Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has demanded his side show the "hunger" of champions at Manchester United on Sunday.

The Gunners head to Old Trafford on the back of an impressive 1-0 Champions League victory at Borussia Dortmund which put them on course for qualification from Group F.

Even though Arsenal beat second-placed Liverpool 2-0 last weekend to move five points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League, time will tell whether Wenger's squad can last the distance through to May.

Indeed earlier this week, Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney highlighted Arsenal's failure to maintain their form through the business end of recent campaigns.

While Wenger is too experienced to pay much attention to mind games, the Frenchman understands it will now be down to how much his squad believe in themselves to end almost a decade without a trophy.

"Usually after Christmas we have been very strong every season. For the rest, the comments are the comments - nobody knows what will happen in the future," said Wenger.

He could have England midfielder Jack Wilshere back in his squad at United following an ankle problem.

"What is the most important is that we trust our quality and show the resilience and the hunger to achieve what we can achieve," said Wenger.

"We have made a lot of improvements at the back in our defensive game and we have done well in the last two games, but there is a lot to do.

"We cannot come to the conclusion that we are in a position where we can relax - we have a lot more to achieve.

"We have won nothing at all, we have just won two games, and what is important is what we achieve in the future."

Arsenal will face their former captain Robin van Persie, the Holland forward having left the Emirates Stadium in August 2012 for B£24million and scored 26 goals as Sir Alex Ferguson's men delivered the title.

Wenger admits it still does not sit well to see the player he signed as a 20-year-old from Feyenoord in the red of United, claiming "for me he is an Arsenal man".

Van Persie, of course, was not the first high-profile Gunner to leave the Emirates Stadium in recent seasons in search of success, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor all having moved on for big-money fees.

Wenger accepts it could seem some were perhaps a bit "impatient".

He said: "We have gone through years where we had to be tight financially and we did it in a way that was logical and normal without fading too much at the top level.

"Some players saw the other big clubs buying world-named players and of course they lost a little bit confidence that we can compete with them.

"I think we have always been consistent in the way we thought the club has to be run, but at some stage we can turn the corner. Hopefully we have done it this year."

David Moyes believes Arsenal's flying start to the Premier League campaign underlines the value of managerial longevity.

In a summer of dramatic change at three of England's four Champions League contenders, Arsenal remained an oasis of stability.

Although they had completed eight seasons without a trophy, there was never any question of the Gunners' hierarchy ditching their boss of 17 years.

The decision has reaped its reward in Arsenal charging five points clear at the top of the table, and eight ahead of Manchester United ahead of Sunday's showdown at Old Trafford.

It may be a surprise to some. Not to Moyes.

"People who really know the game did mention Arsenal," said Moyes.

"They've got stability. For the first time in a long time, a lot of the other sides have changed their manager.

"I felt Arsenal would have an opportunity because they are not having those changes. The manager knew all the players and was used to working with them.

"Arsenal have always been a good team, so it should not be a big surprise they have started the season so well.

"It just shows it is the right way for clubs to go in the long-term.

"I do believe that the way to get success is to stick with your manager and give them a lengthy period in the job."

United will be without Danny Welbeck, who is sidelined with a knee injury, although Moyes does have the remainder of his squad available for the crunch clash.

http://espnfc.com/en/preview/367381/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

#TeamUnited#.......The chosen 1 Happy sunday all...United all the way.....#the Choosen comment..

If you think Manchester United will win, click Like.

'Like' if u think Arsenal will demolish Man Utd.

They'll draw LIKE No going back

CFCfan: 'Like' if u think Arsenal will demolish Man Utd.

lol. That's an Impossibility.

CFCfan: 'Like' if u think Arsenal will demolish Man Utd.

I won't use the word demolish but the gunners are gonna beat the red devils.

greaterlove: I won't use the word demolish but the gunners are gonna beat the red devils.

lol Perhaps, you've never realized that
-> Man utd hasn't lost any match in their last 7 encounters?
-> Man utd remains at number 8 but Number 2(chelsea) is leading with just 3 points?
With RVP, Rooney, Januzaj, and Hernandez(chicharito) as sub. Arsenal will suffer from the attacking strategies of those guys.

I knw dat chelsea and liverpool fans will be supporting my darling team to beat arsenal but u people should not worry about us because we re not going to do for ur sake but for our own gud. up man united.

safe06: @nashoji,whatever rocks man-u's boat,we care less,the koko is to beat arsenal make chelsea climb up...shikena..if ona like no beat arsenal coz ona no want chelsea to climb up,e go do ona like Indian film when ona enter relegation...lol...

lol. Even if we help you defeat Arsenal. How are u so sure Chelsea will win their next game. My prayer is : Man utd win, chelsea lose so that we can have thesame points.

