The idea of Arsenal and Manchester United going head-to-head for the Premier League title feels like a throwback to a bygone era many younger fans will never have known.
The same goes for some players.
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was only 2 years old when Arsene
Wenger’s “Invincibles” won the London club’s last title in 2004. He was 11 when
United last won in 2013.
Both teams, however, head into Sunday’s match at Emirates
Stadium knowing victory would be a significant boost to their respective title
ambitions at the expense of the other — even if doubts remain over their
credentials to break Manchester City’s dominance.
Arsenal continues to confound pre-season predictions by
leading the way at the top of the standings, with last week’s north London
derby win over Tottenham the latest evidence that the team coached by Mikel
Arteta is a genuine contender.
While United’s momentum took a blow on Wednesday when
conceding a stoppage time equalizer against Crystal Palace, victory against
City last week was another sign of the ongoing improvement under manager Erik
ten Hag.
United has lost only one game in its last 20 in all
competitions, winning 16 on that run.
The form of both teams sets up a highly-anticipated match,
brining to mind the famous battles of the past when the two teams consistently
competed against each other for the title in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
A win for Arsenal would potentially put an end to talk of
United seriously challenging at the top this season by extending the gap
between the clubs to 11 points. United, however, is the only team to have
beaten Arsenal in the league this season and has the motivation of moving
within five points of the leaders if it can repeat that feat.
If the meeting between Arsenal and United is an unexpected
title showdown, then the context of Liverpool’s game against Chelsea on
Saturday is also unexpected.
Liverpool has gone from challenging for an unprecedented
quadruple last season to mid-table mediocrity. The Champions League finalists
from last season are in ninth place, one spot above Chelsea on goal difference.
Back-to-back losses in the league against Brentford and
Brighton have typified Liverpool’s erratic form as the team led by Jurgen Klopp
looks to be in danger of missing out on the top four.
Victory against Wolverhampton in the FA Cup lifted the mood
at the Merseyside club, but it needs to put a run together in the league to
challenge for Champions League qualification.
Chelsea’s top-four hopes are also in jeopardy after a season
of upheaval under new owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel was fired in
September, and pressure is mounting on replacement Graham Potter after seven
losses in the last 11 games.
Last week’s win over Palace was much-needed, but another
loss at Anfield would raise fresh questions about the former Brighton manager’s
ability to take on such a high profile job.
West Ham’s game against Everton on Saturday is a clash
between two teams who are sinking fast. Both are in the relegation zone after
miserable runs, with West Ham winning one of its last eight games in all
competitions and Everton winning one of its last 13 and winless in nine.
To add spice to that contest, West Ham manager David Moyes
was formerly in charge at Everton before leaving to take over at Manchester
United in 2013. Everton manager Frank Lampard began his playing career at West
Ham.
Leicester’s form has also plummeted since the holidays and
sits two points above the relegation zone heading into its game against
Brighton on Saturday.
Four straight league losses have undone the revival overseen
by manager Brendan Rodgers after a poor start to the season saw it fail to win
a game until October. -AP
0 comments:
Post a Comment