EPL ~ Arsenal vs Manchester United - May 1

zocoss SG

Sunday, 1 May 2011

Time: 9:05 pm - (Live)

Mio Channel 110 / 102 in HD

EPL Game 35

Manchester United :

Van der Sar, Rafael, Brown, Ferdinand, Smalling, Vidic, O'Shea, Evans, Fabio, Evra, Carrick, Berbatov, Scholes, Hernandez, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney, Gibson, Obertan, Park, Anderson, Owen, Fletcher, Lindegaard.

zocoss SG

• Sir Alex Ferguson to save Giggs for Schalke return
• Dimitar Berbatov, Nani and Anderson hope for recall

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Sir Alex Ferguson will reward Ryan Giggs for another stunning performance with a rest during Sunday's Premier League showdown at Arsenal.

The manager has a selection dilemma ahead of the trip to London, with Dimitar Berbatov hoping to be fit and Nani desperate for a start after coming on as a substitute against Schalke in the Champions League semi-final first-leg victory on Tuesday night.

Anderson, who also had a taste of action against Schalke, will hope to take Giggs's midfield place at the Emirates Stadium. But the veteran Welshman will be missed.

"It is a strange thing because Ryan's peak seems to have lasted so long now," said Sir Alex. "You would think at 37, he would be showing signs of waning. I don't see any evidence of that. We look after him in terms of rest before games.

"He won't be playing on Sunday. He maybe will play next Wednesday. That is the way we have to deal with him now. When he gets that freshness, he doesn't show any sign of fatiguing at all. He is an amazing man."

zocoss SG

Look who's back: Darren Fletcher in action

Sir Alex Ferguson's double hopes were given a significant boost on Wednesday night when midfielder Darren Fletcher returned to action after a debilitating virus.

Ferguson watched Fletcher play 45 minutes for Manchester United's reserves against Arsenal at Old Trafford - the Scottish international's first appearance for almost two months.

Prior to that Fletcher had not played since the 3-1 defeat at Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League on March 6. Soon after, he was struck down by a virus that saw him lose a significant amount of weight and that at one stage gave real cause for concern at Old Trafford.

Here, though, Fletcher returned to action in a team that also featured defender Wes Brown and Portuguese forward Bebe.

Despite the fact that United have gone six points clear at the top of the Premier League without Fletcher and are close to clinching a place in the Champions League final, manager Ferguson will be delighted to have such a key member of his side back.

It is unlikely that Fletcher will feature in the starting line-up when United face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, but he will be in contention for next week's Champions League semi-final second leg at home to German side Schalke.

zocoss SG

Arsenal could have been in contention for the title, but their main hope of making an impression this weekend will lie in hindering Manchester United's progress towards the prize. If the Champions League victory over Schalke in Gelsenkirchen is any indication, Sir Alex Ferguson's side is getting sharper in away matches. For Arsenal, the target is to deliver a rare win over these visitors that will allow supporters a happy afternoon in a spell where their side has otherwise lost all impetus after a string of disappointing results.

Venue Emirates Stadium, Sunday 9.05pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Arsenal 1 Man Utd 3

Referee Chris Foy

This season's matches 24 Y61, R1, 2.58 cards per game

Odds Arsenal 13-8 Man Utd 15-8 Draw 12-5

Subs from Almunia, Lehmann, Shea, Eboué, Squillaci, Miquel, Denílson, Ramsey, Rosicky, Chamakh, Frimpong, Arshavin, Bendtner

Doubtful Rosicky (illness)

Injured Diaby (calf, 8 May), Fabianski (shoulder, Aug), Vermaelen (match fitness, 15 May)

Suspended None

Form guide LDDWDD

Disciplinary record Y61 R6

Leading scorer Van Persie 15

Subs from Kuszczak, Rafael, O'Shea, Gibson, Smalling, Obertan, Owen, Park, Berbatov, Giggs, Brown, Evans

Doubtful Berbatov (groin)

Injured Fletcher (illness, 4 May), Lindegaard (knee, 8 May), Hargreaves (shoulder, Aug)

Suspended Scholes (last of three)

Form guide WDWWWL

Disciplinary record Y51 R3

Leading scorer Berbatov 21

• United have won six and lost none of their last seven matches against Arsenal in all competitions

• Arsenal have picked up only eight points from their last six league games

• Park Ji-sung has scored in his last three starts against Arsenal

• Arsenal have had the most shots on goal (321) in the top flight this season, with United managing 29 fewer – but United have scored 71 goals to Arsenal's 67

• United have won 3-1 on their past two visits to the Emirates Stadium

gunner77 SG

Anyway if im ferguson i will go all out and get 3 points for this game

So that when next week vs chelsea i can afford a draw as i have 6 points lead with 2 games to go.

If i drop points today, im giving myself additional pressure for next week.

jgho83 SG

i am not sure whether giggs would consider being rested against arsenal a reward

Rock^Star SG

I think in their last match, there was a sign which read "Giggs - Tearing you apart since '99". Ha! That was really hilarious.

jgho83 SG

I think in their last match, there was a sign which read "Giggs - Tearing you apart since '99". Ha! That was really hilarious.

I think u got it wrong. I saw that banner too. And i think the year should be the year Ryan Giggs made his debut.

Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1) SG

Another draw by Arsenal

seriously

Arsenal passing style is a problem

Rock^Star SG

I think u got it wrong. I saw that banner too. And i think the year should be the year Ryan Giggs made his debut.

I'm pretty sure, dude. Do you remember what happened in the '99 FA Cup campaign?

jgho83 SG

I'm pretty sure, dude. Do you remember what happened in the '99 FA Cup campaign?

yeh that solo goal by giggs. nvm, if we ever see that banner again, we can double confirm. hahahaha.

nvm, i can confirm now, look at this link, or go google search images.

Keywords : giggs tearing u apart since 1991

From afar, u saw "99", but on closer look, its "1991", his debut year.

http://www.google.com.sg/imglanding?q=giggs+tearing+you+apart+since+1991+banner&hl=en&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=pHdR4MrJGtMkjM:&imgrefurl=http://www.stretfordendflags.com/index.php/5-giggs-tearing-you-apart-since-1991&imgurl=http://c0013679.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/x2_500fca8&w=500&h=354&ei=giC9TbaUNYqCsQODk-HCBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&page=2&tbnh=149&tbnw=199&start=17&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:17&biw=1280&bih=628

Rock^Star SG

haha!! that explains it.Tks dude. You're the man.

Rock^Star SG

actually that banner, the way they bold the 99 and with the 1 at the sides is really pun intended. I think they seriously meant 99 hahaha.

zocoss SG

Don't discount an Arsenal side playing without pressure... And also they have a good full week rest while United had to travel to Germany and back. United still got a CL semi-final in 3 days time so... United could lose here just like they did against Pool after playing none stop a match every 3, 4 days...

I will be happy with a draw tonight...

zocoss SG

I-like-flings(m) SG

man utd win by 5 goals to nil.....

Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1) SG

zzzz

vidic handball knn linesman never see

haiz

Rooney9 SG

vidic was lucky with the handball, ref didnt spotted it, otherwise it will be a penalty kick and yellow carded. arsenal dominated proceedings in the first 15 mins.

Rooney9 SG

zzzz

vidic handball knn linesman never see

haiz

heng eh ah boy

Rock^Star SG

anderson looked lost when he had an opportunity to shoot just now. What good is a midfielder if he doesn't score at least.....i mean at least 5 a season???! lol.

Hope it's a better display from them the next half