It was one of those games where it's destine to be a clean sheet, it had that feel didn't it? (genuine question)
We were immense defensively. Haven't said that for a long time.
Manchester United vs. Arsenal
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We were immense defensively. Haven't said that for a long time.
Arsenal Have been a lot better than us this season, and I don't think our defence will be able to cope. Playing at home won't count for anything.
Thanks, I thought so as well.
I thought you 'held on' and got a bit lucky. But a clean sheet is a clean sheet.
Mktyrihan missed an easy chance. I thought Liverpool even found holes in your defence once Coutinho came on. Unfortunately for them his weight of pass was completely off. Januzaj can create from that left hand side in the same way and I'd say he's more or less guaranteed to produce chances if he plays.
Coutinho's the better player. We'll see. I'm hoping we create a hatful of chances ourselves so it doesn't matter what you lot do.
I may come to regret this but I'm not actually too concerned about what Arsenal will do to us. They really struggled to break Palace down. They wrapped up the Liverpool game with a Ramsey wonder-strike and they struggled to create many openings against Dortmund.
I'm probably just seeing what I want to see but as good as their football has been to watch, it hasn't looked liked they've created too many chances in recent games.
I'm probably just seeing what I want to see but as good as their football has been to watch, it hasn't looked liked they've created too many chances in recent games.
Their midfield is so much more superior to ours... But, I think their defence is pretty average. If, and that's a big if, Rooney and van Persie get the service, we'll do serious damage. Head says 2-1 Arsenal, heart says 2-1 United.
The reasons I think United will win are that United seem to have this knack of turning up and winning when they are underdogs, which isn;t that often., as seen when you beat Arsenal 2-0 ending their unbeaten run before, when you had a weaker team and they had a stronger team. Then of course there was Fletchers winner vs us ending our unbeaten run.
Both wins did not matter to the destination of the title, as I dont think it will again tomorrow, but I still feel confident United will win, even though, going on form and the way the two teams are playing Arsenal should walk all over United.
Also no way is Uniteds defence better than Arsenals, whos has been fairly strong so far. As has been said earlier in the threa,d simply saying big names does not automatically make them better, this season Arsenals defence is better than Uniteds and thats all there is to it.
Still saying 2-1 United.
Both wins did not matter to the destination of the title, as I dont think it will again tomorrow, but I still feel confident United will win, even though, going on form and the way the two teams are playing Arsenal should walk all over United.
Also no way is Uniteds defence better than Arsenals, whos has been fairly strong so far. As has been said earlier in the threa,d simply saying big names does not automatically make them better, this season Arsenals defence is better than Uniteds and thats all there is to it.
Still saying 2-1 United.
There's a lot of truth in that. I said it at the start of the season - Mertesacker has been better than all of United's centre halves for a year now. Some people just don't want to believe it.
You'd rather Koscielny and Mertesacker over Evans and Vidic? Smalling and Jones would even start for Arsenal.
Not really sure what result my heart wants on sunday to be honest. My head says Arsenal are the biggest threat so a United win will be best since they will drop lots of points elsewhere, but then a United win might breed a tiny bit of doubt about how average they are again, so its a toughie, maybe I would prefer a draw.
Mertesacker turns like a fire truck, and I always feel Koscielny is an accident waiting to happen.
I'm very confident Rooney and van Persie will turn your centre backs inside out, if giving the service from our inept midfield. That's all I'll say.
You said Smalling and Jones would start for us. It's just so untrue - over whom?
You've just seen Mertesacker and Koscielny put in a magnificent display in Dortmund and you think we'd put those two in the defence?
We'll see on Sunday my friend... Just wouldn't be too confident in your two centre backs when it comes to facing Rooney and van Persie.
It's difficult to compare the individual players in both the United and Arsenal defence as our defence has been subject to too much injury and mindless rotation. Mertesacker and Koscielny have had the benefit of time and fitness to form a genuinely excellent partnership and Arsenal look as good defensively as they have in years. The Arsenal back line is currently far more drilled, consistent and unified than United's and I don't even think it's debatable.
However, individually, I'm a huge fan of our defenders and if two were to be selected, preferably Evans and Vidic, with Smalling and Jones as reliable back-up, and they were played in the league together for a prolonged period of time, I'd fairly confident we'd see plenty of clean sheets and some outstanding defensive performances. We just end up getting into the wider issue the team has in that, due to a myriad of reasons, we've looked disjointed and tactically strange for some time.
No defence should have had to deal with the amount of pressure that ours has over the past two seasons. Nor should De Gea.
However, individually, I'm a huge fan of our defenders and if two were to be selected, preferably Evans and Vidic, with Smalling and Jones as reliable back-up, and they were played in the league together for a prolonged period of time, I'd fairly confident we'd see plenty of clean sheets and some outstanding defensive performances. We just end up getting into the wider issue the team has in that, due to a myriad of reasons, we've looked disjointed and tactically strange for some time.
No defence should have had to deal with the amount of pressure that ours has over the past two seasons. Nor should De Gea.
