM) Mikel Arteta: I’d much rather see Aaron Ramsey in this role but Arteta will captain the side and he could well have the responsibility for trying to pick up Wayne Rooney when he drops deep. Arteta is in great need of a good game and there’s no better place to start turning it around.

(CDM) Aaron Ramsey: It’s been quite a turnaround for Rambo and he’s been getting some recognition for his good form. He’ll have a lot of work to do off the ball on Sunday but he won’t have any issues delivering a box-to-box performance.

(CM) Jack Wilshere: I think Wenger risked Jack recently by playing him deeper and asking him to cover way too much ground, but he wants him ready for this game. We need Jack to come of age.

(LW) Santi Cazorla: Most fans hate Santi on the wing, but this selection is one of two positions affected by Giroud’s red card at Fulham.

(CF) Lukaz Podolski: The out-of-favour German is our only other recognised centre forward and no, Theo doesn’t count. Walcott would be eaten alive by Ferdinand and Vidic much like he was against Bayern in his last outing as a striker. Podolski loves a shot and certainly has an eye for goal – characteristics that we’ve badly missed as he’s sat on the bench.

(RW) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: To be honest Theo warrants being dropped, as he has offered little since his return, which leads me to believe he isn’t fit. Chamberlain isn’t at his best at right wing but what he offers is defensive cover – something Theo is badly lacking and his track record against United isn’t great. Ox had a very good game in our last home game against United and we can have Walcott on the bench to make an impact on the bench.

Tactics

Since the beginning of the 08/09 season the running score is Manchester United 25 Arsenal 9, of those nine goals for us, RVP has netted three times and we’ve only scored twice against them on two occasions in twelve attempts. So there’s a lot of work to be done between now and Sunday. The truth is that Ferguson has Wenger’s number and he has done for a long time. He knows our weaknesses better than Wenger but it be interesting to see who he’ll target come Sunday.

The famous game at Old Trafford that finished 8-2 in United’s favour. (Getty Images)

If you cast your mind back to our game at Old Trafford in October, you’ll remember quite rightly that it was the biggest 2-1 hammering you’ll ever see but Ferguson wanted to surrender possession to Per Mertesacker. Arteta was cut completely out of the game and despite having a pass completion percentage of 94% that was based on 61/65 attempted passes and his most popular combination was with Bacary Sagna (12 passes). On that day Mertesacker attempted a staggering 101 passes with 98 of them finding a teammate. He formed part of our top four most popular pass combinations in the game (all of which contained our back four). Ferguson didn’t care about us having the ball because United were safe, we were at arms length. They had men behind the ball and we couldn’t hurt them with the big German in possession.

That tells you that he doesn’t want our midfield on the ball, so this time around we need the likes of Wilshere, Ramsey and Arteta to have much more possession and we need to expose United’s two in midfield. If Arteta can’t get on the ball then we must ensure Ramsey drops deep and we build through the centre of the park. Ferguson has tortured us down the flanks since we moved to the much criticised 4-3-3 formation but the advantage of a midfield three means you should dominate through the middle and this hasn’t happened in recent times. In 2006 a combination of Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky worked together brilliantly and it was no surprise that we won 1-0 at Old Trafford.

It frustrates me that United, despite being at their poorest for many years have it so easy against us. It’s time we took some responsibility and forced the issue. Jack needs to set the pace in the middle and press United high up the pitch and restrict how much of the ball the likes of Antonio Valencia, Kagawa or Nani will get. If we do this then that eases the burden on on our defence which since the North London Derby has been relatively water tight with Koscielny and Mertesacker at the back. In fact we’ve only conceded one goal in 520 minutes with that combination on the pitch (although Mertesacker did give away the pen at WBA). Things are better back there and we seen to be moving away from the having to score at least two goals to win every game mentality.

As United are now the Champions I don’t expect like many other that they’ll roll over on Sunday – why would they? They have no reason to rest players but the real issue is here is avenging the 8-2 humiliation from last season.

