EPL : Arsenal FC vs Manchester United

last SG · 2007-11-01T21:31:52+00:00

almost all my good friends r manu suxporters too. at time we jeered at each other team. but seldom it affected our friendship. but i will disown my son on...

turbo_drift SG

Arsene Wenger has a near full-strength squad to chose from with Robin van Persie (knee) and Philippe Senderos (back) the only enforced absentees.

Eduardo, after his midweek brace, and Gilberto are both pushing for starts.

Louis Saha and Michael Carrick make timely returns to United's squad for the top of the table clash.

Saha has finally shrugged off a long-term knee problem, while Carrick has recovered from the dislocated elbow he suffered against Roma last month.

Arsenal (from): Almunia (gk), Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Rosicky, Adebayor, Lehmann (gk), Eduardo, Gilberto, Diarra, Diaby, Walcott, Bendtner, Denilson.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar (gk), Kuszczak (gk), Brown, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Nani, Tevez, Rooney, Saha.

Trump_Card SG

Hopefully our near fully-strength squad can conjure at least a 1 goal win over manure Very Happy

felirox SG

Wenger resists old grudges

For a long time, a meeting between Arsenal and United was seen as the encounter of the Premier League season as the championship rivals locked horns, often in fiery affairs.

However, since the emergence of Chelsea as the challengers to United's crown, their importance has waned, along with Arsenal's title aspirations.

This year, though, it is set to be different - with the Gunners defending an unbeaten record of 24 matches in all competitions which stretches back to April last season and now seen as genuine contenders once again.

There is, of course, little love lost between the two camps, given the infamous 'Battle of the Buffet' in 2004 when Wenger's Invincibles were finally defeated at Old Trafford and notably the Red Devils' 4-2 win at Highbury later that season when Roy Keane squared up to Patrick Vieira in the tunnel.

Wenger accepts their relations had sometimes been "hotter" than in the current climate.

He reflected: "You could always handle things differently, and just sit back and do nothing.

"I feel the papers also have a responsibility to heat it up as much as possible before the game, but I feel as well that the managers have a responsibility to make first a football game.

"What is important is that this is a good football game and that we win. All the rest is less important."

Wenger quipped there could be "no guarantees" of tempers not being lost once again, but maintains professional respect for the United manager.

"Enemies is a big word," said the Frenchman.

"I don't know Ferguson well enough to say that I am friends with him. I respect him for what he has done, and for what he is doing in the job. That's it."

Ferguson believes the game will be "tense". Wenger believes this Arsenal squad will be more than ready for the challenge which awaits their emerging title credentials.

"The reason it fires us all up is you know that the games will be intensely competitive and that is the most important - not what happens in the corridor before or after the match," said Wenger.

"This is a game that will be watched by millions of people and they don't see what happened in the corridor, they only watch what happens on the pitch."

Wenger added: "I feel the two teams are playing well at the moment, and that with their characteristics, maybe the two teams are more technical than a few years ago, a little bit less physical.

"But of course the commitment in these kind of games is always very high, but the characteristics of the players are a little bit different now."

The Gunners boss may have been in reflective mood ahead of the big match, but the French coach diplomatically refused to be drawn on just who had thrown the first slice of pizza in that infamous incident in Manchester three seasons ago.

Wenger stressed: "I never have come out on what happened inside on that day and I will not today.

"I feel that some things we have to respect and if it went overboard on the day then we have a duty to stay quiet."

Whatever the outcome tomorrow, you sense there will always remain a professional appreciation between the two rival coaches.

Wenger said: "Ferguson has most of the qualities you need to be a great manager.

"He is passionate, makes the right decisions, personality and consistency in his motivation.

"You must sacrifice your life to be such a long time in a job like his.

"You get up in the morning and drive to the training ground and you're at work, but this job never leaves your head wherever you are.

"You need to be consistently determined in your attitude and we are the same as far as the sacrifice is concerned."

