A lot has happened around the
world since I seen you guys but no time to comment on Trumps win (surprise
surprise) or the Internationals or the fighting in Syria…Nooo we dive straight in for the Man
U V Arsenal. The Derby of the Premier league I dare say (maybe not as top of the bill as before), we both know these
teams are not the stuff of champions they used to be Arsenal looking for their
1st League trophy win since the invincibles and Man U still outta sorts since the
departure of SAF. How times have changed but ….have they really changed that
much?? I think not. The added spice of
the Arsene-Mourinho rivalry makes this an even more interesting match.
Man U Vs Arsenal like that heat isn’t enough, you throw in the caustic Mourinho V
Wenger rivalry for that lil tabasco on this “hotdog”. In a nutshell as far as
hypes, egos, special one, specialist in failure or bitter rivalries go, this is not a game I’d wanna miss if I was
you. Jose believes he isnt accorded the kind of respect Wenger has, despite his recently winning the league as compared to Wenger's last ....some eons ago. it riles him and he just cant get come to terms with Wenger seemingly having the better rub of the green from the Media, the FA, and the club managements.
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| Familia Foes |
Our look at the form book for both
clubs, Man U looks to be in more some sort of Strait…..not dire yet, but one
win in the last 5 league games tells an unpleasant story. Some go as far as
saying compared to Van Gaal & David Moyes at this stage of their various
tenures, Mourinho’s current doesn’t seem to be fairing any better than they had
after 11 matches. A summer splurge on some of the best and most expensive
players in Europe hasn’t had them blitzing opponents like most of the fans
would have been expecting. The team is conceding more goals than an average
mourinho side would especially one with a De Gea in between the sticks. Pogba besides his inconsistent hairstyles has only shown a bit of that quality we all know he has in flashes recently but he
needs to do it more consistently to show his second coming to Man U is a the
step up he so wanted. Mikitaryan not playing is another perplexing story
entirely while Rooney is looking more of a misfit conundrum. Damned if you play
him, damned if you don’t. It’s not all dour for the Mancs though, Rashford has
forced Jose to take him a bit more seriously, Mata is getting playing time,
Bailly has been a solid fit in at the back and Zlatan shows us he still gat it
at 35, if you need a lil bit of something to cheer. Basically the team has a
lot more potential to be more than they currently showing they are and it’s up
to the manager to get his pieces to fit together. Does it mean Arsenal has a
free pass on Man U this time, as an Arsenal fan…..i wish.
The truth is Arsenal hasn’t
been firing on all cylinders too, one win sandwiched between the last 3 league
matches hasn’t set us on a slower momentum now we are visiting Old Trafford
where we have not won since 2006, against a manager Wenger hasn’t beaten in the
League, with just only one win in 12
past meetings against Mourinho all in the month of the dreaded November month
where Arsenal has a not so productive history. Looking at all these indicators I
don’t know what to expect as the odds looks totally stacked against Arsene
Wenger and his team. That’s the form book though and we
all know that in games like these, that book goes out the window, It comes down
to who wants it more during the 90+ minutes encounter so all that aove may be
irrelevant. This may be the day of reckoning for Mourinho where Arsene Wenger
gets it right with a lil luck on his side and he gives him a hammering or
another win for Jose. Tactically Mourinho is one who would have sat down to
prep his team against an opponent drilling each of his players as to how to
nullify the opposition tactics. This method though is being found out and teams
are getting past Jose and his plans. Wenger
on the other hand will expect his team play swarms the opposition into
submission with no specific player or players being targeted. For wenger too,
teams are parking the bus, happily ceding possession and hoping to hit Arsenal on the
counter and it works to a point. Whatever the plan is, I hope Arsene has a more
pragmatic plan for this encounter. Both teams need the 3 points, a draw does
neither team any good. Man U though being at home may feel the 6 points behind
the gunners, they are under more pressure. Both teams are also without some key players. For
Man U, no Ibrahimovic, Bailly, Smalling, Miki, Fellaini, with Rooney a doubt. Arsenal is still without their midfield
dextro, Santi Carzola, Bellerin and possibly Sanchez even though he didn’t seem
to aggravate his hamstrings on international duty, the remaining team looks
good. My predicted team sheets will look like this.
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| Team Line Ups Courtesy UK Guardian |
Here is hoping for a better outing against the the mancs, 3 points and and
a clean sheet to the good even though the signs aren't looking so good. Despite
Arsenal's terrible record at Old Trafford and Arsene's hitherto terrible stats
against Mourinho, one can and should be still be able to dream BIG......enjoy
the game wherever you are, .......Ciaooo.
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