Two sides both disheartened by recent humblings will clash at the Emirates this Wednesday, in what could be a make or break game for both.
Title contenders Arsenal trudged home from Anfield after the 5-1 drubbing at the weekend while Champions League hopefuls Man United fell foul to a last minute equaliser to bottom side Fulham on Sunday.
The Gunners have fallen adrift from the frontrunners as Chelsea picked up a valuable 3 point to put them top, while City – despite a recent drop in form – also added to their tally.
United have been the butts of many jokes this season as the League holders have dropped down the table in a kamikaze style, but were on top at Old Trafford earlier this season when a Robin van Persie header was enough to separate the sides.
The tides have well and truly turned since then, and rumours that the Dutch striker is pushing for a return to the Emirates have engulfed the fixture.
Team News
Arsenal’s only squad change is the return of summer signing Yaya Sanogo, who has recovered from a back injury which kept him out of action for 5 months.
Sanogo joined along with Mathieu Flamini and Mesut Ozil this summer but has managed just the one Premier League appearance – a 10 minute stint away at Fulham earlier on in the season.
Flamini himself will also miss the game as he serves the additional game of his red card ban picked up against Southampton, which was increased from 3 to 4 having been banned once already this season.
Aaron Ramsey remains sidelined with a thigh problem, along with Thomas Vermaelen, Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott all through knee problems.
Sole January signing Kim Kallstrom still has the back problem he carried when he undertook his medical at Arsenal, and so will have to wait to make his debut.
“We have no injuries from Saturday and we have Sanogo available as well. Everybody else should be available for [the United game]. As well there are no comebacks, people like Vermaelen, Ramsey are still out.”
RvP’s RSPV
Arsene Wenger has refused to comment on speculation that former Gunners captain Robin van Persie will be making a move back to the club where he spent 8 seasons with between 2004 and 2012.
He made his move at the beginning of last season where he succeeded in winning the League in his debut season, however as United flop to 6th in the table with no sign of redemption, he could come scurrying back as Arsenal challenge for the title themselves.
But Wenger is still refusing to comment on the fact that almost every newspaper in the country has linked the unsettled Dutchman with a sensational return:
'I don't think that's an ideal subject for us to speak about.' The boss said.
Woj’s Woes
Wojciech Szcezsny has delivered a rallying cry to his Gunners teammates following their humiliating defeat away at Liverpool.
Szczesny had to pick the ball out of his net 5 times in the game at Anfield, receiving little support from the usually resilient defence in front of him. However the Polish number 1 has called upon his fellow players to make up for what was a day to forget:
“We represent one of the biggest clubs in the world and what we did early on is not acceptable.”
“We said that at half-time, we went out in the second half with a different attitude and it was much more of an even game.” He explained.
“But as I said we will learn our lesson from this and respond quickly against Man United.”
The 23-year-old will make his 140th appearance for the Gunners on Wednesday night.
Possible XI
Szczesny; Sagna Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs; Wilshere Arteta; Ozil Cazorla Oxlade-Chamberlain; Giroud
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