London - Arsenal versus Manchester United is a fixture that has lost its lustre since the days when they were scrapping for Premier League titles with such ferocity that clashes between the sides inevitably reached boiling point.
They shared out the title between them for nine seasons between 1996 and 2004, with Alex Ferguson’s United taking six and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal prevailing on three occasions.
United have been a fading force since Ferguson’s reign ended with the 2012-13 title, while Arsenal have not been champions of England since their Invincibles ruled the roost in 2003-04.
After three successive runners-up finishes, Arsenal are red-hot favourites to end that long wait this season and have opened a seven-point lead at the top over stuttering Manchester City and Aston Villa.
They host United on Sunday, and while their visitors are, once again, not in the title equation, the match has suddenly gone from being what most assumed would be a comfortable home win to a fixture that could rekindle memories of old.
The sacking of manager Ruben Amorim this month ended another chapter of woe for United, but the appointment of former midfielder Michael Carrick − on a caretaker basis until the end of the season − sparked an astonishing reaction last weekend.
United’s 2-0 “thrashing” of City at Old Trafford seemed to banish the gloom at a stroke - with Carrick’s side ripping Pep Guardiola’s title contenders to shreds with the kind of swashbuckling football that has been beyond them for so long.
Arsenal have won five and drawn once in their last six league meetings with United, although they did lose a penalty shootout at home this time last year in the FA Cup.
While Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have a comfortable cushion at the top, they have drawn their last two league matches 0-0, and will be wary of a United side that will be eager to prove last weekend was no flash in the pan.
“I think for Michael, his game plan is simple, exactly the same way as you’ve just played against Manchester City,” United’s record scorer Wayne Rooney said this week.
Although trailing Arsenal by 15 points, United are in fifth, one point behind fourth-placed champions Liverpool, and with genuine hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
City reeled in Arsenal in the build-up to Christmas but a dreadful run of form has left them playing catch-up again.
A home game against bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers tomorrow should allow them to reset.
Unai Emery’s Villa also need a quick bounce back after a draw at Crystal Palace followed by their first home defeat of the season against Everton last week. Villa face a tricky trip to Newcastle United on Sunday. - Reuters