Sir Alex's squad's game against Blackpool in match week 16 was called after due to inclement weather. Bloomfield Road is not equipped with under-soil heaters that are present at the other grounds, hosting Premier League matches, thereby allowing those games to go on as scheduled.Following Chelsea's 1-1 stalemate against Everton in match week 16, United are second on the Premiership table, a point behind Arsenal, and even a draw in the game against Blackpool had it transpired would have taken the Red Devils to the top of the table.
With Ferdinand and Rooney back recovered from injury, the Old Trafford squad is looking much more balanced, and that's an ominous sign for their rivals.
Arsenal are coming off a 2-1 win against Fulham in match week 16 that highlighted Gunner's strength in attack as well as weakness in defence.
Nasri was absolutely brilliant and combined with Arshavin to torment the Fulham back-line. But Arsenal Wenger must worry about his own back-line's patent ineptitude in the absence of Vermaelen. Nasri's magical brace meant that Fabregas became inconspicuous by his absence, and the France national team's manager Domenech must be wondering how he left Nasri out of his squad for the World Cup in South Africa.
But take away Nasri and Fulham might have won the match, with several scoring opportunities created. Such was the shambolic defence of the Gunners that Squillaci and Koscileny decided on putting their heads together (literally) going for the same aerial ball, and even as Squillaci lay on the ground holding his head, Kamara, unmarked, grabbed a pass from Dempsey to get Fulham level on 1-1, on 30 minutes.
Head-to-head, in 182 league meetings between the sides, United hold a 74-66 advantage with 42 games drawn. The sides have met 36 times in the Premier League, and Sir Alex's squad lead 15-10, with the remaining 11 games ending in stalemates. Interestingly, 11 of those wins for United came at Old Trafford, in 19 games at the venue. The last Premier League game between the teams, at the Emirates in January 2010, ended 3-1 in Red Devils' favour.
United's home record this season has been brilliant; they have won 7 of 8 games hosted, with one match drawn. Arsenal's away record has been among the best of all teams, and they have lost just one away game (to Chelsea) while winning 5 and drawing the remaining 2.
Fabregas hopes to return to squad for the game against United, and Wenger must be praying that the Spaniard is match fit in time. Without Fabregas, the Gunners will hand control of the midfield to Manchester United and with Arsenal's shambolic back-line, I cannot see how they could keep the rampaging United forward line in check.
Manchester United's starting eleven against Blackburn in match week 15 comprised Van der Sar, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Berbatov and Rooney. The substitutes were Evans and Obertan.
Arsenal had the following men in their starting eleven against Fulham: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci,Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Nasri, Rosicky, Arshavin and Chamakh. The following players were used as substitutes: Djourou, van Persie and Walcott.
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