In anticipation of Sunday’s
match between Manchester
United and Arsenal, SureTeeBoy
takes a look at memorable
matches between the two clubs
over the years with particular
reference to matches that took
place at Old Trafford venue of
this weekend’s match.
Matches between these two
sides may have reduced in
intensity in the last couple of
seasons as Arsenal ceases to be
serious title contenders and the
subsequent gulf in quality
between the two sides,
however, things were not
always that way and with the
apparent resurgence of Arsenal
this season coupled with United
struggles, this may turn out to
be a tantalizing encounter.

The Battle of Old Trafford 2003

On Sunday, 21th of September,
2003, Arsenal made the Journey
to Old Trafford in a match that
later proved to be decisive as
the Gunners ended the season
unbeaten in the league and
earn the title of ‘invincibles’.
Arsenal were second on the
table and were unbeaten in the
league since the end of the
previous season, while United
were third on the table and had
already lost a match to
Southampton three weeks
earlier.
The match itself ended in a 0-0
draw but the result doesn’t tell
the full story. It was an ill-
tempered and tension filled
match which was characterized
by a large number of fouls – 13
by United, 18 by Arsenal with
four yellow cards were shown
to members of each team.
The game reached its boiling
point when Arsenal’s Patrick
Vieira was sent off for a second
bookable offence after he
reacted to a foul by Ruud van
Nistelrooy, the Dutchman
himself was booked for the
original foul but that did
nothing to assuage the anger
of the Arsenal players.
Later on, referee Steve Bennett
further fueled the flames after
he decided to award a last
minute penalty to United when
it appeared that Arsenal
defender, Martin Keown, had
fouled Diego Forlan in the area.
Van Nistelrooy stepped up to
take the penalty, he missed, and
the match was over within a
minute, several Arsenal players
surrounded the striker after the
penalty miss while Keown and
Lauren were seen pushing the
Dutchman and Ashley Cole and
Ray Parlour hauled abuses at
him. Ryan Giggs, Cristiano
Ronaldo, Gary Neville, Mikaël
Silvestre, Quinton Fortune and
Rio Ferdinand also became
involved in the situation.
As a result of these reactions,
Arsenal, six of their players and
two Manchester United players
were charged with improper
conduct by The Football
Association. However, van
Nistelrooy’s late penalty miss
proved valuable as Arsenal
became only the second team in
English football to go an entire
season without tasting defeat.

greaterlove: I won't use the word demolish but the gunners are gonna beat the red devils.

no be your fault,na moyes dey give una mouth to talk

Dear Lord jesus , i want Manchester united to upset the gunners.. Gun them down RVP .. A win over arsenal will reduce the gap of the fluke EPL leader to 2 point.. **team liverpool**

IYA NGBALI: no be your fault,na moyes dey give una mouth to talk

eyaaah! Sorry bros, don't give up yet, your miracle is on the way but its not gonna come this Sunday.

greaterlove: eyaaah! Sorry bros, don't give up yet, your miracle is on the way but its not gonna come this Sunday.

Breaking News: Mertesacker and Koscielny will not be able to play the Man Utd match as they will not be allowed on the plane due to having excessive baggage from keeping Liverpool and Dortmund attackers in their pockets.

sureteeboy: lol Perhaps, you've never realized that
-> Man utd hasn't lost any match in their last 7 encounters?
-> Man utd remains at number 8 but Number 2(chelsea) is leading with just 3 points?
With RVP, Rooney, Januzaj, and Hernandez(chicharito) as sub. Arsenal will suffer from the attacking strategies of those guys.

What attack strategy will affect a defense dat kept suarez and sturridge at bay,i only pity rooney because he will run after passes until he cant run anymore,hardworking dude.lol

We gonna win by 1-3,giroud,Rambo(man of da moment) and carzola to score




Up gooners till mango grow on orange tree

Kumalayer: What attack strategy will affect a defense dat kept suarez and sturridge at bay,i only pity rooney because he will run after passes until he cant run anymore,hardworking dude.lol

Your attacking strategies neutralized that of suarez and sturridge. Attack is the best defence. Just recently, An u17 sweden striker scored an hat trick in their third place match against Argentina. Why couldn't he score an hat trick against Nigeria? The basic fact was, 'Nigeria was busy attacking, so, he has hardly got the time to showcase his skills'.
..When United attackers keep attacking, you'll notice that your defence line will fall.

Presbulg: Breaking News: Mertesacker and Koscielny will not be able to play the Man Utd match as they will not be allowed on the plane due to having excessive baggage from keeping Liverpool and Dortmund attackers in their pockets.

ROTFL

sureteeboy:
Your attacking strategies neutralized that of suarez and sturridge. Attack is the best defence. Just recently, An u17 sweden striker scored an hat trick in their third place match against Argentina. Why couldn't he score an hat trick against Nigeria? The basic fact was, 'Nigeria was busy attacking, so, he has hardly got the time to showcase his skills'.
..When United attackers keep attacking, you'll notice that your defence line will fall.

arsenal winning at the theater of dreams will cement their place at the top of the table and cause other teams to take them serious . I look forward to the gunner's beating man u by three goals to one.

