Arsenal – Manchester United Match Thread

By: Martin | May 1st, 2011

Lineups are in:

Arsenal: Starters: Wojo, Clichy, Djourou, Koscielny, Sagna, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Nasri, Theo, van Persie Bench: Lehmann, Squillaci, Arshavin, Eboue, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner

Manchester United: Starters: van der Saar, Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Rooney, Hernandez Bench: Kuszczak, O’Shea, Owen, Rafael, Berbatov, Valencia, Smalling

The big news for us, obviously, is no Cesc in the squad. Supposedly he picked up an injury in training yesterday, but there are also reports that he broke up with his long-term girlfriend of several years within the last few days, so there could be a mental/emotional component to it as well. Cue all the old school fans saying “Tony Adams wouldn’t have missed a game just because he had a bust-up with the missus.” Anyway, Cesc is out, Rambo is in, and it will be interesting to see how he does getting a start in that role against one of the best teams in the world. We’ve struggled to break down United in the final third the past couple of years, hopefully that will not continue today. Other than that, it’s exactly the starting lineup we expected.

Nothing too shocking from Manchester United, either. To the extent there is anything noteworthy, it’s that they are rolling out a pretty attacking lineup — playing Rooney and Hernandez together up top, and Nani, Anderson, and Park in midfield, send out a clear signal that they’re not merely going to try to soak up pressure and hit us on the counter (although they will almost certainly do that), but they’re going to come after us.

Also, this video, which appears to be legit, gives a pretty good view of what our home and away kits are going to look like next season. Home kit is good enough, but I really do think that away kit is one of the worst things we’ve worn in some time.

That’s about it. Come on boys, let’s try to pick ourselves up and give us something to feel good about going into the offseason.

Come on Arsenal.

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Category: Arsenal News, Fixtures, Manchester United, Premiership

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we/are/arsenal

that away is THE WORST THING SINCE THAT SONG "FRIDAY" :(
i hope the home kit is the real thing, love the badge celebrating 125 years of this great club.
rambo in for cesc and he delievers !!!!!!!!! love it, he got offered to play for the scum, he said no !
Oh Aaron Ramsey,
He is a Welshie,
He loves his rugby,
Just like his dad,
He said to Fergie,
'You'll never see me'
Coz I'm an Arsenal lad!
TJ

We have 10 points against the rest of the top 4, versus just 4 points against 11th, 12th, and 14th.
TJ

If only we had more than 1 point against W.B.E, Newcastle and more than 2 points against Sunderland, we'd be in good shape.
Marloneious

WE SHOT THE BALL!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WON!!!!!!! YES!!!
colombian-gunner

And then it happened...we played the arsenal way, beat manU, i screamed like crazy and woke everybody up...they needed it more than we did...bad thing it now either them or chelsea...damn!
FredJacob

I think i really hate Man U more than Chelsea, so good luck to them
JG

Great game today. It was supposed to be the win in which we took 1st place and walked on to the title, but what the hell. Great win.
Couple of thoughts:
-Ramsey. Step up. Is he getting his pre-injury form back? I think so.
- Djourou's injury which led to the Squillaci sub had me heaving, but the Frenchman probably saved his Arsenal career today with an assured display. Still, TV5 for the last 3 games please.
- Was Arshavin possessed by Tony Adams or something? Hounding every United player, going for every ball, and above all, making some slide tackles that brought tears to my eyes. He does care!
- Szcezsny is world class, full stop. If there is one worry we have resoundingly resolved this season, it's our keeper troubles. The guy is a G.
And so 3rd is assured, with another season and transfer window to ponder upon. But this match gives me hope.
Georgedb1

One Nil to THE ARSENAL!!! Now if Chelsea can run Manure over, the victory will be complete. My motto has always been "The Arsenal, and if not them, then anyone but manchester united."
thechaikid

YES A WIN :D
ARSENAL BEATS MANCHESTER UNITED
AMAZING AMAZING WIN -going all jump and crazy and everything else that super excited people do-
Sairax

YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!
ASDF

It was to be chocolate while crying in fetal position if Arsenal lost...but what now? Chocolate while hysterically jumping up n down? Jokes apart YYYYYAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Sairax

Yeah I'm thinking of still incorporating the chocolate :P
JG

Make sure it's dark! Good for the heart so you can do this again next season when we beat them again!
Georgedb1

Not only have I called Szczesny out, but he is fast becoming one of my favorite Arsenal players! What a goalkeeper!
FredJacob

Hope Wenger never plays Squizz again he in a real mess, would prefer Miquil
Sairax

Ooh was that a pen? Looked like Clichy caught Owen :S
Sairax

Think it was. Eek. So Martin's theory that ref's aren't biased, they just suck, is looking more accurate!
Georgedb1

There is plenty to feed the conspiracy theorists this weekend - people are saying that this whole weekend was fixed to make ever last game matter, I dont buy into it but its there. Especially the Chelsea game, 2 goals, none legitimate.
Sairax

For the love of god SHOOOOOOOT!!!!!!
FredJacob

What the hell Arshavin doing he cant even control the ball
Orion_saidwiseguy

Don't lay a finger on the guy, man. He was like, awesome.
FredJacob

dude his attacking was horrible, his defending was great am i asking to much to see him attacking and defending great
Ucrashedmyplane

lay off. he was probably told not to leave arsenal open to the counter as much, so instead he passed the ball up and hounded the ManUre players like a madman. Awesome job today for Arshavin
Perry S.

Thank you for doing my job of backing Arshavin, today.
Georgedb1

Djourou out and Squillachi in... Manure are going to get an entire 3rd half for that delay.
TJ

Double like.
TJ

uh oh.
Georgedb1

HOW SWEET IT IS!
Orion_saidwiseguy

RAMSEY :D
Georgedb1

Ok so its very obvious that Manure players and the ref have been following the NBA playoffs very closely, and it looks like they've come to play some basketball this Sunday
AMaps

Whatever happened to Nasri?
Orion_saidwiseguy

Hamstring.
thechaikid

im loving arsenal. great passing. good possession! and some great scoring chances (:!
they are trying very hard :D
that ref is lousy (he stopped two passes -___-). but what can you do? refs are refs.
we have to keep this up the second half and actually make goals.
FredJacob

guess we are literally playing against 12 men
KC

Man that ref is shocking...
Georgedb1

again, love our passing, its like training day, but there is no edge to it... Manure thread through 1 pass and we almost shit our pants.

The way to play against Arsenal is to let us run around and tire ourselves out and then do whatever you like to our defense. The way to stuff it in their faces is to take the many chances we create, but obviously we miss so much of those that the other teams don't mind letting us carry on any which way we like.
Sairax

To be fair, they are playing very tight in the back and it's difficult to penetrate such a defense, but they are trying.
Sairax

That was SUCH a handball in the box by Vidic!!
Sairax

I would "like" my own comment if I could. That was deliberate, and could have been a red.
third eye

Deliberate, yes, but did he touch the ball? No. So it's the end of it and Rooney got yellow carded unjustifiably, byt the way
Sairax

Then why did we get a corner?
FredJacob

Nah Rooney card was just how can you kick a ball into another players face that's just stupid
FredJacob

I love the new away kit Yea
FredJacob

Go Arsenal
Sairax

For anyone who thinks we have nothing to play for, if we lose, we'll be only 5 points ahead of Man City who would have 2 games in hand (though they are playing after us today). CL spot not a certainty.
Sairax

I'm still a bit sleepy