On Tuesday night as Arsenal turned on the style in a rampant 2nd half performance against Ipswich, Manchester United struggled and stuttered to 3-2 win against newly promoted side Blackpool thanks largely to the referee and Berbatov. Manchester United have suffered only 1 defeat this season which came in the Carling Cup to West Ham. They are unbeaten in the League and now lead the table by 5 points with 15 games still to go.
In 2nd place is Arsenal who have managed 46 points from their 23 games. Arsenal slowly seem to be coming to their best and have an almost fit squad.
This season Manchester United are unbeaten in the League so far and there seems to be a lot of talk about how this team can go the entire season unbeaten and the fact that they have developed the mentality of champions and are even playing like them.
First of all, it is a sin to even compare the current Manchester United squad to the Invincibles. The Arsenal squad of 2003-04 was a cut above the rest. They dominated sides and won matches convincingly. They could win matches away or home. They played good and entertaining football. This Manchester United squad have won just 3 of their away games and drawn the rest 9. They have looked sloppy and have struggled to impose themselves against opponents. Two of their away wins came against Blackpool and West Brom. In both matches their opponents were denied a clear penalty and Manchester United and in the one against West Brom they should have had Gary Neville sent off.
Manchester United have failed to dominate teams and have often had to depend on late goals to get the win.
Let’s compare it to the present Arsenal squad. The team too has struggled at times. They have thrown away leads and have lost at home to weaker opposition. Yet I believe that this Arsenal team has the winning mentality to win the league and not Manchester United. Why?
This team have suffered from injuries like every other season. They have missed their star performers for large parts of the season. Players and leaders like Vermaelen, Fabregas and Van Persie have missed large parts of the season. Thomas Vermaelen has been out since August and has featured in only 3 Premier League games this season. Rooney has played close to 500 minutes more than Van Persie. Manchester United have had a fully fit defense for large parts of the season. Yet Arsenal has conceded just 1 goal more than Manchester United this season.
Arsenal despite being hampered by injuries are competing in all four fronts and have even progressed to the finals of the Carling Cup. Arsenal have had to deal with a depleted squad, hectic fixture list and yet they are going strong in all competitions. Despite missing their top 2 players, Fabregas and Van Persie, Arsenal have scored 48 goals which is 3 more than Manchester United managed despite having a fully fit strike force for a good part of the season.
Arsenal have the best away form in the league. They have won consistently and comfortably away from the league something Manchester United have struggled to do. Arsenal have gone to grounds like Goodison Park, St Andrews, Villa Park, Eastlands and come out with all 3 points something Manchester United have struggled to do. Arsenal dominate teams and create chances. Manchester United on the other hand struggle away from home and are scrappy. Luck, refereeing decisions have all gone their way and yet they struggle. Away matches always test the mental fortitude of a team and while Arsenal have been good in this aspect, Manchester United struggle.
Manchester United have had a great home form which is the only thing keeping them at the top. That has been one of Arsenal’s weaknesses and even that seems to be improving. But I accept when it comes to home form Manchester United are ahead of Arsenal. But that does not mean they have been fully convincing. They have stuttered to wins against the likes of Stoke, Wolves.
To develop a winning mentality means to lay good football, play convincing football and beat teams comfortably. Arsenal with a fully fit squad are doing this. With a fully fit squad, Arsenal are unbeaten in 6 and have scored 14 and conceded just 3. This is despite playing Chelsea and Manchester City in the same period and playing 3 away fixtures. Arsenal have dominated teams and have won comfortably, something Manchester United have done rarely this season.
A winning mentality needs a strong away form and Manchester United don’t have that. Arsenal on the other hand are now playing like champions. They are playing good football and have not conceded in 4 games.
They usually say that fighting and grinding out wins are the hallmarks of a champion. Arsenal have shown that. When things have not thrown in the towel but instead have fought out wins. Manchester United seem to grind out wins on a weekly basis. They rarely dominate teams like Arsenal.
I’m by no means trying to say that this team Manchester United is extremely bad or don’t deserve to win the league. But I do believe that all the talk about them being invincible and having developed a winning mentality are wrong. They are not playing like Champions.
Despite injuries, a hectic fixture list and pressure this Arsenal side have coped tremendously well and are displaying all the qualities of a real champion.
Manchester United are unbeaten and lucky but invincible they are not.
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