Super Sunday - EPL : Arsenal vs Manchester United - Jan 21
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ARSEnal 1 - MU 2
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Papers: Persie to miss out
Persie To Miss Utd Clash
Robin van Persie is set to miss Sunday’s clash with Manchester United. Arsenal’s Dutch strike ace faces a week on the sidelines after suffering a knock in training. But his absence means Togo hitman Emmanuel Adebayor, who bagged the winner at United in September, is being lined up to start at The Emirates. Boss Arsene Wenger is hoping Van Persie — who has bagged five goals in six games — will be back for the Carling Cup clash with North London rivals Spurs next Wednesday.
Steve Brenner, The Sun -
Man Utd will have a difficult game...
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Cesc: Scholes is just Fab
CESC FABREGAS has hailed Paul Scholes as the player he most admires in England.
ArsenalÂ’s Spanish midfielder will pit his skills against Manchester United in SundayÂ’s Premiership showdown and Fabregas is relishing the chance to go head-to-head with his hero.
Rumoured to be the man who put the pizza into Pizzagate when the clubs clashed at Old Trafford two years ago, Fabregas showered his rival with compliments yesterday.
The Gunners star, 19, said: “Paul Scholes has had a fantastic season.
“He is a very complete, spectacular footballer. He always fights for the ball and tries to lose his marker to help his team-mates — either to defend or to have a shot on goal.
“For any football player in the Premiership, Scholes is a player you want to emulate.
“One player does not make a team but there is no doubt that the presence of some players add extra motivation and confidence.
“Scholes is a player with character and is capable of transmitting that mental strength to his team-mates.
“I would happily end my career with the medals that Scholes has. He has six league titles, four FA Cups, one European Cup and one Inter-Continental Cup to his name.
“I am young and I hope that I will be able to surpass him — but it is not going to be easy.”
Arsene WengerÂ’s side trail the Premiership leaders by 15 points but Fabregas believes he has seen enough improvement at United to suggest they can beat Chelsea to the title.
He said: “United are very strong. After two years in England where Chelsea have dominated it seems that they can take them on this time to win the Premier League again.
“They have a very complete squad and, right now, they are the team to beat.
“They have gained solidity and consistency and they are scoring lots of goals with ease.” -
at least this game is with good ambience...
imagine a few seasons ago, when each other was trying to go at each others' throat...
hopefully, we get a good game..and of course, break some records.. -
Damn sad...right now Fabregas is the perfect player to replace Scholes when the latter retires. But he's a gunner.
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dun bet on it.. we're playing in Emirates.. dun expect any 'good ambience' since both teams still has intense rivalry, although it'll be less hostile than in Anfield..Originally posted by iceFatboy:at least this game is with good ambience...
imagine a few seasons ago, when each other was trying to go at each others' throat...
hopefully, we get a good game..and of course, break some records..
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Things are much different now with KEane & Vieira gone.Originally posted by iceFatboy:at least this game is with good ambience...
imagine a few seasons ago, when each other was trying to go at each others' throat...
hopefully, we get a good game..and of course, break some records.. -
Theirry: Scholes is my pick
THIERRY HENRY knows where he will be casting his vote for the PFA Player of the Year.
It goes, without any need for debate, to one of his opponents in tomorrow’s big showdown at The Emirates — Manchester United’s Paul Scholes.
Henry believes the rejuvenated Scholes is one of the major reasons why United top the Premiership table.
The Arsenal skipper is naturally curious about life and few things have puzzled him more than the fact the United midfield genius has never won the ultimate honour from his fellow professionals.
Henry has won it twice but Scholes has not had a sniff.
The shy and retiring Scholes would never blow his own trumpet but Henry is happy to do it for him.
He knows that when Scholes is in the opposition, beating United is a more difficult proposition.
Henry said: “For years Paul Scholes has been one of the best players in the Premiership.
“He’s incredible. He’s come back into the team after his eye injury and he’s playing so well, like he’s never been away.
"He has always been under-rated throughout his career. HeÂ’s a team player a one and two-touch footballer who makes good decisions on the pitch and makes his team play.
“I don’t understand why he has never won the player of the year. A guy like that should have won it long ago.” -
i cant wait any longer.
i hope both teams play an attacking game.
may the better team win.
go arsenal, go!!!
go man u, go!!!
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-> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/6277931.stm
read Mark Lawro's views... quite interesting.. -
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says defeat to Manchester United on Sunday would end their title bid.
The Gunners are currently 15 points behind the league leaders, but can reduce the arrears against The Red Devils, live on Sky Sports 1.
The French tactician believes his charges can take heart from their Old Trafford win earlier in the season and is hoping for a repeat at the Emirates.
Arsenal's chances of a double look good after winning all four games played since the turn of the New Year - including a 6-3 Carling Cup win at Liverpool.
Asked if defeat would end the club's quest for the title, Wenger replied: "For us, certainly.
"It's a good opportunity to reduce the distance on Manchester United and we want to use it.
"We are really determined to reduce the gap. We know we can beat United because we've done it away.
"Why shouldn't we do it at home? We're in good form, they are as well, it's a very promising game.
"I think both teams will go for it because United are also a team who try to score goals."
-> http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=442772&CPID=8&clid=3&lid=3&title=Wenger:+Loss+would+end+title+bid&channel=& -
read LE Tiss's views.
