Premier League - Manchester United vs. Arsenal: Team News
Manchester United will host Arsenal tonight for the 17th round of the Barclays Premier League. Arsenal, who are currently the League table leaders, are just a point ahead of their counterpart Manchester United, although
the Red Devils have one game in hand (their match against Blackpool was postponed due to adverse weather conditions). Arsenal are leading the table with 32 points out of 16 Premier League games, whereas Manchester United are currently placed third in the League
table with 31 points to their name out of 15 Premier League matches.
Moreover, Manchester United is the only unbeaten team in the Premier League and along with that the Red Devils have not lost their last fifteen games at Old Trafford. The last defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford came against
the 2009-10 Premier League champions Chelsea back in March.
On the other hand, Arsenal will enter this match with the best away record in the Premier League as they have only lost a single away match so far in this season. Furthermore, they have consecutively won their last five away matches.
In their five-match winning streak, Arsenal have recently defeated Manchester City, Bolton and Everton.
Therefore, it will be the clash of the team having the best home record versus the team having the best away record.
Team News:
Manchester United
The legendary Red Devils manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is buoyant that Manchester United’s talismanic defender Rio Ferdinand will be fully fit to face Arsenal in one of the season’s most keenly anticipated clashes. Along with that,
Sir Alex Ferguson also hopes that United’s left-back Patrice Evra and veteran midfielder Paul Scholes will be 100% fit to play against the Gunners on Monday night.
Moreover, Manchester United pass master Darren Fletcher is also expected to start against the Gunners, having proven himself a handy midfield combatant in latest meetings with Arsenal.
Furthermore, Jonny Evans and Wes Brown, who were suffering from flu, are reported to be fully fit and will return to Manchester United squad of 16 players. However, Manchester United’s Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves will not
feature in this match as both players are injured. Along with these two players, the Red Devils’ speedy winger, Antonia Valencia is also ruled out against Arsenal as he continues his recovery from damaged ligaments in his fractured and dislocated ankle.
Presented is the possible starting eleven of Manchester United:
Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Anderson, Scholes, Fletcher, Nani; Berbatov, Rooney.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s long-serving manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that there are very slim chances of their talismanic skipper Cesc Fabregas featuring against Manchester United. However, it has also been reported that Cesc Fabregas along with Abou Diaby will be given
time to prove their fitness before Wenger finalizes his starting eleven.
Cesc Fabregas sustained a hamstring injury four weeks ago in a match against Partizan Belgrade and since then he has not played any Arsenal match. Abou Diaby has been out of action since mid-October and is also doubtful to play
against Manchester United. Moreover, Arsenal’s defensive leader Thomas Vermaelen has also been out since September and has been ruled out of this match. Along with that, young English left-back Kieran Gibbs will also not play against Manchester United as he
twisted his ankle in the match against Partizan Belgrade.
The Arsenal manager may opt to start with Chamakh in place of Robin van Persie, with a view that Robin van Persie along with Theo Walcott can play their part as impact substitutes against Manchester United.
Here is the possible starting eleven of Arsenal:
Possible starting XI: Fabianski; Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy; Song, Wilshere, Rosicky, Nasri, Arshavin; Chamakh.
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