Man Utd Preview

With all the news ahead of the Man Utd game already out, i am going to write the review today and it is not looking good at all. The Injury crises has not sorted itself out at all as Wenger has given updates on every single arsenal player out except Diaby. I shall make a little list below in order of return dates:

Fabianski - Fit again
Henry - 50/50
Vermaelen - Looking short for Man Utd (pray this is just mind games and he will be fit)
Coquelin - 4 or 5 days away 
Arteta - Villa at the earliest (massive blow)
Sagna - Two or three weeks away
Gibbs - Two or three weeks away
Wilshere - Running again but is a few weeks away
Jenkinson - Running again but is a few weeks away
Santos - Two months away

That was a lot more painful to write out than i thought it would be. It leaves us desperately short for Man Utd and our bench is going to look so weak. Fabianski is good to have back as it means Almunia is out of the team and i assume he will be able to come back to his FA cup role and play next weekend. Taking it at face value and that none of the other players are returning and reading that Man Utd have had fitness boosts with Ferdinand and Smalling coming back, makes me worry for what will happen on the weekend.

I don't think it will be anything like what happened at the beginning of the season because i believe the team will be a lot more focused at putting things right this time round, but i fear a 2 or 3 goal loss just because it will be a weak first team that will have nothing on the bench to change the game. The defense will be the same as against Swansea with the midfield maybe incorporating Rosicky ahead of Benayoun. Arshavin will keep his place up front on the left as he has been speaking a lot to the Arsenal website and Wenger has been saying kind words about him. It would not be my first choice as i would rather Chamberlain started as he is going to track back just as much as Arshavin does but in my mind provide more going forward.

                                     Szczesny

Djourou         Mertesacker         Koscielny         Miquel

                  Ramsey         Song         Rosicky

                 Walcott        Van Persie       Arshavin

That would leave a bench of, Fabianski, Yanarris, Squillaci, Benayoun, Chamberlain, Park and if Henry isn't fit i actually have no idea what reserve team player steps in. You got to assume that Park might actually get some minutes on the pitch if we are losing and searching for a goal. If he doesn't then he must be looking awful in training and Wenger must not trust him at all.

To do well on Sunday, we are going to need big performances from the starting eleven and from players who have not been pulling their weight the last few weeks. Walcott and Arshavin are both going to need to have good games and Wenger has praised Arshavin's efficiency this week, i am not entirely sure what efficiency he is talking about as he has scored 1 goal and got 2 assists this season and continually gives the ball away. I know he is one of the only players to try the harder passes and sometimes other players aren't on his wave length but the amount of times he actually gives simple balls away is shocking. To be fair to him a majority of the players did it against Swansea but he is in the spotlight more than most.

Walcott covered up another shocking display with a goal, which was a well taken finish. He is going to have to provide more on that right flank but he is up against Evra who is damn good defender, as much as hate to admit it as he is probably the United player i hate the most along with Rooney, and Anderson actually. I have suddenly started thinking about their team and all the players i dislike. We have to get something out of the game. Spurs start their hard run of games this weekend at Man City and have the potentially to get something out of it with the amount of injuries City have. So a draw of better is essential for us and the moral of the team.

It looks like we have to pull through this one last game with the thin squad we have and hopefully against Villa we could have up to 4 players back, all big and useful names as well. Knowing our luck though, we will get more injuries between now and then, but touch wood that we don't. I expect everyone who reads this to actually touch some wood when they read that bit.

Right i am lucky enough to be going to the game on Sunday, if you follow me on twitter then i shall be giving some updates before the game, half time and after the match. Until then, take it easy.