Does dat mean man u midfield will be able to contain d best midfield in d epl?because if not dat u think dat deluded midfield of man u is good,u wouldn't have said d trio would keep attacking arsenal,well a striker is useless wen he doesn't get d ball.lets wait and see how d trio will get d ball.

sureteeboy: If you think Manchester United will win, click Like.

I just realized there is no "dislike" button on Nairaland. I never felt it was needed until now.

Q.Mark:


I just realized there is no "dislike" button on Nairaland. I never felt it was needed until now.

LOL It's high time Seun added dislike button

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has demanded his side show the "hunger" of champions at Manchester United on Sunday.

The Gunners head to Old Trafford on the back of an impressive 1-0 Champions League victory at Borussia Dortmund which put them on course for qualification from Group F.

Even though Arsenal beat second-placed Liverpool 2-0 last weekend to move five points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League, time will tell whether Wenger's squad can last the distance through to May.

Indeed earlier this week, Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney highlighted Arsenal's failure to maintain their form through the business end of recent campaigns.

While Wenger is too experienced to pay much attention to mind games, the Frenchman understands it will now be down to how much his squad believe in themselves to end almost a decade without a trophy.

"Usually after Christmas we have been very strong every season. For the rest, the comments are the comments - nobody knows what will happen in the future," said Wenger.

He could have England midfielder Jack Wilshere back in his squad at United following an ankle problem.

"What is the most important is that we trust our quality and show the resilience and the hunger to achieve what we can achieve," said Wenger.

"We have made a lot of improvements at the back in our defensive game and we have done well in the last two games, but there is a lot to do.

"We cannot come to the conclusion that we are in a position where we can relax - we have a lot more to achieve.

"We have won nothing at all, we have just won two games, and what is important is what we achieve in the future."

Arsenal will face their former captain Robin van Persie, the Holland forward having left the Emirates Stadium in August 2012 for B£24million and scored 26 goals as Sir Alex Ferguson's men delivered the title.

Wenger admits it still does not sit well to see the player he signed as a 20-year-old from Feyenoord in the red of United, claiming "for me he is an Arsenal man".

Van Persie, of course, was not the first high-profile Gunner to leave the Emirates Stadium in recent seasons in search of success, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor all having moved on for big-money fees.

Wenger accepts it could seem some were perhaps a bit "impatient".

He said: "We have gone through years where we had to be tight financially and we did it in a way that was logical and normal without fading too much at the top level.

"Some players saw the other big clubs buying world-named players and of course they lost a little bit confidence that we can compete with them.

"I think we have always been consistent in the way we thought the club has to be run, but at some stage we can turn the corner. Hopefully we have done it this year."

David Moyes believes Arsenal's flying start to the Premier League campaign underlines the value of managerial longevity.

In a summer of dramatic change at three of England's four Champions League contenders, Arsenal remained an oasis of stability.

Although they had completed eight seasons without a trophy, there was never any question of the Gunners' hierarchy ditching their boss of 17 years.

The decision has reaped its reward in Arsenal charging five points clear at the top of the table, and eight ahead of Manchester United ahead of Sunday's showdown at Old Trafford.

It may be a surprise to some. Not to Moyes.

"People who really know the game did mention Arsenal," said Moyes.

"They've got stability. For the first time in a long time, a lot of the other sides have changed their manager.

"I felt Arsenal would have an opportunity because they are not having those changes. The manager knew all the players and was used to working with them.

"Arsenal have always been a good team, so it should not be a big surprise they have started the season so well.

"It just shows it is the right way for clubs to go in the long-term.
"I do believe that the way to get success is to stick with your manager and give them a lengthy period in the job."

United will be without Danny Welbeck, who is sidelined with a knee injury, although Moyes does have the remainder of his squad available for the crunch clash.

Match Preview Updated

Arsenal will beat United at present, the least United can do is to play draw with Arsenal, not even with the like of Ozil, Flamini, Rosicky, Arteta, Carzola, those guys are hotter than fire at present.

Lemme tell you y I love Arsenal!!!


"I obviously don't know the reason cuz I love them die!!!" Unconditional Love!!!

After Jesus!
Family
Arsenal
Friends!!!


But it's so painful that these bad losers Man U fans would claim that it's because Fergy no dey again

even if united should field cripples they will always beat arsenal

the immortals were decimated by united, 8-2, 6-1 debut of ashley cole, men against boys again. ozil should be replicated 20 folds arsenal is going down 4-1 to united

The gunners winning 3-0 today. . ... I hope haters will look for other excuse to dish out after we trash manure