Arsenal: Manchester United face the much bigger test

Arsenal’s match-up against Manchester United is being billed as a big test for the Gunners, but the bigger test falls to the visitors, who have so much to prove.

Three years ago, there would be a lot of factors casting Arsenal as the underdog. They had the Jose Mourinho voodoo, they had the Manchester United voodoo, they had the big game voodoo; it would all be against the Gunners.

It’s being pitched as a similar situation going into the Emirates and I don’t get it. Arsenal are not the underdogs here. They certainly have a bit to prove, but what doubts can you have that they won’t prove it?

The Gunners went to Stamford Bridge and outplayed Chelsea, despite the 0-0 draw. We welcomed the team of the century to the Emirates in the North London Derby and conclusively stomped them 2-0.

I’d even argue that we turned up a bit in the Manchester City match after we overcame Arsene Wenger‘s bizarre decision-making.

I don’t see Manchester United proving that they are a No. 2 team. Yes, the numbers back up that they have a stellar defense, and they do, any Mourinho team is going to have a good defense because of his superb parking ability.

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The goal differential that they have established has been on the back of bullying small teams. They went to Stamford Bridge, they lost 1-0. They went to Liverpool, parked the bus, and achieved their desired 0-0 draw. They faced Tottenham at Old Trafford and could only filch a single goal on the counter.

The fact that they can beat up Everton, Newcastle, West Ham, Swansea, Crystal Palace, that does not make them a favorite. That does not make them an elite team. That makes them a good team. A quality outfit. They can take care of inferior opposition. But they have shown no ability to go away and win. None.

Arsenal are in a string of form that saw them do an even bigger beating on a lesser team than United, as well as comprehensively putting away a direct rival that United could not similarly “comprehensively” put away.

That said, I don’t care about goal differential or defensive numbers or that they are second in the table. They face the big test of having to prove that they are as legit as people think they are. All Arsenal have to prove is that they can do it consistently.

Next: 5 Key Players To Watch vs Manchester United

Maybe I’m overconfident. But I’ve watched United play and I’ve watched Arsenal play and I can tell you that one team has far more ability than the other. And that’s a fact.

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