Arsenal vs Manchester United: Arsenal's time to revenge the 8-2 debacle

The long ever boring international breaks, once again took toll. Well for the first time Wenger won't be groaning about how Roy Hodgson didn't protect his most valuable and fragile youngsters.

But again, how the hell was Walcott injured? I literally don't wanna think of it, more so whenever I recall that first minute goal he scored against Manchester United a while back.

Speaking of United, today represents one of the reasons I rush to mark my calendar whenever the English Premier league fixtures are out.

Manchester United's chickens are coming home to roost. Yeah I said that, i'm confident and convinced that today's the long awaited day when Van Persie's traitor ship sinks below Welbeck's red hot sea.

Why do I think Arsenal will pull off a great performance today? well lets take a trip down the memory lane; The year is 2011 August 28 and over half of Arsenal's first team players were out injured, while Fabregas and Nasri had moved on, that's exactly the same period when Wenger freely let go of Clichy and rely on Squillaci to take cover and dismantle any attacking threat from Rooney, young and Welbeck.

Well remember that? fast forward to 2014 22nd November, three years later and still Wenger is yet to make a resounding statement over the red devils, even when they had a music teacher in Moyes' name coaching them.

United are on a similar situation, where like we had Persie and Theo on that fateful day to rely on, they got Di maria and Mata and oh.. the old guard persie playing for the. Well how about a school of dolphin facing a herd of lions in form of Sanchez, Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere and Welbeck? pretty interesting huh.?

I believe I’ll only join the #WengerOut bandwagon, if we literally fail to punish United tonight. Van Gaal is a brilliant CV! his tactics and passionate stunts spell the ambition in the Dutchman. What I still believe is that if only Wenger changed a bit and deployed a different tactic in a number of games, not only during bigger occasions, we couldn't have lost points against Chelsea, Anderlecht and Swansea.

Why would you start feasting on an ice cream from bottom on your way up, while you could still attack the whole juicy piece from the top.? 4-2-3-1 is the ultimate answer whenever Arsenal comes to a kid's mind seated playing swansea against Arsenal on his play station.

It's time the manager employed dirty tactics and help win the fans' hearts, especially in these turbulent times for the club.
Danny Welbeck today hopes to line up against his former friends and family, whom some he's grown with for over five years. But who cares? the last time united beat us at home, this lad scored the winning goal soon after Van Persie had madly celebrated the equaliser.

We should expect him to forget all that at least for 90 minutes if he passes fit, and help his new classy family inflict a historic win against his former tormentors, of course a calm and collected celebration will guarantee him great reception from both sections of fans.
He has already scored five goals in 8 appearances for the club, two coming in the league.

Welbeck will obviously have a lot to bear tonight and at least give Van Persie an escape route, when all pundits shift their focus on the 23 year old England forward. having impressed in the International front, the manager will be hoping for a repeat of the same, against his former employers and silence Van Gaal, who has ever justified his move to sell him.

To be honest, Welbeck will have an emotional outing, and whether he hits the woodwork or misses some goal scoring chances, he faces an elephant in front of him, something which could work for us. If Ramsey keeps pressing forward and plays those sharp passes Sanchez' way, then we'll easily finish off United, hence give Flamini a great day on his 200th appearance for the club.

United defenders will be busy silencing Danny, but if we pass the ball towards santi and Ramsey way, then Danny will have a wonderful press conference after the game.
All I have to insist is, punish United! they took advantage of our rooky side and it's time Monreal,Chambers and Ox stepped up and did the same infront of our fans!!








Match facts:

 Arsenal

• Arsenal have dropped a league-high nine points from winning positions this season, as many as they did in the whole of 2013-14.
• Their two lowest points totals after 11 games under Arsene Wenger have come in the past three seasons (16 in 2012-13, 17 this season).
• Arsenal's four Premier League wins this season have come against teams currently in the bottom seven of the table. They last recorded fewer wins at this stage of a season in 1981-82.
• Alexis Sanchez has scored 12 goals in his last 14 matches for Arsenal in all competitions, including six goals in his last four Premier League appearances. 

Manchester United

• United have yet to win an away game in the Premier League this season (D3, L2). They have gone seven league matches without an away victory since beating Newcastle on 5 April.
• Sixteen points from 11 league games is United's worst return for 25 years. They had 14 points after 11 games in 1989-90.
• Juan Mata has scored four goals and set up two more in five starts against Arsenal in all competitions.
• Wayne Rooney has scored the joint-most goals against Arsenal of any player in Premier League history (10, along with Robbie Fowler).
• Robin van Persie has scored in five of the last six meetings between Arsenal and Manchester United, twice for the Gunners and three times for the Red Devils.

 My predicted lineup: Szczesny,Chambers,Monreal,Mertesacker,Gibbs,Flamini,Ramsey,Sanchez,
Cazorla,Ox,Welbeck

My predictions: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United (Cazorla,Sanchez)

@bryoshavin

Arsenal vs Anderlecht: Will the gunners falter on the least expected night?

