With Chelsea getting a decent enough result at the Nou Camp, another RoM contributing writer looks at our chances against Arsenal tomorrow.
The only side yet to lose a game in this seasons’ Champions League take on Arsenal tomorrow. With concerns about our full backs for this game and a slightly advantageous record against Sir Alex since Wenger arrived at Arsenal, how do the enemy feel going into what some of them are claiming is ‘by far the biggest game of the season’.
The noise from the Arsenal camp seem to focus on their defence which a number of Arsenal patriots are calling ‘a shambles’ conceding 8 in their last 6 games from all competitions (albeit 4 coming in 1 game). Nevertheless its United’s defence that has been the most discussed/scrutinised and generally nitpicked in the tabloids most recently. This comes despite that in all competitions United have conceded 3 less than Arsenal over the same time frame. Most recently on The Times Podcast ‘The Game’ Nick Szczepanik claims “United’s’ defence is at the most vulnerable its ever been, I don’t know whether it’s a collective crisis of confidence since Fernando Torres decided to take them on and show that they were vulnerable.” It’s a reasonable comment to make considering we then went onto concede 10 goals in 5 home games. However as we’ve all discussed on RoM, down the pub or in the stands; as much as there has been a few bad days defensively when any team fail to defend as a unit you can only be asking for trouble.
Recently however things have been looking up, Fergie has had a word with Ronnie and we’ve all marvelled how distant memories of Ronaldo tracking back and winning/pressing balls he’d originally lost reform in our minds from last season. Maybe being United fans’ were slightly spoilt in the respect that we support a club with one of the richest squads, histories and fanbases we sometimes feel we have a divine right to win with flair by a 4-0 scoreline or maybe it’s more to do with that every team are entitled to a blip here or there. The fact of the matter is that if performances such as Rooney’s (who has in my opinion refused to join the majority of the team through our so called ‘blip’) and Ronaldo’s begins as it left off on Saturday I can safely say hand on heart (or head) that a result is surely possible over two legs.
With Wenger admitting defeat with a return to fitness for Robin Van Persie and Gael Clichy (were not the only team with full back problems) he now believes, “the only serious new problem we have is Silvestre, he has a back spasm and is 50-50 for Old Trafford.” With Gary Neville out and Wesley Brown our only doubt from our Champions League squad, how refreshing is it to play a side whose injuries within their first team are not eclipsed by our own?
Finally just a quick reminder that we’ve heard from the lads themselves that the atmosphere in Old Trafford had a major part to play at the weekend and its sure to pay dividends if that can be replicated again on Wednesday night. Anyone fancy a 4-0 scoreline to take to the Emirates’? Come on United.
Cheers to Joe Davies for this one!
Man Utd News 24/7
poor show from chelsea tonight, barca to win the next leg i hope
if we cant win the champions league, then id rather carcelona than any other english team, take away any gloating change they have
Rentboys had THREE shots the whole game.
United> Barcelona
Ronaldo>Messi
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
If spinning Arsenal’s defensive record would make you feel better by all means do it. Arsenal just set a record for number of games without conceding at home. Keep fooling yourself mate.
Scott was that the geezer with Joe on MUTV tonight? Excellent news that Sir Alex has said we have a full squad except for just Nev. He seemed really relaxed at the press conference today. I have a really good feeling about tomorrow night. UNITED!
Truth Gunner – and your home record is going to help you at Old Trafford how exactly?
I dunno….. How about our Old Trafford record helping us at Old Trafford?
We beat you there this season and we beat you there last season. I have vague memories of us winning the league there etc etc.
You guys have a fine team and club but your arrogance is astounding and your memories are short.
You will be very lucky not to concede more than 1 away goal and even luckier to win the first leg. Still you could always get Rooney to dive again. That can sometimes work when you are being outplayed eh
Just as well Arshavin is cup tied, then it would just be unfair. In the meantime say hello to my friend Eduardo. I don’t believe you have met.
See you there.
Scott, the only reason we conceded 8 goals is b/c our defense was decimated. We lost Gallas, Almunia, Djourou, Sagna and Clichy in just 2 games. Before that happened our defensive record was the best in england, now that we have some of them back we are little more solid defensively. Not conceding on Sunday proved it.