-> http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=442581&CPID=8&clid=3&lid=1490&title=A+blast+from+the+pass+-+Le+Tiss
I'll start with my prediction on this one - I can see Arsenal winning this.
If there is any side in the Premiership playing with enough confidence to go to the Emirates and win right now it is United, but for me, Arsenal win this.
They are playing some cracking stuff right now, especially at home.
They struggled to get to grips with their new surroundings to start with, but now they are passing the ball so well and as those Liverpool games showed, are a club brimming with confidence.
Arsene Wenger has got all his players playing the same way and while they might not challenge for the title this year, I think they will be a real force next time around.
And I think what we have seen in the past few games is what we can expect next season and what Manchester United can expect on Sunday.
The passing and the movement is great to watch and the younger players seem to revel in the atmosphere at the Emirates.
And then they have Thierry Henry back on song.
That little break seems to have done him the world of good and now he looks 100 per cent and as if he wants to be involved in the game.
And he will want to make a mark in this one to shut those people up who say he goes missing when the big ones come along.
They way Arsenal are playing right now, I am expecting a big things from the Frenchman.
They will need his experience as well because Gilberto Silva is a big loss to suspension, or his presence is at least.
Mathieu Flamini will fill in and won't do a bad job, and Cesc Fabregas seems to grow with every game and everything that's asked of him.
He is up against Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, who is starting to find his feet, but I still think Fabregas can come out on top.
Having said that, if there is one area United will be looking to exploit it is that Arsenal back four.
They still don't look entirely convincing across the backline and with Ryan Giggs back from a rest and Cristiano Ronaldo flying, the wide areas could be United's best bet.
But they'll need a big game from Wayne Rooney.
I saw him against Villa and he looked well off the pace. His touch was awful, by his standards and he just didn't look like his old self.
It might be off-the-field problems or it might even be the fact that Ronaldo is getting all the headlines, but something looked to be up.
I am sure Sir Alex Ferguson will have had a word because although they are still winning, they are going to need Rooney at his best for the run-in.
Of course, his workrate didn't drop and you wouldn't bet against him having a say here, but I just think the whole Arsenal side is right on its game right now, which is why I can see them edging this. -
Liverpool 2 - 0 Chelsea
Chelsea are cracking up under pressure...
Even if man u lose to gunners at least it will still stay as 6 points... If draw also can if win then bonus lah... -
Make it 9 pts clear man..
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Liverpool put up a great game!
Now Utd is more or less assured of its position at the moment. Cross our fingers that it wins the match against the Gunners! -
van persie confirm not playing?
gilberto suspended rite?
hoho. -
Thank goodness man u didn't buy Jon Obi Mikel... I think Darren Fletcher is far better than him... Luck chelsea snatch him away from man u... now they can use the money chelsea paid to help pay 2/3 of the purchase of Hargreaves.
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chelsea snatched players from other teams and they are now paying for it. SWP, ballack and mikel sucks!!!
it is now up to man u. a draw to my opinion is enough. it will put man u 7 points in front and 14 goals ahead. a win will virtually end chelsea's challenge. -
Arsenal 2-3 Man Utd
Goals from Larson,Roony and Ronaldo
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Yeah, seems like the players they snatched from others don't seem to do well at all... SWP, ballack and mikel... even robben the only one that is ok but he is very prone to injuries... I guess it was a blessing in disguise when man u didn't signed ballack, mikel and robben... Cos had man u signed robben, they probably wouldn't have bought ronaldo, and had they signed ballack & mikel, we probably wouldn't have seen carrick at man u.Originally posted by dragg:chelsea snatched players from other teams and they are now paying for it. SWP, ballack and mikel sucks!!!
it is now up to man u. a draw to my opinion is enough. it will put man u 7 points in front and 14 goals ahead. a win will virtually end chelsea's challenge.
Looks like there is retribution after all...
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A 7-point lead is enough. However, Arsenal themselves need points too.Originally posted by dragg:chelsea snatched players from other teams and they are now paying for it. SWP, ballack and mikel sucks!!!
it is now up to man u. a draw to my opinion is enough. it will put man u 7 points in front and 14 goals ahead. a win will virtually end chelsea's challenge.
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lets go for a 9 point lead.....
ballack is massively ordinary considering he is one of the best midfielders in the world while at bayern. shevchenko is faring even worse. mikel looks ordinary. wonder whats the fuss over him? actually SWP is a handful while on the right. pity he aint the 1st choice at chelski.
anyway on to tonight. fabregas vs scholes... interesting. i must say he is quite fantastic. but w/o gilberto and gallas, think man utd shld use giggs and ronaldo for penetration. keep henry quiet and man utd shld win.
the fixture in aug last yr was quite bad. losing to a solitary goal. i thought a draw would have been fair. oh well, looking forward to tonight -
somehow, I got a bad feeling about this..
but it will be sweet revenge if we can nick it by a goal..
cause like MUFC, Gunners' counter-attack is potent.. -
I still feel that Ballack will fit in with the Man Utd system though...Originally posted by zocoss:Yeah, seems like the players they snatched from others don't seem to do well at all... SWP, ballack and mikel... even robben the only one that is ok but he is very prone to injuries... I guess it was a blessing in disguise when man u didn't signed ballack, mikel and robben... Cos had man u signed robben, they probably wouldn't have bought ronaldo, and had they signed ballack & mikel, we probably wouldn't have seen carrick at man u.
Looks like there is retribution after all...