Manchester United v Arsenal

Inigo Montoya said:
Don't get the reasoning why Park should always be the makeweight in games of this stature. He's proved vital against Arsenal before and is now playing well...
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Yes he's playing well

But i would like to see a bit more craft in the United side on Monday with the Arse defence not exactly at its best right now. Who knows, Berbatov may do a Liverpool again.
 
SATA said:
Yes he's playing well

But i would like to see a bit more craft in the United side on Monday with the Arse defence not exactly at its best right now. Who knows, Berbatov may do a Liverpool again.
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The difference being Arsenal are a considerably better side than Liverpool.
 
Allforone said:
Arsenal are very weak looking defensively, we're at home and we're a better side, id be very disappointed if we didn't win, i doubt you'd find many Utd fans who'd take a draw in this fixture, especially give our recent record against Arsenal.
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I said if we're drawing after an hour or so, we'd both take a point. You never set out for a draw at home, regardless of who you're playing. This game is important in not allowing the other team to go further ahead, so a point would suit both fine, but obviously a win would be amazing.
 
Nope, if we're drawing after an hour or so, we would expect to beat you.
 
alastair said:
I said if we're drawing after an hour or so, we'd both take a point. You never set out for a draw at home, regardless of who you're playing. This game is important in not allowing the other team to go further ahead, so a point would suit both fine, but obviously a win would be amazing.
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We'd take a draw with 30 mins still left??? Not a chance. Maybe 10mins or less, you're more likely to see a Utd/city scenario developing where neither team will kill themselves to win it.

I'd prefer to see us being bold and going for the 3 points at home than settling for a draw.
 
No chance would I take a draw before this match, we're at home and we're the better team for my money. I'm confident of a win and I've a suspicion we'll give them quite a bit of a beating. Obviously nothing Blackburn-eque, but I predicted 3-0 earlier in the thread and I'm still going with that.
 
I just don't get this 'we'd take a point' attitude that's creeping in.

Is it Southern fans who do this or something? Spending too much time around Arse/Spuds/Chelski fans?

I wouldn't take a draw at home against anyone, let alone Arse, 1 points barely better than loosing.

If we were 1-0 down after 88 minutes I'd be relieved to snatch a draw but desperately dissapointed at the dropped points.

Settle for a point? Get some nuts ffs...:devil:
 
Reckon Arsenal might line up

Fabianski
Sagna
Clichy
Koscielny
Squillaci
Song
Wilshere
Nasri
Arshavin
Chamakh
Van Persie

with Nasri at the apex of a midfield triangle and; Van Persie, Arshavin in auxiliary wide positions of the front three

and United

Van Der Sar
Rafael
Evra
Rio
Vidic
Carrick
Anderson
Park
Nani
Rooney
Berbatov

Yes 4-4-2. Reckon SAF will stick with the Berba-Rooney pairing upfront. Anderson is coming into form, Carrick complements him well and his positioning will be critical towards checking opposition runs from midfield (a key feature of Arsenal's playing style). Park always seem to play well against Arsenal and he can tuck in when needed, offering us greater tactical flexibility.

Their back five is their soft underbelly and susceptible to high tempo attacking pressure. I would go for a more direct style with Berbatov leading a high line and Rooney having free rein to drop off and link up with Nani, Park and Anderson.
 
Colin129 said:
I just don't get this 'we'd take a point' attitude that's creeping in.

Is it Southern fans who do this or something? Spending too much time around Arse/Spuds/Chelski fans?

I wouldn't take a draw at home against anyone, let alone Arse, 1 points barely better than loosing.

If we were 1-0 down after 88 minutes I'd be relieved to snatch a draw but desperately dissapointed at the dropped points.

Settle for a point? Get some nuts ffs...:devil:
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I've made this same point on here many times before, I always want a win, I don't get the defeatist attitude of accepting a point before a game. I'd probably be happy enough with a point at Stamford Bridge after the game, but going into it I still wouldn't 'take a draw'.
 
It would be a good result for you.

Not for us though. We have to win and probably will. I can see Rooney running riot. He was excellent in mid-week and is exactly the kind of player who can expose the weaknesses in Arsenal's defence.

He's got a point to prove and there's no better game to prove it.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
It would be a good result for you.

Not for us though. We have to win and probably will. I can see Rooney running riot. He was excellent in mid-week and is exactly the kind of player who can expose the weaknesses in Arsenal's defence.

