Arsenal vs. Manchester United: Initial Match Preview

After the transfer market, raise your hands if you had Manchester United at 7th place and Arsenal at 6th. Not many of you, as I thought. Arsenal played well last season and seemed as if they were a piece or two away from contention while United were rebuilding, and they did with huge transfers such as Falcao, Rojo, Blind, etc. They made a splash and along with Van Gaal at coach, it seemed as a very quick comeback was in the making. Fast forward a few months, and they have both disappointed. Arsenal doesn’t know how to finish games and  both teams are filled with injuries. After the break, the match preview.

Welbeck returns to face off his former team.

Injury Roundup:

Manchester United

Daley Blind, David de Gea, Michael Carrick, Angel di Maria, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Rafael, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Radamel Falcao, Jonny Evans, Jesse Lingard.

That’s a lot.

Arsenal

Danny Welbeck, Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina, Laurent Koscielny, Abou Diaby, Mesut Ozil.

Arsenal won’t have it easy. Welbeck was supposed to face off against his former team but seems like that might not happen, which means… SANOGO TIME! (sense the sarcasm). Even though he had a good spell with France’s U-21 team, he isn’t ready and even less against a team that might not be at its best right now but always gives Arsenal a fight. I expect Arsenal to attack some gaps.

Aug 2, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Real Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea (1) during the first half against the Manchester United at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

1) It ain’t De Gea so SHOOT:

Odds are we see Lindegaard at goalkeeper, and that means shoot. He isn’t a bad goalkeeper but De Gea has shown why he’s become the starter. Exploit a hole and get to the goalkeeper because it will also be easier to get through than usual, which leads to my second point.

2) Weak, depleted defense.

Alexis and Walcott are fast. The United defense? Not so much. No Rojo and no Blind means less speed and less physicality on the back side of the field which leads to a huge hole which our play makers must exploit. If the team is constantly attacking, the ball stays away from Van Persie and Rooney.

Even thought this team has more holes than Swiss cheese (bad joke I know, sue me) it is not going to be easy. And Arsenal isn’t in the best of shape.

Prediction:

Arsenal 1 – 1 Manchester United

Picks for the other league games (winners in bold, don’t gamble on these either):

Manchester City vs Swansea

Stoke City vs Burnley

Everton vs West Ham

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Southampton vs Aston Villa

Sunderland vs Leicester City

Chelsea vs West Brom

QPR vs Newcastle

Hull City vs Tottenham