Presently, yes, Smalling has had a poor to average start to the season and looks shaky, Vidic doesn't look his old self ( although he is starting to age now) and Evans is competent but not top level.
You can skew it any way you like right now, this season Arsenals defence is better as a unit.
Smalling has defended excellently at centre half this season. Always does. As has Evans for well over a year, from the Bridge to the Bernabeu. Vidic has been magnificent since the turn of the year and was one of the major reasons behind our title success. A mistake against Sunderland isn't indicative of a wider problem. You've just made that up.
Your last point is valid.
Smalling has not been poor.
imo you're overrating that performance quite a bit.
This is all about this season though, its about defending as a unit as well, it affects players individually.
This is probably just personal opinion, I dont think Smalling has played well this season, whether that's due to whats in front of him, maybe but he wouldn't fill me with confidence. Again with Vidic and the title success, last season, with SAF and a different unit, so far this season he hasn't reached that level.
Nope, this is quite right. Although I don't share your confidence and I really fear United could well end up on the losing side on Sunday.
In recent games they haven't created a glut of chances, even though at times they have been outstanding with how they monopolise possession. In the last four or five games they have predominantly used Cazorla, Rosicky and Ozil as a trident behind Giroud and on a few occasions that has resulted in extremely fluid and dominant football that the opposition can't cope with, like against Napoli and Liverpool. At the same time however, they have really lacked penetration or an outlet at times with Walcott injured and Sagna and Gibbs not providing brilliant attacking width.
I assume Rosicky, Ozil and Cazorla will be the three behind Giroud again on Sunday and I don't expect us to match them in the possession stats or care if we do or do not, I just hope we are resolute and compact defensively, while trying to isolate Giroud as well as service to him, as his hold-up and combination play is excellent.
If it's the Arsenal at their completely fluid best, I really don't see us containing them, but if we flood the midfield a, track runners well, isolate Giroud and Arsenal hopefully struggling to penetrate our defence I will feel quite confident. I also think it's key that we nullify Arteta as much as possible, otherwise Arsenal will ease into their rhythm and easily dictate. Rooney might have to drop deeper and stay tight to him, like he did at Old Trafford last season.
There is no way in high heaven that Smalling, Jones or even Evans would start for us currently. Not a chance., you're taking the piss there.
Same old Arsenal. We'll win.
Gnabry, wo-a-oh!
Gnabry, wo-a-oh!
He'll give Giggsy the ball...
Gnabry, wo-a-oh!
Gnabry, wo-a-oh!
He'll give Giggsy the ball...
I know it is, but we didn't defend as a unit last season either. How can you with a one man midfield and the chopping and changing of centre half's every week? From last season to this, nothing has changed there I can assure you.
Fair enough if that's your opinion, but I don't really get it. Smalling is poor at right back, as he isn't a right back. But on a purely defensive level, he's as good as he has always been. This was evident against Fulham just at the weekend. And as for Vidic, I think a couple of dodgy clearances, neither of which were solely his fault, has skewed perceptions somewhat. He's still the best penalty box defender about for my money.
I think we'll have a better gauge of things in 6 months. I assume, by then, that Moyes will have settled on a partnership and attempted to get us playing like more of a unit.
Moyes should embrace this. Chance to put a marker down in front of everyone. Arsenal the talk of Europe at the moment, full of themselves, Arsene so smug you want to punch him. We're hanging in there without a landmark result to announce our intentions this season, written off by all and sundry. They'll be fecking up for it, Rooney, Van Persie, Vidic, Carrick, Evra. I'm bursting for this. We'll win it.
In response to all this defence nonsense, does no one realise you defend as a TEAM?
Arsenals defence has looked better because they have a far superior midfield, they keep possession better meaning their defence has less to deal with.
Uniteds midfield has been weak for a few years now and the defence has looked worse than it actually is because they have been more exposed
Arsenals defence has looked better because they have a far superior midfield, they keep possession better meaning their defence has less to deal with.
Uniteds midfield has been weak for a few years now and the defence has looked worse than it actually is because they have been more exposed
By the end of this week, Arsenal's first XI will have played 3 high-importance games in quick succession.
Physically they'll probably be okay, but mentally it's draining. Perhaps the win will ease things a bit, but I'd be surprised if Arsenal can maintain their intensity on Sunday.
4-0 to us.
Physically they'll probably be okay, but mentally it's draining. Perhaps the win will ease things a bit, but I'd be surprised if Arsenal can maintain their intensity on Sunday.
4-0 to us.
At the end of the day, we shouldn't under-estimate the power of the underdog, much like in the FA Cup Third Round against a lower league team.
United will be plucky and they'll raise their game when the league leaders come to town.
United will be plucky and they'll raise their game when the league leaders come to town.
Obvious WUM is obvious.
Either way, I'm sure there'll be some laughs on Sunday. This is the biggest United Arsenal game in years, in my opinion. Mostly because a result is now important to us.
fecking hell.
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