6 of those 8 goals were conceded when the players i menssioned above were out injured.
Irish Gunner’s post was 99% lies.
I would love to see how many arse-anal fans will be commenting here by this time 2moro. I’m not being arrogant, just confident of a home win. United!
Off topic but you have to love this:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/sunsport_columnists/article2400849.ece
Scott can put it in tomorrow’s Reads of the day.It’s worth it.
Rollins,
Ill be here to congratulate u if u folks win. Or maybe ill just come up a few excuses.
Wow Costas! I never knew you could read!!
Lies eh?
Lies like Arsenal have beaten Utd the last 3 league games?
Lies like there have been many games where Utd were unable to beat Arsenal at Old Trafford for example during the course of our UNIQUE unbeaten league season or when Wiltord scored there to take the Title back to London. ?
Those lies?
Like I said. Utd are a great side but tomorrow night is NOT a forgone conclusion. However I hope that your players think that it is…..
That would make for some Kodak moments. I wonder if Ferguson will throw his chewing gum on the ground in disgust again. It being his last season and all.
Big Goon do come though.Personally i always enjoy mature conversations with rival fans.
Btw, ill be @ OT tomorrow so be nice and treat your guests with respect.
Irish Gunner – That’s absolutely hilarious! If you adjust your memory you’ll recall an Owen Hargreaves free kick putting paid to your lot on your last trip to Old Trafford. Oh and where and by whom did you get knocked out of last seasons FA Cup? and this season you haven’t played us at Old Trafford at all yet! As for Rooney he’s an honest player unlike that basketball player Adebayor.
Cheers Costas, will do.
yeah thats me done as well I’m off to bed. Enjoy the game every1!
Irish Gunner you mentioned that you won at Old Trafford this year as well as the last one. Newflash.
-This year we haven’t layed at Old Trafford yet and last year you came and lost twice.
-The first time we put 4 past you and we had the plaeasure of meeting your friend Eduardo.
-You have won one of the last 3 league games against us.
-When you went unbeaten, we would have got you at OT if Ruud didn’t strike the bar with his penalty.
-It’s not Ferguson’s last year.
Next time get your facts straight.Rooney diving? How many times has he done that? I guess it beats scoring with your hands like Adebayor did at Old Trafford.How did i do for someone who can’t read? Goodnight.
I wonder…. was Rollins confident of a home win against Liverpool as well ?
hehe nite!
To arms men!! To arms!!
U may be asking yourself why so many gooners are on a mancs site. Well the answer is simple. We’re here to piss u off!
Not that I dislike Man U. At least u lot aren’t afraid to pass the ball. Chelsea didn’t string 2 passes together the whole game today. The chavs have absolutely no flair. The game tonight will be between two proper teams.
And when the dust settles?
Rooney will be found face down, blue and bloated (even more bloated than usual), drowned in the marsh that is Old Trafford. Either that or he’s choked on a burger.
He’s the man we need to stop. Rooney is relentless and he scares me twice as much as Ronaldo. ROONEY MUST BE KILLED!! HE MUST!!! KILL HIM!!! KILL HIM!! KILL HIM!! AARRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!
Without Arsnitchin to score 4, might have a problem finding the scoresheet
Weren’t you in bed, Irish gunner? If you can’t have a mature conversation, just let us grown ups do the talking. Other than that, I hope everyone enjoys tomorrows game, including you Irish gunner, it looks like it will be a really good one. Wish I could go…
Dear God I hop we beat you over two legs. I don’t have a bone to pick with Utd or any of the other big teams but I really think we are due.
We’ve played great football for a decade. Historically, we’ve been in finals and set domestic records but we will never have a global presence until we win this thing.
I’d love to see Arsenal join the great teams. I think Wenger-ball deserves some historical recognition too.
I look forward to a great couple of games but fear that you guys may be too strong. I’m still hopeful and know we can beat anyone because I’ve never seen such good football since Wenger came to this country. And I’ve seen it prevail time and again.
They are bringing that guy with the pig flu. We’re done.
off topic from tomorrows game…
but has anyone else noticed the plaudits Chelsea are getting from their goaless draw at the Camp Nou?
