BIG-MATCH FACTS
A top of the table showdown between the two most successful clubs
in Premier League history. Manchester United have won 375 matches,
gained 1,258 points and claimed nine titles; Arsenal have won 316
games, collected 1,107 points and lifted three titles.
It pits the north Londoners with the longest current unbeaten run
in this league (17 games) with the Red Devils, who are on the
longest current winning streak of eight.
It sets the strongest attack against the tightest defence in the
highest league; Arsenal have scored 22 goals in 10, Manchester
United have conceded four in 11.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who celebrates 21 years in charge at Old
Trafford on Tuesday, comes up against his Arsenal opposite number
Arsene Wenger for the 34th time. Of the 33 previous encounters
United have won 11, Arsenal 13. Seven of the nine other games
finished level and two were decided on penalty shoot-outs; United
won the 2003 Community Shield, and Arsenal the 2005 FA Cup final on
penalties.
In the Premier League there's nothing to chose between Wenger and
Ferguson at eight wins a piece, and six draws, but the Frenchman
has the edge on home soil with five wins to three, and three
draws.
Victory for the Gunners would be their seventh at home and equal
the club record of successive league victories from the start of a
season, set in 1934, and equalled two years ago.
Arsenal came from behind with two goals in the last seven minutes
of the first ever meeting with Manchester United at the Emirates
Stadium in January to complete the double over their fierce
rivals.
CLUB FORM
1. Not dropped a point since their only loss of this league
campaign; 1-0, away to local rivals Manchester City on 19
August.
2. On their longest winning league sequence since recording nine in
a row on 9 April 2006; the last of the nine being a 2-0 home win
over Arsenal.
3. Scored four goals in each of the last three league matches, and
on course to replicate the longest run in the Premier League of
four successive games in which four or more goals were scored;
achieved by Manchester United themselves on 15 April 2000 (putting
four past Bradford City, seven past West Ham, netting four against
Middlesbrough and four against Sunderland).
4. Conceded two goals in claiming 24 points out of 24, and just
four all season; shipping one every 248 minutes (four hours eight
minutes) of Premier League football played, on average.
5. On the longest current run in the Premier League of 14 matches
since conceding more than a single goal in a game; the most recent
being the pair in the 2-4 away win over Everton on 28 April.
6. Also on the longest current run in the Premier League of 51
matches since a defeat by more than a single goal; 3-0, away to
Chelsea on 29 April 2006.
7. Their 11 league games have yielded 23 goals (19 for, four
against). Only Premier League matches involving West Ham have a
poorer return; 21 (12 for, nine against).
8. Kept seven clean sheets - more than any other club in the
division.
9. Aiming for a fourth consecutive league victory on the
road.
10. This game precedes Wednesday's home Champions League Group F
fixture, against Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo are Manchester United's joint top scorers
with six goals each.
Rooney has scored five Premier League goals against Arsenal (two
for Everton, three for United).
Rooney and Carlos Tevez are the clubs top Premier League marksmen,
with four each.
Ryan Giggs is one short of 100 career league goals.
Rio Ferdinand is the only remaining player to have started all of
Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.
