Arsenal vs Manchester United: No more mistakes

On Wednesday night, under the lights of the Emirates Stadium, the two old foes will once again lock horns. For both teams, the outcome of this game could have huge ramifications on their respective seasons. For both teams, a win is a must, defeat could prove significant.

When the teams met in the reverse fixture back in November, Robin van Persie scored the only goal to take the spoils. The fortunes of both teams have still stayed mostly the same since then, the Gunners, still surprising many by flying high in the league, and United still misfiring under their new manager.

Arsenal are coming off a blistering defeat at the hands of Liverpool, not the best of ways to start their much publicized run of fixtures. It was not the defeat that would have annoyed many fans, but the manner in which it occurred. Once again, like at Manchester City, Arsenal were exposed on the big occasion, reverting back to their timid selves from the last few years.

Four goals in 20 minutes would have hurt Arsene Wenger a lot. This should never happen to a team leading the championship prior to kick off. Though at the end of the day, it was still just a loss, and as the Gunners have shown previously this season, after the defeats to both Manchester clubs, stringing together a succession of wins to regain their course.

A win here would erase some of the pain of the Anfield debacle, remove the still bitter taste of the Van Persie transfer, and keep them right on track in the title race, and regenerate the broken confidence right now. With Liverpool and Bayern Munich yet to come, the team cannot afford to come off two successive defeats.

Manchester United, as has been stated in the media over, and over again. Are not what they were last year. The game against Fulham at Old Trafford was painful for their fans. After coming back, and showing great spirit under immense pressure from going behind to a rotten Fulham team, to reverse the tie in a matter of minutes. That last minute sucker punch would have felt like a defeat.Although currently in 7th, they are not out of the running for the valuable Champions league spot, nine points can overturned in this topsy turvy season, and with a talented attack of van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj, United, if they click, could provide a late burst to the line. United have a good record versus Arsenal in the last few years, and have already beaten them this season. But if they do lose, the gap to 4th could be a potential 12 points, and a defeat to a major rival will further intensify the pressure on a club in serious transition.

For the winner on Wednesday, it could provide the spark for a late charge, for the loser, the forecast looks a miserable one, then again, this all could just end in a draw!