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  By: Rashid Saadlou

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Arsenal Vs Manchester United: Will this be a watershed clash for The Gunners?


Footballmedia.net Exclusive- Rashid Saadlou: No one knows why Arsenal have to do everything in its hard way all the time, whether in domestic or European competitions; or why they have been left cursing their luck so many times despite having dominance throughout the match; but we have no time to dwell on this subject since a hectic schedule in the Premier League lies ahead for The Gunners as they have to face Manchester United and Chelsea in the next seven days.

If Arsene Wenger's men can snatch a win against United at Emirates on Sunday, they can still be in with a shout to get their trophy back after six years of frustration; but of course that's a capital if. Even with three points secured after United clash, there is another stumbling block for Arsenal so hard to turn into a stepping stone, and that is Chelsea who have a great chance of winning Premier League title as well.

The meeting between Arsenal and Manchester United is one of those in which you have everything to lose. The last time these two heavyweights went toe to toe was in the second leg of last season's Champions League semi-final in which United thrashed Arsenal 3-1 at Emirates (4-1 on aggregate), but now the circumstances are way different. There is no Cristiano Ronaldo who can score from a 35-yard-out free-kick for United. In other words, without one of the best players (if not the best) in their starting line-up, Red Devils' fire power is by far less than before, although Wayne Rooney proved his worth on Wednesday night against Man City at Old Trafford in Carling Cup. On the other hand though, Arsenal's youth policy remains the same and like anything else in the world, it has got some fortes and some foibles. Looking at the bright side, with having youngsters such as Theo Walcott, Bacary Sagna and Cesc Fabregas, there is always a plan B for Arsene Wenger and that might just give Arsenal the edge whereas after losing Ronaldo and Tevez, Man U don't seem to enjoy great deal of variety in their side.

Now, let's take a look at the dark side within this simple question: What is the difference between Bacary Sagna and Gary Neville? Or let me put it in this way: What is the difference between a young callow soldier who enjoys a great amount of talent and intelligence, but he hasn't got many first-hand experiences in the battle zone and an old soldier who is not an innate combatant, has got no inborn aptitudes, but he has gained invaluable experience through the participation in warfare? Who is going to lose his life easier? Well, that's exactly the case of Arsenal and Manchester United; in other words, the meeting of talent and experience.

Now, you probably know about the drawback behind adopting youth policy against a team like Manchester United and furthermore, you surely know about the difference between Gary Neville and Bacary Sagna, Ji-Sung Park and Denilson or John O'Shea and Alex Song.

·      The typical fashion of the two

Arsenal:

Their motto is probably "Pass, Pass, Pass". Sometimes when you see them having a sequence of one or two touch stuff, it's as if you're watching a match in Play Station 3, presumably Pro Evolution Soccer 2010.

Arsenal players are the rigid adherents of fair play. Well, again that might just be a result of having youths in your starting eleven. Apart from that, they care about beautiful game irrespective of whatever the result will be. Well, Andrei Arshavin's interview with Four Four Two magazine on September 2009 can help me out on this: "Give me 4-3 over 1-0 any time. I want my football to be beautiful and memorable".

That's apparently why Arsenal don't get what they deserve most of the time, no need to mention that they lost 2-1 at Old Trafford in the late August while they were 1-0 up until the 58th minute before two goals from Rooney and Diaby (own goal) gave Man U the lead.

Manchester United:

They are regarded as one of the luckiest teams in Europe, particularly after winning in two Champions League finals they really weren't fully deserved to win. Don't blame them, because there is an old saying in football: "The more I practice, the luckier I get."

With a defensive pair of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand and moreover, having an amazing goalkeeper like Edvin van Der Sar, you can hardly find the back of their net. United have kept clean sheets in ten matches this season so far. Of course, there is a problem this time around: Rio has been given a four-match-suspension for an attack on Hull City's Craig Fogan last weekend.

Unlike Arsenal, Manchester United hardly lose a match in which they've been rampant. United care for the score line more than pleasing the neutrals.

If your defense make any sort of blunder, United strikers will definitely punish that (the same as what happened last season when Kieran Gibbs slipped and allowed Ji-Sung Park to score the opening goal at Emirates).

·      The final verdict

"If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well." No better time for Arsenal to do well and get closer to repossess the worthy Premier League title. The Gunners can rekindle the title race.

 

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