Can Man United pile more misery on Arsenal?

…Gunners seek to bounce back from consecutive defeats

Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday. Arsenal versus United was always seen as a title-defining fixture around the turn of the century.

Manchester United went top of the Premier League table for the first time in 110 weeks, and the questions Louis van Gaal has been facing is how long will his United team remain on top of the log?

But while rivals falter United look solid again. They certainly have an emerging talent on their hands as Anthony Martial gets among the goals and Memphis Depay looks like he can replicate his prolific form in Holland to the Premier League.

When goals and victories start to flow, you can imagine United feeding of the momentum and becoming even better. Some football pundits say United are at the top because the Premier League has lost its edge this season.

The Gunners are yet to recover from their defeat in the Champions League this week. They sit fourth in the League and Theo Walcott looks to be learning the central striker role and increasingly dangerous for the team.

Louis van Gaal’s United are sitting proudly at the top of the table for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson left them as champions in 2013, but this fixture represents their toughest challenge yet.

This is a critical game and a big test for United’s strength. They have been playing well, snatching results and if they get pass Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium it could make them favorites for the title.

The pressure will be on Arsenal to win this game otherwise Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be under severe pressure.

But Wenger is excited about the prospect of locking horns with Red Devil this weekend.

Wenger’s Arsenal side with Alex Ferguson’s Man United dominated the Premier League but has dilluted since the rise of Chelsea and Manchester City.

However, Sunday’s contest at the Emirates Stadium once again has a top-of-the-table edge to it with Arsenal sitting only three points behind league leaders United, and Wenger believes that means this weekend’s meeting takes on extra importance.

“It is a special fixture because usually Man United are always fighting at the top,” Wenger said.

“It has an even bigger meaning now because there are three points between the teams and we play at home in a big game.

“We have just come from a big win at Leicester and we want to continue our run. We are the only team who has beaten [Leicester], so I don’t see why we should not believe we can beat Manchester United.”

Juan Mata has been in superb form in recent weeks, and the Spaniard was instrumental in United’s 2-1 midweek win over Wolfsburg, scoring the equaliser from the penalty spot before setting up Chris Smalling’s decisive goal.

Meanwhile former Liverpool striker, Michael Owen has predicted Arsenal and Man United will end in a draw.

Arsenal host Louis van Gaal’s side at the Emirates Stadium in North London on Sunday and Owen expects the spoils to be shared.

“Arsenal may have finally clicked at Leicester last week but their record against the top teams is pretty abysmal, and indeed they lost this fixture 2-1 last season,” Owen wrote on Colossusbets.com.

“And that Champions League defeat, in stark contrast to United’s come from behind win against Wolfsburg, in midweek must have hurt.

“However, Arsenal did beat United in the FA Cup and drew 1-1 at Old Trafford in the league, so I’ll go 1-1.”

The game is hard to call, even though many Premier League observers will back United for the win.

The Red Devils are in better form at the moment and are currently at the top of the Premier League table.

However, playing at home will give Arsenal an advantage, and Arsene Wenger’s side will be determined to bounce back from midweek’s Champions League Group F defeat to Greek side Olympiakos at the Emirates.

If Arsenal can be strong defensively and score an early goal, then they could end up with the three points.

Anthony Nlebem