1. What team will Arsene pick?
He will probably stay with 4-5-1, like last week, even though Anfield was an away game. He has five strikers but his best goalscorer, Robin van Persie, is out. Last week told us a lot about his thinking. If you count Walcott as a striker, and Arsene does, he has five strikers. One has been injured, four are fit.
Adebayor picks himself so it’s Adebayor+1. He can start Bendtner, Eduardo or Walcott if he wants to. Liverpool are far tougher than Slavia Prague, so he did not start Walcott. The trouble with Arsenal playing 4-5-1 is that the other team usually scores first.
I always watch what Arsene does rather than listen to what he says. What he does tells me his real opinion. What he does is a very good guide to what he will do in the future, a more informative guide than what he says. The truth is on the pitch, as Vieira said in another context.
2. Where are Arsenal stronger than United right now?
In the rhythm of their passing and running. And in the speed of their attacking fullbacks, Clichy and Sagna. And Fabregas is superior to Hargreaves or Anderson. This is a big game for Anderson and it will be interesting to see how composed he is, how creative he is. He’s fiery as well as skilful, so I like him a lot.
3. Where are Arsenal weaker than United?
In their firepower. They’ve scored four goals in each of their last four games. United have explosive pace and explosive shooting from Ronaldo, Rooney & Nani.
Compared to those three, Tevez is more of a water-carrier, really, although he’s NOT a midfield player. Tevez is the most compelling and resourceful water-carrier in football today. He’s more of a warrior than a goalscorer. But he’s a very inventive warrior.
Nani has started to do what Arsene hoped Rosicky would do, what Limpar, Overmars, Ljungberg and Pires did. All champions need a jinky winger who can come infield and score goals.
Tevez and Rooney are working in tandem now. Ronaldo is the most exciting player in the Premiership – six foot two, superfast, very tricky, loads of bottle, cant be kicked out of a game, scores from distance, from two yards, from headers. And United are very dangerous from crosses and corners. Vidic is six foot four and fierce. Arsenal’s key player will be Gallas, even more so than Fabregas.
4. Could Gilberto be set for a shock recall ?
Well, I wouldn’t play Eboue in this game, I’d play Gilberto for his experience, his ability to intercept and mop up in the box, and to pop up with a goal. Some expect an end-to-end thriller with five goals but it’s more likely to be a cagey game with three or two or one goal.
5. What are Arsenal up against?
The only team in England who could end their 24 match unbeaten run.
6. What did you think of referee Howard Webb at Anfield?
He was a homer last week but that doesn’t mean Arsenal defenders should pull down Rio Ferdinand by his shirt and expect to get away with it.
7. Will it be a spectacular game ?
Maybe. I hope so. United always come to play and Arsenal always play pretty much the same way at home or away. These are the two best teams in England, that’s why they’re level on points at the top of the table. If Arsenal win they’ll be three points clear with a game in hand. If they draw, they’ll still be top. And if Arsenal lose, they’ll still have a game in hand.
8. So it will be a football match even if it’s not a spectacular one?
Correct. In the past, when United had the Nevilles, Keane, Butt and Scholes, they would take turns to kick Bergkamp, kick Vieira, kick Reyes. They are still fierce competitors but nobody in the Man United side now is as vicious as Ruud van Nastelrooy.
9. Are you confident because Arsenal beat United home and away last season?
Not really. Having predicted that Arsenal would beat Liverpool last week, I’m not cocky in my predictions today. At Old Trafford last season, he dropped Henry, having won in Hamburg in the previous game, and it worked and they won 1-0.
I try to watch both sides and give credit to both sides, as appropriate. In the Emirates game in January I thought United were the better side and I could understand why Sir Alex said, “There wasn’t a moment in the game I was worried about.” Interestingly, Sir Alex also said, “The experience of losing so late will be good for us.” He was right about that. They didn’t lose another league game till April, at Portsmouth by 2-1. but in the next game they thrashed Roma 7-1.
In last year’s game all the goals came in the second half. The goals were 53 and 83 and 93. Rooney headed in Evra’s cross in 53 and Robin van Persie injured himself equalising at the far post in 83 and Sir Alex took off Cristiano Ronaldo in 91 and Henry headed in the winner in 93.
My view was that Arsenal’s style of pass-and-move had sustained them through a trial for 83 minutes. It was 0-0 for 53 minutes and 1-0 to United for another 30 minutes but they still won.
Then Sky’s Geoff Shreeves enjoyed his finest hour when he boldly asked Arsene, “Apart from the goal, was Henry anonymous?”
That was exactly the right thing to ask him. Adebayor had been shocking and Henry had been dire and Eboue had been embarrassing but at the death Eboue crossed a fantastic ball from near the corner flag and Henry headed it just under the bar and Arsenal won 2-1.
It was a classic exchange between the Sky man and the manager.
Geoff Shreeves: “Apart from the goal, was Henry anonymous?”
Arsene Wenger: “Anonymous is a big word.”
Love it !
10. Will Arsenal’s pass-and-move sustain them again this time?
It’s very hard to say how any game will pan out without seeing the line-ups. I could write ten different previews and all would be equally valid. I’m just trying to summarise it, trying to dig out my core belief about the biggest game of the season so far for both teams.
I think it’s a contest between Arsenal’s rhythmic possession and United’s firepower. But when I was trying to think of a headline for this piece, the first one that popped into my mind was : Rooney is on form, Adebayor is off form.
We shall see. Football is unpredictable. Team selections are unpredictable. I’m told Adebayor is Arsenal’s fastest player over 40 yards, faster than Clichy or Walcott. That’s important.
Big head-to-heads like this are exciting but it’s all about games won after 38 played.
Any further thoughts, I may write a second preview tonight.