Match Preview – Manchester United v Arsenal

Competition: Barclays Premier League
Kick-Off & Date: 4pm, Sunday, 28th August 2011
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester (Home)
Live TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (HD), 3:30pm – 6:30pm

Referee: Howard Webb (Yorkshire, England)
Assistant Referee: Darren Cann & Michael McDonough
Fourth Official: Lee Mason
  

Form: United are already looking like Premier League Champions for the new season, but form is temporary. The Red Devils have mainly youth to thank for recent victories over West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur. Experience is still vibrant throughout the squad, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘kids’ are proving to match the expectations of the famous 1992 crop. Arsenal, known for their own youngsters, can expect a tough visit to Old Trafford. 

Arsenal will be buoyed following their midweek qualification to this season’s Champions League, beating Udinese over two legs, but don’t kid yourself – The Gunners remain ridden with inefficiencies. Arsene Wenger’s side drew their opening game at Newcastle United, before being on the end of a 2-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool. Arsenal were booed off at The Emirates, partly to do with recent fire sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. 


The Injury Front: United will be without Nemanja Vidic for at least another month with a calf injury, and Rafael Da Silva could face the next two months on the sidelines after an operation on his dislocated shoulder. Antonio Valencia is a doubt with a long term ankle injury, but Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher have recovered from respective hamstring and stomach injuries. Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez is back and raring to go after his concussion scare. 
 
Squad: De Gea, Lindegaard, Smalling, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra, Evans, Fabio, Nani, Park, Cleverley, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Young, Rooney, Berbatov, Welbeck, Diouf, Owen, Macheda.
 
Arsenal have even more problems, with midfielder Jack Wilshere ruled-out through an ankle injury, and Alex Song, Gervinho and Emmanuel Frimpong all suspended by The FA. Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastien Squillaci, Kieran Gibbs and Abou Diaby are all long term injury concerns. Key defender Thomas Vermaelen is likely to make a return, while defensive partner Laurent Koscielny has been passed fit by The Gunner’s medical staff. 
 
Squad: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Djourou, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Sagna, Walcott, Arshavin, Rosicky, Ramsey, Traore, Van Persie, Lansbury, Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh, Miquel, Miyaichi.

• Follow All The Action LIVE On Twitter !
  

The Gaffer: Arsene Wenger may have managed to get Arsenal qualified for the European Cup 14 years running, but his current 6-season trophy drought is becoming increasingly worrying for all involved with the London club. And after losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, the future looks bleak. Spend, spend, spend !

Most-Feared: Aaron Ramsey lead Arsenal to a 1-0 victory over United at The Emirates late last season, and United’s defence will have to cope with the talented midfielder. He has been hailed as the best footballer to come from Wales since the great Ryan Giggs, and he is living up to his name in the Premier League already. 

The Ref: Howard Webb was awarded an MBE by The Queen for his services Britain after refereeing both the Champions League and World Cup Finals in recent years. The 40-year-old official is regularly handed big fixtures in the League, and dishes out almost 4 yellow cards on average per game. Tough. 

United Latest‘s Prediction: United 3-0 Arsenal
– Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez & Ji-Sung Park ?