Manchester United Vs Arsenal 2009 | Arsenal formation against Manchester United | Arsenal Starting line up vs Manchester United

This week end Arsenal ill be facing the defending champions or you can call them as depleted champions Manchester United at Old Trafford. Last season arsenal scored 4 out 6 points against Man U in league fixtures, this season with few star players missing in there squad, it will be interesting to see how gunners will fare this season. But the only negative thing for gunners going into this fixture is the absence of Francesc Fabregas, who could be out for up to 3 weeks. So its sure that we can't expect creatively brilliance in the midfield that produced score line like 6 -1 and 4 - 1 and also Arsenal are playing away from home against the champions, so we could say that its really tough for Arsenal to get a result and make it 3 out of 3 win this season. But don't underestimate them, Arsenal have quite often proved wrong who wrote them off.

Staring from current squad players, former players, football pundits and fans all over the world have prised Arsene Wenger for the new formation that he applied this season. But I seriously doubt that the formation would work without Fabregas. Against Man U in there own backyard, the formation should be more defensive. So i have gone for 4 2 2 1 1 formation.


Alexandre Song and Denilson play as two defensive midfielders, thats the best role that they can play rather that expecting them to be Fabregas. Theo Walcott should be fit in time for this game, but that is only my guess. So I have placed him as the right winder with Andrei Arshavin being the left wingers. Eduardo is the center forward accompanying this above him is Robin van Persie. The game plan is wings, we have got two great players playing in those position, let them create chances and our strikers finishing it, because Man U have two wall in the form of central defenders, its really fought to get past them but the wing back are not that convincing enough so we can expect something out there and let Song and Denilson win possession and feed the wings. I really convinced that Arsenal would at least get a point out of this, even without Fabregas simply because. Compare the midfield of Man U and Arsenal you will agree with me.

Arsenal Vs Portsmouth post match review | Arsenal 4 Portsmouth 1 | Fabregas injured | Francesc Fabregas injury 2009 | Abou Diaby scores 2 goals

Comprehensive performance but not as comprehensive we all wish for, was the performance of gunners against Portsmouth. Even though the score line is 4 - 1 in Arsenal's favor, there are still some concerns like Strikers not scoring, defense of dead ball, complacency and injuries.

Arsenal started the game is the right frame of mind, we can see the confidence and belief in the squad. They kept possessions as usual, passed brilliant in fact some were 100% accurate and most importantly believed in each others abilities. Fabregas started the days proceedings with a lovely loft to Eduardo who stated today, he showed as why we all rate him so much with a brilliant ball to Abou Diaby who thundered one in the top right corner even though David James got a hand to it. A classic Arsenal counter attack made the score line 2 Nil, Diaby scored the second too.

Diaby playing in his 100th match for Arsenal had all the luck and scored 2 goals in span of 2 minutes. Manuel Almunia then made a casual effect to clear a cross but Kabul made full use of it and made it 2 - 1. Almunia could have done better should have seen Kabul coming and jumped in front of him, rather he collided with him.

The score could have been even more flattering for Arsenal, David James showed why he still the England No.1. He made a string a fantabulous saved to keep Robin Van Persie Frustrated. I'm really amused by the reflexes of the nearly 40 year old goalie. Fabio Capello who watched the game from the stands, should have been a happy man. But his happiness was short lived as James was replaced Injured in the closing stages.

William Gallas scored in the 3rd consecutive match of the season when he deflected home Vermaelen's cross in a awkward way. Its always good to see the center backs coming up and scoring consistently. Aaron Ramsey who substituted Fabregas in the half time scored his first premier league goal to seal the game for the gunners.

Man of the match : Abou Diaby (but for me it is David James)

Fabregas who started even though he was injured was taken off during the half as it had worsened. Its Hamstring injury, he will surly miss the return leg of champions trophy match against Celtic. Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that he is fit in time for the match Against Manchester United.