Arsenal V Manchester United – Sunday, 22 January 2012 (LIVE on SKY SPORTS)

Arsenal V Manchester United

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 22 January 2012 – 16:00 GMT

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Preview

Five months on from their epic encounter at Old Trafford, Arsenal and Manchester United – two age old rivals – do battle in the north of London with the Gunners keen to avenge their heaviest ever Premier League defeat suffered at the hands of Sir Alex’s Red Devils last August. On current form though, that seems an unlikely prospect.

Arsenal fans won’t need any reminders as to what happened on that fateful afternoon of August 23, 2010. A remarkable ten goals were scored as defending champions Man Utd and Arsenal locked horns in week three of the 2011/12 Barclay’s Premier League – eight of which were netted by the hosts, a rampant United who took full advantage of the mire Gunners chief Arsene Wenger found himself in that day.

Arsenal were missing more than half-a-dozen first-team regulars when they last took on United, but that didn’t excuse the manner of their defeat, as Arsene Wenger’s makeshift team capitulated in front of a worldwide audience. Much has changed since then, though.

United, unsurprisingly, are firmly in the hunt for another league title, though they do currently trail Man City by three points. Nothing a win over the old enemy wouldn’t change, although Arsenal, to their credit, have recovered tremendously well since that harrowing experience at the Theatre of Dreams, and while they aren’t considered title protagonists any more the Gunners still have every chance of securing Champions League football next season with a top-four finish.

Gunners seeking home comforts

Neither particularly shone over the festive period, but whereas United shown their champion credentials by bouncing back from adversity following successive defeats, recording a comfortable 3-0 win over struggling Bolton, Arsenal are still dwelling on a pair of frustrating defeats away to Fulham and Swansea. The Gunners opened the scoring in both, too.

Nevertheless, Arsenal can at least fall back on home comforts this weekend. Since a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in mid-August, the Gunners have gone nine unbeaten in the league on their own patch, recording seven victories. They also boast one of the tightest home defences to boot, with Polish shot-stopper Wojciech Szczesny conceding just six goals all season at the Emirates.

However, goals of their own have been hard to come by, with Arsene Wenger having seen his side muster just one goal in each of their last four home league games. This despite boasting the prolific services of the division’s leading scorer, Robin Van Persie.

Could it be then that the stage is set for Thierry Henry, the Frenchman who did have a knack of popping up with crucial goals versus United during his Arsenal pomp – some of which were of the spectacular variety. The 34-year-old will be looking to add to the 7 he has in 8 Premier League appearances at home to Manchester United, provided he overcomes a late fitness test on a calf injury that is.

United, too, have revenge on their minds…

A 1-0 loss in last season’s corresponding fixture almost derailed United’s bid for a record 19th English League title, with Wales captain Aaron Ramsey slotting home Arsenal’s winner in a typically tight and cagey affair between these two foes. It mattered little come the end of the season, when Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated his eleventh capture of the Premier League – but a repeat result could prove fatal in the context of this season’s title race.

Just keeping up with Manchester City’s unrelenting pace is proving one of the sternest challenges in all of Sir Alex’s years at Old Trafford. The Citizens have been imperious for much of the season and take a three point cushion into the weekend, a gap which could double in size should United come unstuck for the second year running at the Emirates – though they could also go level on points with Roberto Mancini’s men should third-placed Tottenham become the first team to win at the Etihad Stadium since November 2010.

Having lost just once on their travels, a second consecutive away defeat to Arsenal would seem unlikely. Then again, no-one saw a 3-0 reverse to Newcastle coming. Sir Alex is also missing a host of key players, with Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher, Tom Cleverley and Ashley Young all long-term absentees, although defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are expected to be in contention.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has even bigger problems however, you could say similar to when he last prepared his team for a clash with the reigning Premier League champions. Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Bacary Sagna, Franis Coquelin and Carl Jenkinson are among the list of defenders currently out injured, while Belgian Thomas Vermealen is doubtful. To compound the Frenchman’s woes, midfield architect Mikel Arteta is also out injured.

Match Pointers

- Manchester United consigned Arsenal to their heaviest ever defeat in the Premier League when notching eight goals in that famous 8-2 spanking at Old Trafford last August.

- Five months on from their unforgettable encounter in Manchester, Arsenal (W11 D3 L7 / GF38 GA 31) sit 5TH while United (W15 D3 L3 / GF52 GA20) are hot on the heels of leaders Man City in second.

- Arsenal will host the final top flight fixture of the weekend on the back of successive league defeats, losing away at Fulham (2-1) and Swansea (3-2) either side of a nervy 1-0 win over Championship side Leeds in the FA Cup.

- The Gunners have not lost a home Premier League game since a 2-0 loss to Liverpool on 20 August, winning seven of their previous nine at the Emirates Stadium.

- Manchester United bounced back from successive league defeats to beat Bolton 3-0 at Old Trafford, although they were emphatically beaten 3-0 by Newcastle in their last league game on the road.

- Sir Alex Ferguson’s United team have scored 14 times fewer than back at home (19 away compared with 33 at home), but just six of the 20 goals they’ve conceded this season where in away matches.

- United have only suffered on away defeat all season (W7 D2 L1) and have kept more away clean sheets than any other side in the top flight (6 in 10).

- Arsenal have scored exactly one goal in each of their last four home Premier League games – five in all competitions with their 1-0 victory over Leeds in the FA Cup recently.

Betting

Prediction: Manchester United to WIN @ 13/8 Ladbrokes

Despite leaving Old Trafford utterly humiliated in August, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists revenge is far from the minds of his players as they seek to arrest their current slump in form, having recently suffered defeats away to Fulham and Swansea. With their recent results in mind, the Gunners will be thankful to be back at home, where they’ve not lost in the league since losing to Liverpool in that same fateful month of August last year.

Defending champions United began 2012 in the worst possible fashion, losing 3-0 away to Newcastle in the league. Their response, however, has been typically emphatic; their impressive 3-2 victory over Man City in the FA Cup was quickly followed by a comfortable 3-0 success at home to Bolton. So it is back to business for Sir Alex and his team, who are rightly considered favourites on Sunday.

It is so difficult to back Arsenal with all their defensive problems, impossible now that Mikel Arteta has been ruled out. United do have injuries of their own but will welcome back both Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, while the return to form of Wayne Rooney couldn’t be more timely. With the pace out side to really trouble a Arsenal defence lacking recognised and experience full-backs, success seems almost inevitable for a visiting United who have won seven of ten away from home in the Premier League this season – six were without conceding.

Value Bet: Manchester United to WIN to NIL @ 7/2 PaddyPower

We reached double figures in the goals column when these two clashed in Manchester five months ago. I doubt that will be the case on Sunday though; United are back amongst the goals but are hardly firing on all cylinders, while Arsenal haven’t plundered more than one goal in any of their previous four league games on home soil. Should be another tight affair, one United should edge, possibly by the odd goal to nil.

Match Odds

Arsenal – 19/10 bWin

Draw – 12/5 WilliamHill

Manchester United – 13/8 Ladbrokes