LazerLordz SG

My preferred line up

----------Almunia----------

Sagna--Gallas--Toure--Clichy

----------Gilberto---------------

Diarra---Fabregas---Rosicky

---------Hleb---------------------

-----------------Adebayor-------

akinos SG

hope to u guys, 798 and corebooster down there! PM me ur numbers later too. 798, pls tell me whether u meeting me at MRT or at the Liz.

felirox SG

many pitiful mancs tot our key man is cesc. they didnt know tt hleb,adebayor are our key players too.

felirox SG

Gilberto in line for shock recall against Man Utd

Gilberto could be handed a shock recall to the Arsenal team for Saturday's crunch match against Manchester United.

The Brazil midfielder was overlooked for the captaincy in favour of goalkeeping rookie Lukasz Fabianski last night as Arsene Wenger's second string strolled to a 3-0 Carling Cup win at Sheffield United to book a place in the quarterfinals.

But Wenger described Gilberto's performance in central midfield as outstanding and is now considering recalling him against United.

The 31-year-old has not started a league game since 15 September.

The Gunners boss said: There is no problem with Gilberto. I don't know why people think there is. The only problem is that he hasn't had the number of games he would like, but he's still a key person for me, definitely.

I didn't give the captaincy to him because he wasn't in the team from the start of the competition. He understands. But he was the real leader on the field.

798 SG

Originally posted by felirox:
[b]Gilberto in line for shock recall against Man Utd

Gilberto could be handed a shock recall to the Arsenal team for Saturday's crunch match against Manchester United.

The Brazil midfielder was overlooked for the captaincy in favour of goalkeeping rookie Lukasz Fabianski last night as Arsene Wenger's second string strolled to a 3-0 Carling Cup win at Sheffield United to book a place in the quarterfinals.

But Wenger described Gilberto's performance in central midfield as outstanding and is now considering recalling him against United.

The 31-year-old has not started a league game since 15 September.

The Gunners boss said: There is no problem with Gilberto. I don't know why people think there is. The only problem is that he hasn't had the number of games he would like, but he's still a key person for me, definitely.

I didn't give the captaincy to him because he wasn't in the team from the start of the competition. He understands. But he was the real leader on the field. [/b]

yeah, i believe since gilberto want to be in starting lineup so badly, we should give him a chance to prove himself in this match. if he can perform well n win, he's definitely deserve it.

akinos SG

corebooster, the promise is still ON leiz. if u come, i buy u beer or else u can choose other drinks. =P

felirox SG

wahlao the mancs fans are making fun of our players leh. tsktsktkstsk

Laughing

omgukilledkenny SG

Razz

just for fun eh Smile

LazerLordz SG

"A billion people could watch Arsenal and Manchester United

Posted by Brant Parsons on Nov 3, 2007 3:35:19 AM
The Orlando Sentinel

That's right, a billion people.

For a regular season match. In the beginning of November, with nothing tangible on the line.

A billion people could still be watching when Arsenal and Manchester United kick off in less than five hours time at Ashburton Grove.

At least that's what a spokesman for the league said.

"It is not an exaggeration to say it could be watched by one billion people."

The match is being scheduled perfectly to get the best worldwide audience. It will be on in the evening in Far East and the early morning on the East Coast here in America. That leaves daytime viewing for every region in between.

The league says the game will be available in 202 countries and the feed going into as many as 600 million homes.

Those numbers are just staggering but make complete sense. Manchester United are the world's biggest club while Arsenal are not far behind. Fans of each can be found all over the globe. I know this because they've come to this blog from all over to discuss it. They also have one of the fiercest competitive rivalries in recent time, where the players disliked each other as much if not more so than the fans. Most of those players are gone, but with so much on the line, this will still be a heated affair.

So when you're watching the match today, just realize, you are sharing a communal moment with a billion people across the world.

Ah, the glorious power of football.

glacer SG

is that Lehmann? Mr. Green

corebooster SG

at first thought it seems like frabregas

Live Commentary from Corebooster starting from 0845pm. Very Happy

corebooster SG

KICK OFF LIAOZ. EVERYONE ON UR FEETS!

corebooster SG

wow. nice kick off. run all de way forward..

lol

corebooster SG

wah piang.

hleb seems on form today.

clichy long shot weak and not troubling the keeper.

the Bear SG

both sides attacking...

but when arsenal attacks, the speed is scary... MUFC is the same..

corebooster SG

true. its down to who draw first blood and mantaining the standard.

corebooster SG

sagna cross cleared. now manure on counter. bt cleared by arsenal again

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