Arsenal vs Manchester United: Injuries Will Derail Gunners Against Red Devils

Arsenal vs Manchester United: Injuries Will Derail Gunners Against Red Devils

Arsenalwould be wise to stock the
Emirates Stadium with antiseptic rinse
ahead of Sunday's monumental English
Premier League clash with
Manchester United.
That is, unless the Gunners would
prefer to leave their supporters with
yet another bad taste in their mouths.
The one lingering from the
embarrassing 8-2 travesty at Old
Trafford back in August isn't likely to
go anywhere amidst Arsenal's ongoing
woes on the pitch and in the training
room.
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According to Mirror Football,
Thierry Henry, whom Arsene
Wenger was planning to pair with Robin
van Persie up front, is "no better than
50-50" to feature at all on Sunday,
much less make the starting XI. The
34-year-old once-and-former Arsenal
talisman strained his calf in training on
Tuesday and may need to rest as a
result.
And if that weren't bad enough, the
Gunners may also be without
midfielderMikel Artetaand center-
back Thomas Vermaelen, also on
account of injury. These, on top of the
continued absences of AndreSantos,
Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, Jack
Wilshere and Bacary Sagna.
It's hardly an ideal situation for Le
Professeur, whose side was similarly
threadbare the last time these two
powerhouses met on the pitch.
Granted, Sir Alex Ferguson isn't exactly
without his own fitness concerns,
either. His midfield is similarly depleted,
with Tom Cleverley, Darren Fletcher
and Ashley Young all on the mend at
some point or another, while the likes
of Danny Welbeck, Anderson, Nemanja
Vidic, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling
have all struggled to stay fit.
So, on the whole, Arsenal wouldn't
appear to be at too great a
disadvantage, at least when it comes to
those on the first-team squad who are
fit to play.
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Then again, the Gunners haven't
exactly shown much of late to inspire
confidence in their ability to avenge the
six-goal drubbing in question. They've
dropped their last two EPL matches (to
Fulhamand Swansea) and needed a
miraculous goal by Henry to top lowly
Leeds Unitedin FA Cup play.
And that's not even to mention a slim
1-0 victory over QPR or a 1-1 draw
with Wolves just prior.
In other words, Arsenal aren't exactly
on a good run of form, with or without
their walking wounded. They'll have
to hope that Man U are similarly
strapped by knocks on Sunday.
Otherwise, Listerine figures to make a
pretty penny off the legions of
disgusted Gooners roaming through
North London shortly after the match.