Ahead of Sunday’s (May 17) Premier League clash between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, respective members of the UAE supporters’ clubs share their predicted line-ups, results and share with us where to watch the match.
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Ziad Al Jamaan – MUSCUAE
With Arsenal’s shock defeat at home to Swansea last week, this game has some added needle with both sides hoping to secure a top-3 finish in the Premier League. United have achieved what we had set out to do with a top 4 place securing Champions League football but will ideally want to avoid the qualifying round by finishing third.
We played some of our best football between March and April and a top 3 finish looked all-but secure until injuries derailed our challenge. The loss of Michael Carrick has been a huge factor in our recent dip in form.
Looking ahead to the game, Wayne Rooney will be sorely missed and it looks like RVP will be back in contention against his former club.
I would like to see Marouane Fellaini pushed further forward to unsettle the Arsenal back four which at times look soft.
The curtain comes down on the OT season tomorrow as #mufc host Arsenal… https://t.co/8asjgYeKlm
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 16, 2015
Despite his lack of form, Angel Di Maria would be a welcome inclusion as he has all the pace and trickery to cause Nacho Monreal trouble out wide.
On a side note, it is great to be able to welcome Memphis Depay to the club and you can’t help but get excited by the talent and motivation he has. He looks like a great player and is young enough to keep working hard to improve himself.
The Theatre of Dreams is definitely the stage to do that, just ask Cristiano Ronaldo!
Prediction: 2-1 to United.
United predicted line-up: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Fellaini; Young, Mata, Di Maria; Van Persie
United player to watch: Marouane Fellaini – The Belgian needs to rough up the Arsenal team and unsettle them.
Arsenal player to watch: Alexis Sanchez – He is a quality player and an absolute match winner.
Where to watch: Harvesters Pub, Crowne Plaza, Sheikh Zayed Road.
Richard D’Cruze – Arsenal Supporters Club UAE
Victory at Old Trafford will guarantee Arsenal a top three finish this season – a position that is rather unusual for us, with the last time we finished a Premier League season above fourth place back in 2012.
Arsenal have had some bad luck against United over the years but will be buoyed by their FA Cup quarter-final win at Old Trafford back in March.
United will also be desperate to win and close the gap between the two teams, with victory crucial for both camps.
After the ridiculous defeat to Swansea last week Arsenal need to get back to winning ways, especially with just three games left to secure our best finish in three years.
Former United lad Danny Welbeck, who scored the winner against his former employers in the FA Cup, will miss out tomorrow with a knee injury.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and it doesn’t look like he will feature at all for the rest of the season. Mathieu Debuchy is another absentee, although Aaron Ramsey could be back in the side after picking up a slight knock.
Prediction: Arsenal 0-1 to secure third place at least.
Likely Arsenal line-up: Ospina; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Coquelin; Cazorla, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud
Arsenal player to watch: Mesut Ozil – The German international will be looking to use his trickery and pace to get past United’s depleted defence.
United player to watch: Angel Di Maria – The Argentine winger will be heavily relied upon by his teammates to fire them to victory.
Where to watch: The Official Arsenal UAE Supporters Club usually gather at Spirals bar at Grandeur Hotel in Al Barsha. However, due to refurbishment reasons, Arsenal UAE will be gathering at The Crown & Lion Bar at Byblos Hotel in TECOM. For more information on how to become an Arsenal UAE member please contact Joe Davis on [email protected].
