Utd-Arsenal

Sleepy_NikI envisage two 4-2-3-1 formations of sorts. Ferguson has selection dilemmas in the shape of choosing two from Park Fletcher Anderson and Carrick given that Berbatov's partnership with Rooney is so vital to team fluency. Berbatov may well be sacrificed but I am gambling on Rooney dropping deeper than usual in a central-left position. Fergie usually selects according to form so that means Anderson and Carrick are in along with Nani; whilst Park and Fletcher (with Scholes injured & Giggs not fully fit) will fight for the one remaining midfield birth. Though not up to scratch of late, Fletcher should get the nod given his experience and his ability to up his game against his favourite opposition.

Wenger has question marks over the fitness of Fabregas and Van Persie; Fabregas is likely to get the nod in what is a crucial game, particularly for the gunners. Behind him is Song and one of Wilshere and Denilson - the latter perhaps more suited to the probable physical nature of the game if fit. Nasri will start in a left of centre position as part of a front 3 with Arshavin and Chamakh. Rafael will have to be just as composed as he was in the game versus Tottenham where he dealt with Bale very well. Nasri is arguably the Premiership's form player and his free role in the final third will be a constant threat to United's back-line; Carrick especially will have to be alert and positionally astute in order to snuff out the danger, much in the same way he did with Van der Vaart in the same Tottenham game.

Key battles:

As much as Nasri is a worry for United's fullbacks, Nani's form has been equally fantastic, and the largely inconsistent Clichy can expect a tough night. Much of his success has stemmed from his ability to "mix it up" - hitting the byline and crossing successfully much like Valencia, or coming inside to link with the forward players in and around the 18-yard area.

Anderson versus Song could be a an interesting battle; Though their natural starting positions would imply a direct head-head, Song has recently had some relative joy making late surges into final third to support the attack. Anderson will have to be conscious of this and not stay too far forward once relinquished of possession.

Fabregas has typically struggled to express himself at OT (though his defensive duties go largely unnoticed) and he will feel he has a lot to prove against United. Fletcher has not hit top form this season but I fully expect him to be at his rampaging best against a team he loves to do battle.

Finally, we have the Berbatov/Koscielny duel. Berbatov had been relatively quiet in Rooney's absence (though the deep lying creative role has not gone unnoticed by the manager), but was back with a verve and panache v Blackburn as he scored 5. Interestingly, he played much further forward than usual in this game (the last time he played so far ahead of Rooney was the home game versus Liverpool) and has relinquished some of the creative duties to Rooney. Expect him to target the inconsistent Frenchman, and have some success in tandem with the "roaming" Rooney as well as Nani coming in from the right.

So, much could depend on the displays of the form players, Nani and Nasri; But one interesting thing to observe will be the ability / willingness of the full-backs on view (and in Sagna and Evra you have arguably the world's best right and left fullback respectively when on form) to get forward and exploit the space which will undoubtedly appear in the wide areas. Indeed, attack could be the best form of defence as the best plan of action could be to pin the opposing winger/fullback back into defensive positions. Rafael could be included ahead of Brown and O'Shea for this very reason.

12.12.2010

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