Arsenal and United: Two clubs with differing fortunes

It seems a week is not only a long time in politics but also football. Within a week, Manchester United have had another low scoring draw, been kicked out of the UEFA Champions League and now have become the next team to be beaten by Bournemouth. Arsenal on the other hand, beat a resolute Sunderland, completed the great escape in Athens and most recently beat Aston Villa to become the current Premier League leaders.

After all the doom and gloom this month, the Gunners finally sit atop the Premier League tree. After what seemed like waves of countless injuries, Arsenal are getting players back fit and playing well. The return of Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott will be essential in keeping the north London side at the top of the table throughout the Christmas period. Furthermore, Alexis Sanchez must come back quickly and cover the cracks left by Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla.

At the beginning of the season, Arsenal signed only Petr Cech and were criticised for buying neither a holding midfielder, nor a striker. As the season progressed, it seemed many of the critics were proven right. Losses to Sheffield Wednesday, Dinamo Zagreb, Olympiacos and West Brom seemed to be showing the old, failing Arsenal. Two much maligned players, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud, however, have carried the squad and are arguably two of the best in the league on current form. Ozil now has 13 assists in England’s top division, (seven off Henry’s record) and Giroud is now the third quickest Arsenal player to reach 50 goals and even had the backing of Arsene Wenger.

He is questioned something but finally the numbers get people to realise he is a good player.

United, however, spent £108 million in the summer and £260m during Louis van Gaal’s tenure. They spent big on a striker ( AnthonyMartial) who has gone off the boil, Memphis Depay doesn’t seem to be the player he was at PSV, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin have been inconsistent while Matteo Darmian has been the only new signing who seems to have played well.

Albeit these slightly unsuccessful signings, the United defence has been the best in the league, having only conceded 12 goals all while suffering horrific injuries. Similarly to Arsenal, United have been decimated with injuries and at the moment, have ten players out. Such has been United’s injury problems that against Bournemouth on Saturday they played Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Guillermo Varela and have even included Nick Powell, a player who once seemed to be falling out of love with football. Such has been the pressure under Van Gaal, that in a recent news conference he criticised United fans for “living in the past”. Van Gaal remains defiant however, as he argued that the players’ commitment matters most.

Van Gaal has also come under serious pressure for his rigid and boring style of football. His team don’t score many goals but also don’t concede many. Yes, they haven’t wowed the Old Trafford crowd but are still in the top four. For all the criticism they have received, however, the Red Devils have had chances but failed to convert them. As Van Gaal claimed, his side create enough chances.

We’ve created enough chances to score, so that was not the problem.

Judging by the inconsistency of the Premier League this year, fourth position is not all bad and it is not far-fetched to see United climbing up the table again. Albeit, they have been kicked out of the Champions League, they have a chance to win the Europa League, something Van Gaal should consider very seriously.

So we sit with two teams on the differing ends of the spectrum. Injuries have affected both teams. Arsenal have suffered hugely but seem to be getting out of the crisis and surged to the top and into the next round of Europe’s elite competition. Meanwhile, United have suffered some poor recent results and have lost their place at the top of the league. The next two months will be essential for these two teams. Arsenal must spend in January to remain successful, while United will have players returning from short-term injuries and have the huge spending power to make a big splash in the winter window. It’s hard to predict the league this year but it might be possible that these two managers might have a few tricks up their sleeves yet.