adminLONDON. — Buoyant English Premier League soccer pacesetters Arsenal will look to deal a potentially crushing blow to Manchester United’s slow-burning title defence when they visit Old Trafford for a seismic showdown tomorrow. Arsenal’s momentum appeared to be dwindling after they lost consecutive home games to Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, but they roared back to defeat Liverpool 2-0 in the league last weekend before becoming the first English team to win away to Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Having won eight and drawn one of their nine league games since losing to Aston Villa on the season’s opening day, they travel to Manchester knowing that victory would leave them 11 points clear of the champions after 11 matches of the campaign.
United striker Wayne Rooney poured scorn on Arsenal’s championship credentials this week, saying that their recent title challenges had “faded away”, but the London club’s midfielder Aaron Ramsey says his side have nothing to fear from the 20-time champions.
“Absolutely not. They have had a bit of a rough start, but they have overcome that now I think,” said the Welshman, who took his tally for the season to 11 goals with a headed winner at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.
“They have had a few good results in the league and will be getting their confidence back up, but we are really confident ourselves. Our away record has been really good, so hopefully we can continue building on that.”
But Rooney believes Manchester United will be in a “great position” to retain their Premier League title if they beat Arsenal tomorrow.
United go into the Old Trafford showdown eight points behind the league leaders after a difficult start to the campaign under new manager David Moyes.
But Rooney, who has scored nine goals in 17 appearances so far this season, is confident a win for his side would transform the title race picture and increase the chances of the league trophy remaining in Manchester.
“I think at the minute there’s 28 games to go, anything can happen, one result can turn the league on its head,” he told Sky Sports News.
“We’re still within touching distance and to get a victory on Sunday will put us in a great position I think. It is the perfect fixture for us. Arsenal are obviously doing really well but with our current form, it is a chance for us to get a bit closer in the table.”
United went an eighth game without loss when they drew 0-0 at Real Sociedad in midweek but it was Arsenal who produced the eye-catching Uefa Champions League result of the round with a 1-0 win at least season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund.
The Gunners’ start to the campaign had been an excellent one and they lead the division by five points from a trio of rivals.
Rooney admits the north London side have made clear improvements and says it will be ‘interesting’ to see if they can continue their strong form and avoid a traditional late-season collapse.
“I think they’ve got some great players and you know they’re a good team,” said Rooney, whose first Premier League goal came against Arsenal more than 11 years ago.
“I said the other day after the game it will be interesting to see if they can maintain that, certainly over the last six or seven years they’ve faded off.
“But they seem in a better place, they seem stronger so it will be interesting to see.
“We know we will have to be at our best to beat them but we are capable of that.
“I have always enjoyed my games against them and it has always been a big game. Hopefully we can get the right result on Sunday.” United saw a run of four consecutive wins come to an end in a 0-0 draw away to Real Sociedad on Tuesday, but they are seeking to prolong a sequence of eight matches without defeat in all competitions.
Moyes’s side are also determined to improve on a dismal record in matches against their fellow title contenders this season, having taken just one point from previous encounters with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Fixtures
Today: (all 5pm unless otherwise stated): Aston Villa v Cardiff City, Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace v Everton, Liverpool v Fulham, Norwich City v West Ham United (7:30pm), Southampton v Hull City
Tomorrow: (6:10pm unless otherwise stated): Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United (2pm), Sunderland v Manchester City (4:05pm), Manchester United v Arsenal, Swansea City v Stoke City. — AFP.
Online Reporter