The Big Win!!
It was that time again. That same feeling again. The world was all set for yet another edition of Mourinho Vs Wenger Again. It is Arsenal Vs Manchester United Again. The two English giants take on each other at the Emirates stadium during a tea time Premier League fixture on Saturday in London. A much-anticipated clash that could go beyond our imaginations and dreams, where one should expect the unexpected. 4th placed Arsenal will be looking to take three points on their home turf, but the odds slightly favor 2nd place United and here are the reasons why:
- Jose Mourinho’s Record Against Arsene Wenger – The Portuguese boss has quite a stellar record against top clubs and managers in general, but when it comes to facing the Frenchman, it’s quite remarkable the way he prepares himself for these games. In 13 Premier League encounters Mourinho has lost just once against Wenger, which was admittedly the last time these two sides met at the Emirates in May 2017. There have been 6 draws and 5 wins all while Mourinho managed Chelsea, and one 1-1 draw during his first encounter against Arsenal when took charge of Manchester United. The verbal spats and digs the two managers swipe at each other just adds to the intensity that takes place on the pitch. However, Wenger hasn’t lost to Mourinho since he has taken over at Manchester United and will be looking to get one over him once again.
- Contract Extensions – The Gunners are facing a lot of problems with regards to extending the contracts of many of their top stars including the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, who are possibly expected to leave the club at the end of the current campaign. Due to this, the atmosphere is quite disrupted at the Emirates, with regards to the future of these two stars and it could play a key part in determining whether or not things work out for them. With the way things stand at present, it is hurting the Arsenal cause and they have already lost some crucial games this term.
- The Pogba and Zlatan Factor – We all knew why Manchester United had a dip in form over the past few weeks and it was quite obvious that the Red Devils lost their driving force in midfield, ace midfielder Paul Pogba however, is back and in contention to start against Arsenal after his hamstring injury. The Frenchman has been instrumental for United and was missed greatly during tough encounters against Liverpool and Chelsea. But having him back is a big boost for the whole club; after all, it wasn’t a long time away since he was the world’s most expensive player. Another major boost for United is the arrival of Big Swedish star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic from injury. He may be 36 years old but dare to Zlatan his ability and understanding of the game. His name alone is enough to throw the fright into opposing defenders and with Lukaku unable to find the net on his own, Zlatan’s presence on the field would be a massive bonus for the Belgian if Mourinho decides to start the two powerhouse forwards.