He's got a point to prove and there's no better game to prove it.
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But on the other side of that, we have the best away record in the league, and there must be a reason for that. This game will be determined by how well Arsenal defend, and how well you retain the ball in midfield. If we dominate possession, which we normally do, whilst not making any feck ups like last year, we will almost certainly get something from the game. I don't think it's a case of "United will probably win" - it's been pretty close the last few years, and you were somewhat fortunate to win last year.
 
I don't like the build up to this one, we're talking too much. It's not like us.
 
alastair said:
But on the other side of that, we have the best away record in the league, and there must be a reason for that. This game will be determined by how well Arsenal defend, and how well you retain the ball in midfield. If we dominate possession, which we normally do, whilst not making any feck ups like last year, we will almost certainly get something from the game. I don't think it's a case of "United will probably win" - it's been pretty close the last few years, and you were somewhat fortunate to win last year.
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Nah, United will probably win. Our record at Old Trafford in the league speaks for itself. As does our recent record against Arsenal. United are deserved favourites for this one.
 
alastair said:
But on the other side of that, we have the best away record in the league, and there must be a reason for that. This game will be determined by how well Arsenal defend, and how well you retain the ball in midfield. If we dominate possession, which we normally do, whilst not making any feck ups like last year, we will almost certainly get something from the game. I don't think it's a case of "United will probably win" - it's been pretty close the last few years, and you were somewhat fortunate to win last year.
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That sort of reads like 'If we play well you lot won't be able to do anything about it'. Recent history doesn't really bear that out. You've had a couple of good performaces against us but for the most part we've had your number, (relatively) meaningless possesion stats notwithstanding.
 
I should clarify my point above:

I'm not arrogant enough to think that I expect us to win every game or that we deserve to win every game becasue we're the best (but we are the best ;)), I'm nervous before every game hoping we'll perform to the best of our abilities and if we do I know we can beat any team in the world.

Whoever we are playing I'd be disspointed with a draw or a loss, whether its Northampton, Arse or Barcelona home or away.

But...I would never go into a game with the attitude that a point would be a good/satisfactory result.

Seems that there are several Arse fans who would seem to be happy with a point and maybe that explains why they haven't won anything for 5 years.

We have the winning mentality, we know we are good enough and we don't give up until the final whistle is blown.
 
Colin129 said:
I should clarify my point above:

I'm not arrogant enough to think that I expect us to win every game or that we deserve to win every game becasue we're the best (but we are the best ;)), I'm nervous before every game hoping we'll perform to the best of our abilities and if we do I know we can beat any team in the world.

Whoever we are playing I'd be disspointed with a draw or a loss, whether its Northampton, Arse or Barcelona home or away.

But...I would never go into a game with the attitude that a point would be a good/satisfactory result.

Seems that there are several Arse fans who would seem to be happy with a point and maybe that explains why they haven't won anything for 5 years.

We have the winning mentality, we know we are good enough and we don't give up until the final whistle is blown.
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How does the opinion of an Arsenal fan matter to the players involved? The fact that a fan might take a point at the start of a game does not contribute to a team's trophy drought.

All I was saying was essentially that there are certain games a season that you just take what you can get from, and you'd be happy with a draw. Obviously, you want a win, but as you say, you can't win them all, and consequently a draw wouldn't be a bad result, especially against United away.

If you were offered a point at the Bridge next week would you not take it right now?
 
I feel exactly like Colin does. I am never happy with a draw, I always want us to win. Even the other night against Valencia, we just needed that draw, and I understand the way we saw out the game, but I was getting irritated because I wanted us to win the game.
 
alastair said:
But on the other side of that, we have the best away record in the league, and there must be a reason for that. This game will be determined by how well Arsenal defend, and how well you retain the ball in midfield. If we dominate possession, which we normally do, whilst not making any feck ups like last year, we will almost certainly get something from the game. I don't think it's a case of "United will probably win" - it's been pretty close the last few years, and you were somewhat fortunate to win last year.
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And we have the best home record.
What counts more than duration in possession is what you do with the ball when you do have it.
The cutting edge would come from the speed and incisiveness of our movement and passing.
A more suitable game-plan for us (than competing with you for duration in possession) is to make runs into channels and play the ball forward quickly, continuously putting your back five under pressure rather than getting bogged down in the middle third. Playing in runners behind your defense would force Koscielny and Squillaci to turn towards your goal, as well as keep Sagna and Clichy on the backfoot, pinning them back to deprive you of width.
 
