Super Sunday Preview: Gunners gunning for glory?

Arsenal v Manchester United

The Gunners travel to North West England to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford. Arsenal have won at Old Trafford 3 times in the Premier League era and have won the title in 1997-98 & 2001-02 at the Stadium of Dreams. However, Arsenal failed to win a single game at Old Trafford in last 5 meetings, with United winning 4 & drawing 1.

Arsenal are on a great run of form & after morale boosting victory over Dortmund at Westfalenstadion, and are eager finish the week on a high note with a win over Manchester United. After bad start to the season, Moyes’s boys are looking to get back into the title race with winning 3 of the last 4 Premier League matches & are unbeaten in last 8 games in all competitions.

The players to watch out for are the two forwards, Wayne Rooney & Robin van Persie. The Dutchman has scored in the last 4 Premier League encounters between these two sides (2 for each club). Wayne Rooney has scored 10 Premier League goals versus Arsenal; against no side has he netted more! Rooney’s first Premier League goal, his first Premier League goal for Manchester United and his 100th Premier League goal all came against the Gunners. Arsenal kept clean sheets against Liverpool & Dortmund so it will be interesting to see whether Arsenal defenders can cope with the threat of the two strikers.

For Arsenal, the man to watch is none other than Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman scored the winner against United at the Emirates when these two sides met couple of seasons ago. Aaron Ramsey have 6 goals to his name, leveling him with van Persie. He also leads the assists chart with 4 assists. Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud also have 4 assists to their names. The Arsenal midfield is one of the most talented midfield & United’s defenders should be aware of Arsenal’s quick counter-attacking play.

These two sides faced each other at Old Trafford almost a year ago when Arsenal suffered 2-1 loss. For Manchester United, Robin van Persie and Patrice Evra were on target while Santi Cazorla scored a late consolation goal for the Gunners. That was a feisty encounter as 9 players were booked (5 of United & 4 of Arsenal) & Jack Wilshere was sent off late in the game. We could see goals galore come Sunday as both teams are on fire with Gunners scoring 22 while Red Devils scoring 17 so far.

Team News:

• Manchester United: Danny Welbeck has been ruled out due to knee injury. Jonny Evans may return after a back problem. Michael Carrick could be in line for his first appearances after he missed last couple of games due to a calf problem
• Arsenal: Mathieu Flamini comes back into the squad after he recovered from groin injury. Jack Wilshere is still a doubt for the clash. Theo Walcott (pelvis) is close to make a return. Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain & Abou Diaby (both knee) are the long term absentees

OPTA Stats:

• Manchester United have lost only one of their last nine encounters with Arsenal in the Premier League (W6 D2)
• Arsenal have only scored 11 goals in 21 Premier League visits to Old Trafford
• Arsenal are the only side to have scored in all 10 of their Premier League games this season
• No side has won more points from losing positions than Manchester United in the Premier League this season (6). In 2012-13, United won 29 points from losing positions – a league-high
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 6 matches that immediately followed a European away day (winning the last 4)
• Aaron Ramsey has scored six goals and provided three assists in his last seven Premier League appearances
• Wayne Rooney needs one more goal to become the first player to score 50 Premier League goals on a Sunday

Match Appointments:

• Referee: Michael Oliver
• Assistants: S Burt, S Long
• Fourth Official: A Marriner