Szczesny? check. Arteta? check. Confidence? double check. I'm just taking my notes dating from the last two games.The now buzzing boys have at least managed to cut a niche and register themselves among the winning teams, after winning three back-to-back matches; Anderlecht,Sunderland and Burnley on Saturday.
After finding it hard to at least work out magic in front of our opponents, Arsenal though enjoying the habit of leaving games late, have been able to restore confidence into the team as well as the fans, with a string of attacking flares in the attacking third. With Sanchez the architect, the engineering work has seen him work out a magnificent piece of art, reason no team wants to face the inform Chilean.

Sanchez who has 10 goals to his name, with just 15 starts for the club, among them being seven league goals in eight matches, has steadfastly established himself as one of the most talented forwards in the world. His work rate has forever been on every pundit's lips and Arteta has likened his tireless efforts to those of a bull.

Asked whether his team mates are surprised by Sanchez's superb run of form, Arteta answered, "I don't think we're surprised at the level of his performance,"
He found it hard in the first few weeks, but now he's found the confidence and level he needs."

"The way he is contributing to the team and the group as well is very good.It makes our job easier having a player in his form, scoring goals." the captain said, highlighting his joy in playing alongside the former Barcelona star due to his defensive contribution too.

"The way he looks after the players around him, the hard work he does is something we need to highlight. The goals and tricks and flicks are highlighted, but we need to remember the work."


Arteta added: "But he's a bull. He wants to go against the wall every time. He wants to get better and better, all the time. I'd rather play with him than against him."

The big question however is: will the Gunners falter at the door step on their way to the knockout stages?

Wenger's men welcome Anderlecht, a team they miraculously edged out with the final minutes of the game, a fortnight ago to Emirates. Arsenal needed Sanchez experience to help keep his team's hopes alive with a match winning performance. Gibbs scored Arsenal goal of the month for October, with three minutes left before substitute Podolski smashed home the winner moments later to seal a vital win at Brussels.

Wenger expressed relief after the final whistle but failed to highlight that indeed the match wasn't that type to inflict trouble for our team; had we capitalised on our numerous chances.
With a win all but sealing our spot in the knockout stages, while hoping that Dortmund; who have had a bad run of form in their domestic league won't lose against Galatasaray, these kind of matches give me chills more than when we are playing against Bayern with ten men.

Arsenal have had a tendency of faltering at this decisive moments in the past, just when we more than sure we've sealed our fate. Am simply hoping Karma doesn't catch up with us, in front of our esteemed, passionate fans. But all that could only depend on Wenger's selection.

Arteta and Flamini's partnership has worked miracles, with the gunners yet to concede since he two stepped on the pitch together this term.

 Contrary to last term's miss communication and poor reading of the game, the two make shift defensive midfielders have formed a solid defensive wall, which in return has given Chambers and Gibbs the freedom to dart forward and as a result, yielded two goals and an assist between the two full backs in the last three games.

Start Podolski, rest Alexis and let Ramsey and Cazorla enjoy the flow together! To be honest, Ramsey's inclusion on Saturday changed our tides, and with Flamini giving the Welsh man the freedom to roam around, Ramsey opened up Burnley's defence with his technical talent and super cordination with Sanchez and Cazorla, at the centre of the park.

With Ramsey now fully fit, he deserves a starting berth and if Cazorla can up his game tonight, I don't see why the woodwork rattling Podolski wouldn't score a double playing alongside the two!

 Podolski has endured much pain on the bench even with his satisfying performances, but it's time the manager gave him the chance to prove he really deserves to be left on the bench.
Good news is that Walcott is back to full fitness but before he can start to earn some few games under his belt, at least let Podolski kill these teams off.
sitting second in group D, I'm hoping the team will Diffuse Anderlecht and believe that we won't have another Gunner limping out; now that we are establishing ourselves both in the league and in Europe, after a rocky start to the season.
Most heart warming news today is that the club are set to open contractual talks with Walcott, and with the pacy England international set to have 18 months left  on his contract come December, this will be a major boost if the 25 year old commits past 2018.

  

                                       MATCH FACTS

*This was the first time since November 2003 (v Inter Milan away) that Arsenal have scored two goals in the final five minutes of the same Champions League game.

Only one of the previous 13 Champions League meetings between teams from *Belgium and England have been won by the Belgian team (11 English wins, one draw).

*No English side has failed to score in a Champions League game against a Belgian opponent before (13 games).

*Anderlecht suffered their worst defeat in Europe against an English side: 0-10 against Man united in the European Cup preliminary round in 1956/57.

*The Gunners’ joint-biggest win in Europe came against a Belgian team, beating Standard Liège 7-0 in the Cup Winners Cup in 1993/94.

*Lukas Podolski has scored in six of his nine Champions League appearances for Arsenal, including in four of his last five apps in the competition.

*Anderlecht have conceded a goal in 11 successive Champions League games, letting in 28 goals overall (2.5 a game).

My predicted lineup: Szczesny should start after serving his suspension with Chambers, Per,Monreal and Gibbs to defend him. Sanchez,Cazorla,Ramsey and Ox should control the midfield while Welbeck continue to lead the attack.

My prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Anderlecht (Sanchez,Podolski,Welbeck)

@bryoshavin