We were lambasted for a throughly defensive display where we sat back and limited Barca’s chances!
Barca had 70% possession and 59% terriorial advanage yet these fact seem to have been overlooked by the press!
Yet another example of the anti-united media!
Scanning through the web sites the only people making noises about “we’re going to win” are the Arsenal players. Well, well, well. What’s the saying – “empty vessels make the most noise.” Their extravagantly over-optimistic predictions leave me perplexed. On what basis are they made? Do they really believe they can play football to match the quality that UTD showed in the 2nd half v Spurs? Arsenal have NEVER played at that level. Why on earth do they think they’ll manage it at OT? Poor misguided fools, Wenger’s about to learn that most of his squad are not up to the task of being in a team good enough to win the CL trophy.
united_ron.. the media always want the small teams to win, the smaller the better. When Hull were winning it was big news and everebody was talking about it and the media was in favour of them. Its the oppisite for Man Utd journalist are sick and tired of writing about Man Utd winning and understandably so. So im not bothered by the media bias against United we are simply the best and we have to deal with it!
Chelsea looked like shite, but lets face it – they were very tactically disciplined yesterday and it was against a side that was being herelded as one of the best in Europe (which is fine…let them carry the burden of hype, we’ll just stroll by and collect #4 thank you very much).
Once again though, Messi looked very ordinary against an English team. What’s that now, 3 games where he’s gone missing against English opposition? Hmm…bodes well if Barca do indeed win at the bridge.
Having said that. It was one of the most boring games I’d watched for a long time. With the exception of Iniesta who looks absolute class, Barca cut a frustrated bunch for 90 minutes, and the miss by Bojan was shocking! To think he’s regarded as one of Europes top talent.
Give me Kiko and a bag of chips anyday!
Oh, and with respect to the gunners…but you’re well and truly in line to get spanked tonite. You might knick a goal, but i would love to see a rampant, pumped up United put 4 past you before you get any loose change at Old Trafford.
Bring it on you bitches!
barca almost presented drogshite a goal.che got lucky with 2 decisions. bosingwa’s penalty on henry & ballack should have got 2nd yellow on iniesta
Forget Manchester City signing Messi and Eto’o. I’d take Iniesta over them both. A different class who sent Lampard AWOL. Andres Iniesta is indeed a freightening prospect.
Somehow I don’t have this fear of Arsenal anymore. Gooners, let’s hope we have a terrific game and I hope ManU go to the Emirates 2-0 up, maybe even an own goal by Silvestre eh?
I don’t think form will have anything to do with the result tonight.
Even the first goal will guarantee nothing.
First of the two awesome high paced full of bloody good games of football coming up tonight.
Am up so early, can hardly sleep.
Irish Gooner,u said that we have short memories and that u’ve beaten us at home last season but,hang on,i thought that you lost 4-0 in the FA Cup and 2-1 in the league,but maybe i really have a short memory.Oh and obviously Rooney is a diver…Pires,Van Persie,Fabregas,Ljungberg,Viera and Parlour instead have never accused of diving,have they?Who’s got short memory then?
I think that despite what the media are saying that only one goal will be scored over both legs. As per United v Barcelona last year.
Also the home team in the second leg normally goes through after a 0-0 draw away? But then again the holders are usually knocked out at the last 16 stage.
Anybody who thinks this is a foregone conclusion is very wrong.
As I have mentioned before Arsenal are a very good team and although they may have some defensive frailties due to some injury concerns (and having Silly in defence) they have Adebayor, Walcott, Bentner, Fabregas. All very good attacking players. Perhaps that is what Arsenal will do. The best form of defence is attack?
However United showed the best second half against Tottenham I have seen all season. United had up until that point hardly been playing amazing football but like true champion form they were winning games when not playing that well. Arsenal will have seen what United can do on Sunday and be wary of that threat.
If there is going to be only one goal I am hoping it comes tonight and more so I hope it is Berbatov that gets it!
Since Torres took us apart? You mean the guy who struggled against us on countless occasions and his solitary goal against us came from a defensive mistake? Let’s face it, had we been a fully fit squad, Liverpool would’ve stood little chance against us, just as they have done for the past 10 years!
