It's one of the biggest games in the Premier League calendar
and, prior to Chelsea's emergence as a superpower, it was
the rivalry in English football, even temporarily
surpassing the likes of Liverpool-Everton and Arsenal-Tottenham
Hotspur for uncontrollable tempers, box-office build-up and fiery
fall-out, even though it lacked the comparitive history.
Now, though the rivalry is not quite so heated, the gamesmanship
remains and the egos are as fragile as ever. So, looking at past
encounters as well as the current state of each club, we asked a
global panel of editors to give their thoughts on what will happen
tomorrow at the Emirates Stadium...
1) Wenger won't see it
It just wouldn't be a big game in the Premier League if Arsene
'eagle-eye' Wenger didn't become unsighted at the most conveniently
controversial moment in the game that ended up favouring his side.
Rest assured, if the Gunners get a favourable call, the Frenchman
will decline to comment on the incident until he's seen it again -
but if it goes against him, he'll know the name, shirt number,
birth date, blood type, favourite food and head size of every
player involved and be filing a report to the FA faster than you
can say 'Martin Keown'. (Sulmaan Ahmad, Goal.com
International)
2) Rio gaffe to gift Gunners a golden
opportunity
At some point during the match, Rio Ferdinand will succumb to his
bi-weekly moment of madness and gift Arsenal a wonderful scoring
chance that will most likely end in a goal. The usually stable
Englishman has been known to show cracks in the past, and in a huge
match for United, it could all come undone - only once mind you -
and it will still spell big trouble for the visitors. (Shane Evans,
Goal.com USA)
3) Excuses, excuses...
It goes without saying that whichever manager ends on the losing
side will open with the excuse of a European hangover. "What do you
expect when we had a Champions league game in midweek and then play
on Saturday lunchtime? It is as if the Premier League doesn't want
us to be successful." Come on, you hear it too... (John Duerden,
Goal.com Asia)
4) Cristiano Ronal-dove
Gael Clichy will eventually make the fatal mistake of touching
Cristiano Ronaldo in or around the vicinity of the penalty area,
which will result in the Portuguese bringing into action his
deckchair-like collapsable legs. Sir Alex Ferguson, however, will
lament the lack of a penalty award and claim his players are facing
unfair treatment from Premier League referees, unlike those in
Europe. He will also find a way to squeeze in a mention of Steven
Gerrard's spectacular 94th-minute cannonball dive midweek at
Anfield. (Torsten Pauly, Goal.com Germany)
5) Bleus to outnumber Brits
Ever since Arsene Wenger's arrival in London, Arsenal have become
their own little French colony. Some even said, with tongue firmly
in cheek, they had unfair home advantage in the 2006 Champions
League final, which they lost to Barcelona in Paris. When
considering new signings Samir Nasri and, coincidentally, former
United man Mikael Silvestre, added to the likes of Clichy, William
Gallas and Bakary Sagna - plus Patrice Evra lining up for United
and injuries to the likes of Owen Hargreaves and Paul Scholes -
there is a good chance France will be the best represented nation
in England's capital tomorrow afternoon. (Alexandre Walraevens,
Goal.com France)
6) Ronaldo to flop, Real rumours won't stop
Score in Champions League finals and multiple clashes against big
four opposition last year as he may have done, some still believe C
Ron to be a big game flop. Should he for any reason prove to
be outfoxed at the Emirates and leave the field sporting his
trademark tantrum face then it is likely only to be a matter of
time before someone, somewhere decides this means he will soon
restart his push to for his dream move to Real Madrid. Also, Manuel
Almunia may or may not take to the field draped in an English flag,
singing 'God Save The Queen'. (Juan Lirman, Goal.com Spain)
7) The Nutty Professor
If the Gunners lose, Arsene Wenger will repeat, for the billionth
time: "You must remember that this is a young side with great
quality, attitude, and team spirit. It's a long season and we can
still win the league." There will be pleas for more time, so he can
continue to make his young side even younger year after year and
somehow make that an excuse for continued failure to bring home
silverware. Also, if Arsenal are leading with 10 minutes remaining,
Wenger will bring on secret weapons Alex Song and Emannuel Eboue as
strikers, to increase the team's goal threat. (Atishay Agarwal,
Goal.com India)
8) Edwin's redemption
With his very place in the side under threat, experienced
shot-stopper Edwin van der Sar will, if given the chance, prove his
worth to the Red Devils tomorrow and put in an excellent
performance. However, with shades of Euro 2008 and the Netherlands'
elimination against Russia, van der Sar's heroics won't prevent the
Gunners emerging victorious and leaving Edwin empty-handed. (Andre
Trompers, Goal.com Netherlands)
9) No shakes and the return of pizzagate
However, if United should emerge winners after an emphatic 4-0
thrashing in which the champions give Arsenal a footballing lesson,
Arsene Wenger will embark down the tunnel without offering so much
as a handshake to Sir Alex Ferguson, who yesterday celebrated the
22nd anniversary in charge of the club. Might their feud finally
resurface with their common enemy now plying his trade in the Inter
hotseat? Also, after hitting the back of the net, the Red Devils
may just perform a special celebration as a dedication to their
legendary manager's continued longevity at Old Trafford. (Sergio
Stanco and Daniele Perticari, Goal.com Italy)
10) And for the grand finale...
In a devious plot to unsettle the Red Devils, Arsene Wenger will
invite Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon as a guest for the game
tomorrow and after several taunts during the course of the game,
Fergie will snap and aim a kung-fu kick at the Spanish supremo,
causing injuries so severe that he is forced to sell €80 million
star Ronaldo as compensation to los Blancos. Meanwhile, Arsenal
will win the day and leapfrog United in the table. (Michael
Paterakis, Goal.com Greece)
source: goal.com
