Are you nervous?
Not at all, I’m really looking forward to it. They’re big rivals. They’re comparable. It’s North v South, it’s Rooney v Henry, it’s a big German keeper against a big Dutch keeper, it’s Scholes v Fabregas. It’s the team that doesn’t lose at home against the only team who could beat Arsenal at home.
So it should be a thriller?
Well, people are expecting an event. As you come out of Highbury & Islington station, as you walk down Holloway Road, you are walking to an event with thousand of fans who also think they are walking to an event. As you come out of Arsenal tube, and go round the corner and up the steps, and see the Emirates, and walk round the concourse, you know that Man United, the league leaders, are here for the first time and it’s no small thing. It’s a big thing. Arsenal v Man U should always be an event. And it’s one I cling to in an England that has become surreal, a country I hardly recognise.
Will it be a seesaw game?
The bookies say it won’t swing. The last time I looked they had Arsenal/Manchester United at 25-1 and Manchester United/Arsenal at 25-1 in their half-time/full-time odds. listing. Whoever is winning 1-0 at half-time won’t lose 3-2. Not today.
Will Arsenal miss Gilberto?
Yes, hugely. But his absence might not cost them the game if they start well. And I expect them to start well and dominate and score first. After that, who knows? Nobody can predict football matches and every match is different.
They say Ronaldo is on fire?
He’s a fiery Latin missile who has scored 13 Premiership goals. He’s six foot two and thirteen stone one and he’s a big tricky boy. I’m hoping that he will catch the eye and play selfishly and nearly score. And I’m hoping Rooney’s shooting is still 2% off. And I said the other day, and as Sir Alex has said since, Rooney’s a big game player. Henry might do a lot less but score the winner. Hleb might pass the winner into the net from six yards. Vidic, a beast, might head the winner from a corner. I don’t know. Nobody knows. Your guess is as good as mine and your preview is as good as mine.
A better contest that Liverpool 2 Chelsea 0?
Definitely! Chelsea Kevin came round to watch that one with me and it was a non-event. Two tactical managers meet and each would attack each other’s weak point ruthlessly, if he saw a weak spot. The Spanish one attacked the centrebacks of the Portuguese with long balls and scored after four minutes. Simple as that : the ball bounced, Kuyt nodded it round Paulo Ferreira and …bang! No chance for Cech.
Then Pennant was given a free hit by the dozy Ashley Cole and it was 2-0 after 18 minutes.
“It’s over,” I said.
“It’s NOT over!” said Kevin, emphatically.
And Chelsea played better in the second half and Kevin wanted Shevchenko to come on sooner. I said Kalou was useless against Fulham in that 2-2 and no better here. But that was because the team was without balance, confidence, method – everything that they’ve had for two years.
We talked about what substitutions could be made. Kevin said Ballack was slow, didn’t tackle, gave the ball away again and again. Eventually, after realising that Sheva wouldn’t make much difference, I said Mourinho should switch the tall Ballack to centreback and release Essien. But by then Chelsea would have needed four Essiens to draw the game and six Essiens to win it.
Then we waited to see the managers interviewed.
“What will Mourinho say?” I asked
“Why did I buy Ballack?” suggested Kev.
Mourinho produced a great line when he said, “Fifteen days ago, I know Bellamy’s not playing in this game.”
On Match of the Day later he put it another way : “Rafa’s not stupid and I’m not magic.”
Who will be champions?
Manchester United will be champions regardless of what happens today. Because John Terrry will not be back soon, or so they say. If he’s not back Chelsea cannot catch United.And Sir Alex will, I think, have expected Liverpool to beat Chelsea and take the pressure off him in today’s game.
From Arsenal’s point of view, Liverpool have now taken 23 points from their last nine league games. If Liverpool maintain that form they could finish second and that would be galling for Arsene Wenger, since his team is superior.He gambled on his team improving a lot during the season and it has improved a lot and will still improve from game to game – unless they suffer a trauma today.
But they won’t have a trauma. The worst Arsenal will do today is draw.
Enjoy!