Irish Gunner, during your unbeaten season, I know we beat you in the FA cup with Scholes scoring the winner, but in the league didn’t we draw both games? Meaning you actually didn’t beat us during your undefeated season?
The one thing I am looking forward to tonight, is the idea that Arsenal supporters will hopefully not be able to leave Old Trafford saying we have no atmosphere.
Big European nights at Old Trafford always serve up a treat in the stands as well as on the pitch and hopefully our away support are dancing out of Ashburton Grove next week.
Defence has been the rage amongst most fans and press but I think it will be the way midfield get stuck in. I like the idea of a Park or Giggs getting back and getting in the faces of Arsenals creative players and staying there. Tevez would be key at this along with Fletcher.
I would say Carrick would be best to start in the middle but I’d be tempted to start Scholes for the simple idea that Fabregas would spend the first half hour trying to pick his drooling chin off the floor looking at the player he dreams to be. I think he’ll be playing for Barcelona by the time he’s 26.
The interesting part of these ties are the away goal rule, both teams have no problem scoring on eachothers turf and I can see the same happening again.
I’d take 1-0 though, but I’m hoping it’ll be:
United 2 – Arsenal – 0
I know someone has mentioned this above, but how are Chelsea getting so much good press from their performance yesterday?!? Good result, yes, but no way a good performance.
Added to that, Cech is getting plaudits. Me and my dad were saying he was having a terrible season, and has been poor recently, and the commentators reckoned this was his best performance in recent weeks. How many times in the first half did he GIVE the ball away. Goal kicks, drop kicks, clearances. Barca attack –> broken down/out for goal kick –> cech –> long kick –> valdes –> barca attack –> repeat –> repeat–> repeat
Yes, cech did make a good save against Eto’o, and did do well to break down Hleb’s attack near full time, but once again, how many times did he fail to collect from corners. I remember his one punch in the game coming when the ball was floated in, noone challenging him for the ball, and he punches out for a throw-in. Good performance? No.
Also, at half time the ITV commentators claimed Bosingwa had coped with Messi well, but with both clips they showed, Messi beat him by cutting inside. One of them, messi shot terribly from 20 yards, and the other, he was fouled by Alex.
Okay, enough about that game… United – Arsenal. I can’t watch this game unfortunately, but I imagine that it’s not gonna be the spectacle people are expecting. Yes, Arsenal can play excellent football at times, but Scholes said earlier in the week, that its the result that matters for him, not how entertaining the game is. I’m going for a 1 – 0 win for United.
Okay, I’ll stop talking…
Praying for a good – 3 or more nil result for United tonight, so that Rooney can be rested in the return leg, he is 1 yellow away from a ban and I would hate to see him pick that up in the 2nd leg (remember scholesy in 99) alternatively he sees to it that he gets his yellow tonite and “only” has to sit out the 2nd semi final leg…
Iniesta looked amazing last night… I am shocked that Leo Messi can’t seem to play against English opposition.. there is an amazing amount of hype surrounding him, and he is obvioulsy a very skillful player – Zlatan anyone??
Back on point, I can’t wait for tonights game… I would absolutely love someone like Cesc at United, so that speaks volumes for how much I respect the kid, but with Arsenals injuries, I can’t see them managing a rampant United attack, I just hope we manage to convert the chances we get, as I would like to go to the Emirates with a nice cushion!
Good luck to everyone!!
Hehe! I see some people talking about the 2nd half performance against Spurs. Now that is funny. Such Tunnel Vision.
1 C’mon! they are Spurs hehe
2. That Ref gifted you two ridiculous goals and football is about momentum.
If he hadn’t you would have 3 points less and you guys would be chitting meeting us in the league so dont kid urselves.
When was the last time you guys beat us in the league again? Were Chelsea champions then? It’s so long I forget.
OK enough fun and games two ties will settle all.
If the ref helps out UTD with a penalty/dive exchange they will win . If the ref doesn’t they wont.
We like going to Manchester. Unlike our Liverpool trips we don’t have to clamp our own team bus.
(Still need a translator though! Civilized people dont speak ORK!)
Good Luck every1!
Irish Gunner – Last year 2-1 ya muppet! A translator? Irish? Oh the irony.