YES it’s that time of year where the weather is as unpredictable as the final scores and new visitors come into the 
glorious Manchester for a weekend visit. That’s right, Arsenal are in town! While they will be attempting to steal the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow – United’s storming win over Wigan last weekend sends us into the game in the right way. Wayne Rooney has started the season in fabulous form and Dimitar Berbatov seems to have found a new gear now that Michael Owen’s arrival means he won’t be the slowest player at the club. Nemanja Vidic’s return gives the team a visible confidence and Ben Foster grows in stature with each outing. That’s not to say he’s going to be ready to topple Van Der Sar as the club’s top ‘keeper just yet, but he seems to be keeping the dodgy confidence blips to a minimum.
“It will reassure everyone to know that Anderson has remembered that he won’t just get into the team because a space has become available. This is not Newcastle United!”
Here comes the science (or the best you are going to get from us)…concentrate! There is a winning formula to United so far this season even after so few games and what is more, ‘Brilliant Ben’ manages to banish his dodgy low confident demons when this formula is folowed. Johnny Evans and Patrice Evra have kept Ben company at the back in both victories so far, Antonio Valencia, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and Nani was the midfield on those occasions with Rooney and the Notorious BERB up front. Fergie opted for Carrick and Anderson against Burnley and well, yes.
On the subject of Anderson, his strop was headline news in the early part of the week and while not denying that the Brazilian flicked his braids in a huff with the boss, he has confirmed that he is happy to stay at the club: “I thought I could play more” said the well mannered midfielder, “”Sir Alex Ferguson has demanded a bigger effort from me and I accept that.” It will reassure everyone to know that the boy has remembered that he won’t just get into the team because a space has become available. This is not Newcastle United!
Bottom line is, for all the hoopla this is Arsenal. It may be the same division as Wigan but it’s in a different league and we will need the confidence gained from the Wigan game and then some as the the softies from that London have started like the super quick train that got the go ahead. The game is as much a test of where Arsenal are, as it is for us but if our big players (and the tiny ickle Michael Owen) have a blinder then we should have more than Arsenal.
We are quite prepared to see some wild and unexpected things over this weekend, but three point is expected and if we can get a live rendition of the Wenger hit single “I didn’t see it but I think it was wrong” then call it the best weekend ever.
Special thanks MUST go to Sport Cartoons Network for making us laugh! Go over there and tell ’em we sent ya!
Until sometime next week**, in a bit. GtS
Given to Score 