PREM TOP GAME

There's no doubt this is the top game of the weekend in the Premier League. Both sides come into the game on the top of good results, but historically Alex Fergusson will know, his side have faltered in recent fixtures at the Emirates. In fcat United have only won one of their last six visits to Arsenal.

In a season when the so-called Big Four have had to work far harder than usual for their points, Arsene Wenger's side may yet come out on top come May and this match could be key. The home defeat to Cheslea set Arsenal back, but they have recovered well since, and seem to have more about them than the visitors, who but for Wayne Rooney, would be further behind Cheslea in the title race.

It would be tempting to say that this fixture and next week's trip to Chelsea will go a long way towards determining Arsenal's true potential following draws with Aston Villa and Everton and back-to-back successes against struggling Bolton Wanderers.

Except that Arsenal are proving notoriously difficult both to pin down and to put down as Chelsea discovered at the end of November when their victory at the Emirates Stadium opened up an 11-point gap. Carlo Ancelotti's side can still be found at the top of the pile but they have had to reclaim this position, having seen Arsenal and United take it briefly.

"Of course it was our dream to be in this position in this period of time and we want to show it now," said the manager. "We know that to be successful in this period is to be more of a team than the other teams.

"We have to think how much strength and how much solidarity it takes to get through a period like this - so that is what we want to show on Sunday. We are really up for it. We are on a good run. We have good momentum and we want to continue that."

And he added: "I look forward to it because it is a match which always promises good football.

"Manchester United and Arsenal have had some tough games, and sometimes they were not easy on the physical side, but both teams always tried to play.

"It was very rarely a boring game, you always thought at the start it would be a great football game, and so you love that."

With so much at stake there will be intriguing battles all over the pitch, not least in midfield where United dog of war Darren Fletcher will no doubt attempt to quell the creative impact of Cesc Fabregas, the jewel in the Gunners' crown. But the most fascinating match-up, which seems more than likely to become reality, sees ex-England veteran Sol Campbell try to get the better of Wayne Rooney, who is arguably the hottest forward in world football right now.

The Gunners were boosted by confirmation that the injury centre-back Thomas Vermaelen suffered at Villa Park was not a broken leg but the Belgian is likely to be ruled out of this one nonetheless. Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song are back from the Africa Cup of Nations but striker Eduardo is out because of a hamstring injury. Midfielder Abou Diaby is not fit enough to take on United either but both could be back for the Stamford Bridge clash.

Wenger accused United of "anti-football" in the wake of his team's 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in August, hinting that he was targeting Fletcher for his insult and Sir Alex Ferguson Ferguson must have, mentally, put the Scottish midfielder's name down on the team-sheet for the return.

There may not be the personnel around to recreate Martin Keown's famous barge on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira's tunnel bust-up or the melee at Old Trafford, but Ferguson needs no reminding of what this fixture means.

Ferguson said: "These games with Arsenal are historic. Since I came down here apart from before when George Graham won his first title, it's been Arsenal and United competing for most of the trophies but obviously Chelsea have without a doubt become a prominent team in that too but you can never dismiss Arsenal. Their history will always guarantee you a challenge and they are back in the fray again."

There is no Cristiano Ronaldo, who helped destroy Arsenal in the Champions League, but United will again look to strike fast on the counter attack. United will make no apologies for pressing Arsenal hard once they get into the visitors' half and Ferguson feels that Fletcher will be a key player for him.

"There's not been many big games that he has not played in over the last couple of years and it had maybe taken a while for the fans and press to appreciate what the boy has. And there is little you can do about that because he is not stylish player by any means, he is ungainly and gangly but he is a fantastic player."

Rio Ferdinand starts a four-match suspension and defender John O'Shea and midfielder Owen Hargreaves are long-term absentees. The loss of Ferdinand may be key, and Arsenal look a decent bet at 8/5 withs everal firms to get a vital win with home advantage.

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Published 31-01-2010

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