Nothing wrong with being happy with a draw in a tough fixture. I'd be happy with draws at the Emirates and Stamford Bridge.

Obviously, you hope your team wins every game but it's very unrealistic (and a little bit arrogant?) to expect it.
 
alastair said:
How does the opinion of an Arsenal fan matter to the players involved? The fact that a fan might take a point at the start of a game does not contribute to a team's trophy drought.

All I was saying was essentially that there are certain games a season that you just take what you can get from, and you'd be happy with a draw. Obviously, you want a win, but as you say, you can't win them all, and consequently a draw wouldn't be a bad result, especially against United away.

If you were offered a point at the Bridge next week would you not take it right now?
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No way! If I was offered a point rather than playing the game, I'd play! If we did end up loosing we only loose 1 point, if we win we gain 2 points. The reason we are not top already is that we have drawn too many games, if we'd lost a couple of those draws, but won a couple of the others, we'd be top now, not second.

One of the reasons we beat Chelski to the title a couple of seasons ago was that they drew something like 10 games. A draw is little better than a loss as far as I can see...

Pogue Mahone said:
Nothing wrong with being happy with a draw in a tough fixture. I'd be happy with draws at the Emirates and Stamford Bridge.

Obviously, you hope your team wins every game but it's very unrealistic (and a little bit arrogant?) to expect it.
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I accept it is unrealistic to expect it and my post says I don't expect it but we both know that if we play to best of our abilities we can beat anyone.

The reason we didn't win consecutive CLs, for example, was that we didn't play to the best of our abilities when we really had to against Barca.
 
My only concern is do we match their three in the middle?

Arsenal are susceptible to the quick counter and in the air.

Quick counter we need players like Nani, Park, ROoney, Anderson, Fletcher

Aerial threat - Berba
 
Polaroid said:
And we have the best home record.
What counts more than duration in possession is what you do with the ball when you do have it.
The cutting edge would come from the speed and incisiveness of our movement and passing.
A more suitable game-plan for us (than competing with you for duration in possession) is to make runs into channels and play the ball forward quickly, continuously putting your back five under pressure rather than getting bogged down in the middle third. Playing in runners behind your defense would force Koscielny and Squillaci to turn towards your goal, as well as keep Sagna and Clichy on the backfoot, pinning them back to deprive you of width.
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We have the best away record.

You will hit us on the counter... and probably win, and we will talk about how we played all over you on your ground but were robbed... just warning everyone now.

I want 3 points and large chocolate thickshake please.
 
maldini said:
They will because they're the better team.
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:lol:

and you have made that observation based on what exactly?

their years and years of finishing above us?

or the fact they've dropped more points this season?
 
alastair said:
Typical your injury crisis evaporates just before our game, but fair enough, we'll just have to beat you full strength. I fully imagine the game to be a decent one, they're rarely bad - but should it get to 75 minutes as a draw, I don't think either side will go hammer and tong for the win. I'd take a point right now, and depending on circumstances, I think you would too.
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Do you want to bet that Fabragas will definitely start despite what Wenger said?

I remember Henry was doubtful every year when he was in England and he always played.

As for taking a draw, no fecking way, we don't want to leave the door open for Chelsea.
 
Allforone said:
Based on our recently postponed game i suppose.

Cant be based on recent games between the two, recent league finishes, goals scored this season etc thats for sure seeing as the same team comes out on top in every category and its not Arsenal.
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Arsenal definitely played better than United last weekend. It's not even close. We're clearly inferior to that load of nancy boys. They've got the best away form in the league, too! Our away form has been pretty poor. We're clearly screwed. :lol:
 
Can't see us lose this one. Rafa-Rio-Vidic-Evra will hold the line. Anderson is on the up. Rooney is the new Scholes. Park is everywhere, Carrick's back to his best. Berba is the new Rooney
My only concern is how wasteful/unlucky are we going to be infront of goal.
I also think Rooney will be given specific instructions to track back, so we'll see a fluid 4-1-4-1/4-1-3-2 -defense/attack
Carrick or Fletcher to protect the defense, Evra and Rafael to provide the width.

The beauty of having Rooney back is his versatility which allows us to switch from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 on the fly
 
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