Arsenal’s title hopes over with defeat to United?

3 November 08 by Bill

Just eleven games in and Arsenal have suffered as many defeats in the Premier League this season as they did in the entire 2007/08 campaign. With only three defeats last year, Arsenal still came up short in the championship race finishing third behind Chelsea and Champions Manchester United.

Manchester United travel to the Emirates on Saturday as the two heavyweights c lash for the first time this season. Arsenal are currently 1 point behind United (who have a game in hand) and following defeats to Fulham, Hull and Stoke, manager Arsene Wenger is now worried his team may be out of the title race far earlier than expected.

“I don’t know how many more defeats we can afford” Wenger told the Express. “We have to win when we play Manchester United on Saturday.”

Arsenal will be without key players for the clash with Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott * both picking up injuries in the defeat to Stoke and Robin Van Persie is also suspended. In contrast to the Gunners woes, United’s squad is almost injury free and coming into form; netting 14 times in their last 5 fixtures.

Form is often irrelevant in these types of games but for Arsenal to beat United, they must have their best team available and as it stands, they don’t. Of course it is too early to write Arsenal off but if I was Wenger, I’d aim for a cup; the league may be a little too ambitious.

* Update 4/11: Walcott looks set to recover in time for the match with Adebayor almost certainly missing the game.