United Swings and Arsenal Roundabouts
Mar 10th, 2008 by UnitedViews
Well, the weekend didn’t go as badly as it might have, after all. The three weekday protagonists from the Champion’s League all played at the weekend. United lost, Chelsea lost and Arsenal drew. If the Chelsea result had me smiling, the news from the JJB had me positively chuckling.
I’d argue that United lost the least from these results. It was deeply irritating (see my previous post for irritable musings on this) losing to Portsmouth, especially at Old Trafford, but the cup was our third priority. We’re better placed in the league than Chelsea, although I certainly don’t think they’re out of it, and Avram Grant is hardly covering himself in glory at the moment. One more route to trophies cordoned off for Chelsea; one step closer to the door marked ‘Exit’ for Avram.
With a draw Arsenal theoretically fared the best of the Champion’s Leaguesters. In truth, they forfeited the most. The ‘bird in the hand’ view is that they are two points clear of United at the top of the league. The more telling fact is that they have taken only 3 points from the last 9 available. The pitch was in a shocking state but both teams had to play on it and Arsenal’s league form is starting to look very shaky indeed. They have dropped points against Birmingham, Villa and Wigan. They would reasonably have expected at least 7 points from that lot.
Image of JJB Stadium from Free-ers on Flickr
Sadly for the Gooners, the fixture list doesn’t provide much comfort. Next up are Middlesbrough at the Emirates, who were just awful against Cardiff at the weekend but remain the only team to have beaten Arsenal in the league so far. Then they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where I just can’t see them getting a result. After that they travel to Bolton (not somewhere Arsenal fans would choose to go at a time of crisis). Then they welcome Liverpool to the Emirates and we can be fairly sure that Benitez will play both Gerrard and Torres for this game! This fun run ends with a nice trip to the Theatre of Dreams to face the reigning champions.
Over the same period Manchester United face many of the same opponents in Derby, Bolton, Liverpool, Villa, Middlesbrough and, of course, Arsenal. There is, however, no trip to Stamford Bridge until later in the season, we’ve already faced the trip to the Reebok and have no reason to fear a visit to the Riverside.
Time for a bold, unwarranted and really really rash prediction:
Arsenal will emerge from Old Trafford with 73 points, United with 80. Chelsea play Wigan the following day by which stage I expect them to hold 77 points. In other words, the title could be decided not at Old Trafford but at Stamford Bridge.
Anyway, all in all maybe losing to Portsmouth wasn’t such bad news after all!
What a crock of sh*t. Arsenal will walk away with the title. They’ve only lost one game al season. A couple of draws doesn’t change that. It’s all wishful ManUre thinking.
OK, GoonArmy. Arsenal have lost only the one game. They have, however, only played away to one of their top 4 rivals - the weakest of them, Liverpool. At Anfield they managed only a draw. They have still to visit Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.
Let me explain my thinking in terms of points. Arsenal play Middlesbrough (3 points), Chelsea (0 points), Bolton (3 points), Liverpool (1 point) and United (0 points), giving them a total of 7 points from 5 games. 66+7=73
United play Derby (3 points), Bolton (3 points), Liverpool (1 point), Villa (3 points), Middlesbrough (3 points) and Arsenal (3 points), giving United a total of 16 points from 6 games. 64+16=80.
Chelsea play Derby (3 points), Sunderland (3 points), Tottenham (1 point), Arsenal (3 points), Middlesbrough (3 points), Man City (3 points) and Wigan (3 points) giving them a total of 19 points from 7 games. 58+19=77.
Obviously this is probably wrong but it’s my best guess. Also obviously United or Chelsea possibly both will drop points when they play each other on 26th April. It’s just possible, though, that by then Arsenal will be too far behind to take advantage. DISCUSS!