Arsenal were put to the sword on Saturday by Skirtel (brace), Sterling (brace) and Sturridge as Liverpool ran riot over the Barclays Premier League leaders. The 5-1 hammering caused Arsene Wenger’s team to slip from first to second, overtaken by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea who cruised to a 3-0 victory over Newcastle.
Arsenal were put to the sword on Saturday by Skirtel (brace), Sterling (brace) and Sturridge as Liverpool ran riot over the Barclays Premier League leaders. The 5-1 hammering caused Arsene Wenger’s team to slip from first to second, overtaken by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea who cruised to a 3-0 victory over Newcastle.
On Sunday, the defending champions Manchester United trailed bottom placed team Fulham, for a large part of the game before taking the lead with two goals in two minutes and with ten minutes left to play. It seemed as though they had done enough to secure all three points but they were bent out of shape by a Darren Bent header in the 94th minute as the game ended 2-2. This type of disappointing result has become all too familiar to United fans so far this season and the whole aura of Old Trafford has been quickly eroded.
Arsenal will host a less than confident Manchester United on Wednesday in a game both managers will feel that their team has to win.
For Arsenal it is a matter of not letting the now infamous ‘February collapse’ happen again this term and cause all the hard work that they have done so far this season to go to waste. For United, defending the title is out of the question, but a place in Europe has to be high on the agenda. Being nine points and three places out of a Champions League spot must be worrying for the ‘Old Trafford’ faithful.
Neither team can even afford a draw, making this game a pivotal one in their respective seasons. The last time both teams met in the league was at Old Trafford where United carved out a narrow 1-0 win. It is hard to see either manager not being in favour of claiming such a result today and the pressure ahead of the game is mounting by the minute.
Mesut Ozil came in for a lot of criticism for his performance against Liverpool where two turnovers by the German lead to two goals for Liverpool. It will be interesting to see if Wenger keeps faith in him and how the midfielder responds in another big game for the club.
Both sets of fans seem ready to riot for different reasons, but come what may, at least one of these two managers will be burnt at the stake should one team win, a draw and both will be vilified for not knowing what it is they are doing.
Photo: Arsene Wenger (Getty Images)
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