Now, if Podolski is fit he must play through the middle. However to get best value from Lukas, he would need a partner. Now Wenger rarely messes with his 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 formation, so here are some subtle changes, with enough fluidity to adapt during the game and to match situations.

Here is team two:

(GK) Wojciech Szcz?sny: Again a toss up between the Polish internationals, you never know with Wenger.

(RB) Bacary Sagna: Not the player he was and seemingly unable to cross a ball anymore but for defensive solidity he gets the nod.

(LB) Kieron Gibbs: Delighted with the competition we now have with the arrival of Nacho but Gibbo all day. Would love him to have a stormer to erase the Champions League semifinal nightmare that must still keep him up at night. I suspect it will be Valencia he is up against and it will be a good duel.

(CB) Mertesacker and Koscielny: The pair have been in great form but the German must not be left one on one with the likes of Kagawa or Nani running at him or beyond him.

(RM) Tomas Rosicky: I would love to see Mozart reprising the role he occupied ahead of his injury in 07/08. He is fresh, full of energy and brings all the experience of his years to this fixture.

(LM) Santi Cazorla: This is the role he has been paying the last few weeks as he surely has not been playing left wing. He wants to be involved creatively and does not support the striker so this role will be perfect as it involves the parts of wide play he excels at and lessens the need for those he is not so strong on.

(CDM) Mikel Arteta: A captain’s performance required this weekend from our very own Lego head. Sit deep and don’t cross the half way line too often and use all your guile and wits.

(CM) Aaron Ramsey: Sorry Jack but you are not fit and right now Ramsey is in the form of his life. Rambo won this fixture for us in 2011 and the player on display now is a mature version without the flicks, back heels and stupid Hollywood balls.

(No. 10) Lukas Podolski: If ever a stage were set for the German this is it. If he is to come to the rescue it should be through the middle just off the main striker in the role he enjoyed with Klose so successfully for the Germany. He is our most accurate finisher and he can bring others into play as well with his vision and passing range.

(CF) Theo Walcott: Never thought I would say this but it was a close call with Gervinho. This is the Thierry Henry role Theo believes he was destined to play. He like Podolski is not necessarily a central striker in our usual formation but with freedom to use his electric pace off the last defender this is his stage.

Tactics

Whilst three v 2 in the centre of midfield can be useful I am not convinced in this match it will be as significant as Fergie tends to play 4-5-1 against us anyway. My selection has two sides to it in reality one offensive to enable us to create and score and the other defensive to thwart them.

I an reverting to the formation that brought us so much success but not entirely the tactics. For me the selection almost separates our attacking force and our defensive wall. We all know that pace at which United can turn defence into attack, particularly on the flanks so the full backs should just defend and not attack and overlap too often. Even Koscielny shouldn’t surge forward and we should send the CBs’ up only for set plays. This match is a match for the defenders to just defend and give the ball short and simple.

Lukas Podolski (center L) and Santi Cazorla (centre R) will have to be at their very best. (Getty Images)

As far as Mikel Arteta is concerned, the Spaniard should be disciplined and orchestrate from deep like Gilberto once did. As for Ramsey he should just carry on doing what he has been doing so well but at the same time be aware of his colleagues either sides and to be willing to switch with either wide player.

With regards to Santi and Mozart I would like to see the well-oiled fluidity of 06-08 return and for that we can think of Cazorla as Hleb. These guys are the creative forces and I would like to see them switch and interchange with Ramsey and each other as Hleb and Rosicky did with Cesc back then, save in the knowledge that the back 4 and Arteta are compact behind them. This role will get the best from Cazorla allowing him he creative freedom to punish United without the overwhelming need to get forward to support a sole striker from the wing. Rosicky can play this role with his eyes closed.

Podolski can drop deep and add numbers as Rooney will for United but he should also stay advanced and take the ball to feet early to allow him to turn the United centre-backs and use his distribution to unleash Walcott with a through ball or a ball to our wide to Santi of Rosicky. It is critical in this formation to utilise Theo’s pace. Podolski has to be the man to arrive in the area as the second striker. We all know this is the German’s preferred role so I hope he is fit enough to play it this weekend.