Man Utd vs Arsenal - Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups
Date: Sunday, 10th November Venue: Old Trafford Kick-Off: 16:10 GMT It has always been one of the Premier League's most anticipated fixtures - great goals, mistakes, penalty misses, red card and fights - from some of the country's best players and managers. Ryan Gigg's individual effort in 1999, then there are the games in Arsenal's invincible era - the battles between Patrick Viera and Roy Keane, Thierry Henry's tremendous volley, Ruud van Nistlerooy's penalty miss the ensuing melee - then there is the 8-2 humiliation of Arsenal in 2011 and Robin Van Persie's transfer to Arsenal's great rivals, and that is just a small list of events. Another of the talking points this fixture produces is the battle between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. This season though, it is David Moyes in charge and you cannot help but feel that his more laid back approach will not help the spectacle. And Wenger has a great record against the former Toffees' manager - recording 14 league victories against the Scotsman - Wenger's highest victory-count against any manager. United have not had the smoothest of starts under Moyes coming into the game in 8th place in the table having already losing 3 games - something that will feel unnatural to their fans given their previous success under Ferguson. It does appear though that Moyes is starting to find his feet at the helms, with 5 straight victories in all competitions and back-to-back in the league, something Moyes had not achieved prior at United. United have not yet beaten the current top 7 and Moyes has a very poor record against the big 4 and particularly Arsene Wenger during his 11 year tenure at Everton - something he will be desperate to put amends too. If he is to achieve this he will again have to look to the partnership of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie to produce the goods, and with that attacking talent up-front you can never write off the reigning champions. This month is going to be a true test of Arsenal's title's credentials. Having impressively disposed of Liverpool and then Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League gives Arsenal great confidence for their trip to Old Trafford and then the visit of in-form Southampton. Victories here could really convince any doubter that they are true title contenders. And they have already convinced Borussia Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp after the ever-impressing Aaron Ramsey struck to give Arsenal a memorable 1-0 victory at the Westfalenstadion - home of the Champions League runners-up. "They are young, healthy and good technicians. They won a clever game tonight." was Klopp's summary of the Premier League leaders. A win for Arsenal will be extra sweet for the fans who still have a bitter-taste in the mouth after the transfer of Robin Van Persie but on their current form you cannot see Arsenal losing this game, although Wayne Rooney and their former talisman will want something to say about that.