Arsenal’s huge psychological boost over Manchester United

The battle for superiority in the Premier League comes down to more than just quality on the pitch. Arsenal find themselves in a position that can be deemed preferable or unenviable depending on which lens it’s viewed through.

Ahead of the weekend’s fixtures kicking off the Gunners are in sixth place, with games in hand on the two sides above them and the two sides below them.

Being in that position, just two points adrift of Manchester United in fourth with three fewer games played, is a strong one. But it’s also a mental hurdle to overcome.

Ideally Arsenal would have the points on the board. A spot in the top four is theirs to keep hold of if they win their matches in hand. They just have to win them first.

Arsenal can claim huge psychological boost over Manchester United if they beat Watford before the Manchester Derby against Man City later on Sunday

While Tottenham, as far as the points are concerned, are pushing them closest for the Champions League places, United are still well in the hunt despite their struggles in front of goal. With Arsenal playing Watford in the early kick-off on Sunday, they have the opportunity to leapfrog Ralf Rangnick’s side in the table for the first time since their 1-0 win over Wolves at the beginning of February.

Securing the three points against Roy Hodgson’s side will move the Gunners one point clear of the Red Devils, who contest in the later kick-off against none other than Manchester City.

West Ham, with their one superior goal difference, could move into fourth themselves, but just being that point clear of United with another two games in hand will hand them a huge psychological boost over their big rivals.

Working on hypotheticals, defeat at the Etihad would then put Arsenal in a position where they sit above United in the table with a full three game in hand. A brutal set of fixtures then follow for United, including a massive home game against Tottenham where a home win or draw would do wonders for Arsenal, by which point a steady lead can be gained that means avoiding defeat in the head-to-head battles with United and Spurs would be enough for Arsenal.

Quality and proper coaching counts for so much. It’s why the richer sides sit higher up the Premier League table. That does ignore the mental aspect of the season, though, and Arsenal having the advantage in points as well as in games to play at this stage of the campaign would demoralise United as much as it would galvanise Arsenal.

Beating the Hornets and mounting further pressure on a beleaguered United could see them slip far enough away to not even be considered a contender at this stage.

Whether against 19th in the table or not, Sunday’s game at Vicarage Road is a massive one.