UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Manchester United prepare for potentially season defining trip to Arsenal

Record ID: 336355

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Manchester United prepare for potentially season defining trip to Arsenal
  • Date: 30th January 2010
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, UK (FILE) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED STRIKER WAYNE ROONEY AT TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 14th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8E14ELL9T9UPQ2M2TH5SDEHBM
  • Story Text: Manchester United's Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (January 31) is the biggest game of the season so far for his side, United manager Alex Ferguson said.
    United are in second place with 50 points while Arsenal are just one point and one place behind. Chelsea are top with 51 points and have played one game less than both their rivals.
    "I think the game on Sunday, to my mind now looking at the way the league is shaping up, is the biggest game of the season for us," Ferguson told reporters on Friday. (January 29) England striker Wayne Rooney has been at the forefront of United's push for more success in 2010 and Ferguson was excited at the prospect of seeing his star charge and Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas go head to head.
    "I think they're two of the best," he said.
    "There are periods when players hit great form, I think Wayne has hit that great form now. I don't think he was playing as well as that a few months ago.
    "And Fabregas, with his injury and he's been out for a while and he's come back, he's always been a very important player for Arsenal. You over the last few years, he's been the important player. So they are two of the great players."
    Arsenal will again rely heavily on Fabregas as they continue to chase a first Premiership crown since the 2003-2004 season.
    Manager Arsene Wenger told reporters in London on Friday (January 29) his team must capitalise on their good run of form.
    "It was our dream to be in this position at this time," he said.
    "And we want to show now, to be successful in this period is to be more "team" than the other teams, to think about how strong, how much solidarity it takes to get through a period like that. That's what we want to show on Sunday again."
    Arsenal and Manchester United clashes have produced some memorable results over the years and Wenger reflected on how much he enjoys the challenge.
    "I look forward to it always because it's a game that always promising good football," he explained.
    "We've had some tough games and sometimes not easy on the physical side of it but always both teams try to play. It was very rarely a boring game, you always think at the start when you go there, it will be a great football game so we love that."
    Rooney's contribution to United this season has led some critics to question whether Ferguson over uses the England striker.
    But Wenger disagreed and identified another potential heartbreaker.
    "I don't think they are over relying on him," he said.
    "They changed the system as well, they don't play two strikers. For example the other night, they only played with Rooney up front. Of course, he becomes the most focal point of the game but they have plenty of players. I believe for example in the game on Wednesday night, Giggs was as well very influential."
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