PREVIEW: Manchester United v Arsenal

Match Preview

Manchester United v Arsenal

Old Trafford

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Kick-off: 16:00

So early on in the season and we have the biggest away game of the season. To be honest we always go to Old Trafford and expect us to get some kind of result as we dominate play. Yet we always come away with a loss. 2006/2007 was the last time we won with away to Manchester United with Fabregas running the show that day and an Adebayor finish in the dying minutes.

In the last 23 away meetings we have only managed to win 5. That stat doesn't bode well for today as we have a young and inexperienced squad by the looks of it. With Song, Wilshere, Frimpong out, we'll have to have a sturdy player, who can handle their own in the middle of the park, to just sit in front of the back four. That man (kid) looks set to be Francis Coquelin. He has bundles of energy and a loan away from Arsenal last season in France would have benefitted the youngster.

You'd like to think with Arsenal having a poor run in the league, a match of this size could spark something to kick start our season and leave that terrible run of our last win being against our opponents today last season. But with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Alex Song, Gervinho, Emmanuel Frimpong, Sebastien Squillaci, Kieran Gibbs and Niklas Bendter all out we've had to rely on youth, and this is really inexperienced youth with Francis Cquelin, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Gilles Sunu, Ignasi Miguel and Henri Lansbury.

Who can we call to come off the bench and make an impact? I'm guessing Oxlade-Chamberlain will make his debut at some point today. He gave Man Utd a torrid time when at Southampton, when they were 2-0 up against the Red Devils in the FA Cup, only to lose in typical United fashion, coming back to win 3-2.

The Gunners are going to give it all they've got today and make sure possession is is wavered side to side, but a more direct approach will harm Utd with no Ferdinand and Vidic at the back. It'll be close, but it also can be an onslaught from Man Utd and we'll just want to hurry up and sign several players urgently.

Talking about signing someone, South Korea captain, striker and set piece specialist, Park Chu-Young is set to join us today after nicking him underneath Lille's nose. He should unveiled in our 'unlucky' number 9 shirt.

Oxlade-Chamberlain Becomes Arsenal's Third Signing

Since Gervinho signed, Arsenal fans haven't had much to shout about, shout about being on a positive note. The drab performances in pre-season hasn't filled much confidence for the fans of the club and new blood hadn't been invested since the arrivals of both Carl Jenkinson and Gervinho.

With the Barclays Premier League only five days away from beginning away at St. James' Park on Tyneside, fans' worries grew as injuries to Vermaelen, Walcott, van Persie, Wilshere and those others 'injured' may miss the first game of the season.

We now have a new signing to bolster the squad a bit with seventeen year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (I'm glad it's only Chamberlain on his shirt. Imagine Oxlade-Chamberlain on that back of his shirt!). He has had impressive performances for Southampton raising interest form all the top clubs, however Arsenal prevailed and got their man.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain holding his new clubs shirt

He can play on wither wing and as an attacking midfielder. This is great to hear as we can now put him and Gervinho on either wing and swap around, and now shift Walcott upfront. In Oxlade we have a natural dribbler with pace who get deliver a final ball and finish. A great prospect, as long as Wenger doesn't try to protect him.

I personally would've liked to have seen a more mature player, but I wouldn't be surprised if we pay over £10m (potentially). If he is a player with 'super quality' and can help us push further this season, then i welcome him with open arms.

Welcome to Arsenal FC Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain!