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Venue:
Emirates Stadium Date:




Saturday 8 November Kick-off: 1230 GMT

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Big Match Facts

The Emirates Stadium hosts a thoroughbred clash between two clubs who've been crowned champions of England 30 times between them, and Premier League winners 13 times. Arsenal (13 titles, three of which were in the Premier League) cross swords with Manchester United (17, 10 of which were Premier League titles).

Although both were held to draws in the Champions League on Wednesday night, they are the top two most winning clubs in Premier League history; United have claimed maximum points on 400 occasions, Arsenal on 338 (200 of which have been at home).

But Arsenal's title dreams this season took a severe dent with defeat at promoted Stoke last Saturday; their third loss of the campaign. They trail third placed United by one point, having played one more match.

The defending champions are the "form" team in the top-flight, on a run of seven without defeat.

This match pits the second highest scorers in this season's Premier League campaign and second best defence; the Gunners have scored 23 goals, the Red Devils have shipped eight.

United have won only one of their last eight Premier League trips to Arsenal; they're yet to take away maximum points from the Emirates Stadium. Indeed none of the 'Big Four' clubs have won there yet.

Sir Alex Ferguson, moved into his 23rd year in charge at Old Trafford this week, and comes up against his Arsenal opposite number for the 37th time. Arsene Wenger is the second longest serving manager in the Premier League. Of their 36 previous encounters, United have won 13 and Arsenal 13. Eight of the 10 other games finished level and two were decided on penalty shoot-outs; United won the 2003 Community Shield, and Arsenal the 2005 FA Cup final on penalties.

Distance between the clubs: 192 miles (309 kilometres)

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Club Form

ARSENAL
Club stats

4th 20 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 5th


1. Failed to win four of their last six Premier League matches.

2. Lost one of 28 home Premier League games.

3. Not suffered successive defeats in 56 Premier League outings over 20 months, since tumbling to three losses on the trot between 18 March and 7 April 2007 against Everton (a), Liverpool (a) and West Ham (h).

4. Completed 57 top-flight matches since a loss by more than a single goal margin; that being 1-4, against Liverpool on 31 March 2007.

5. Won the last four league games against North-West clubs.

6. Lost only one of the last 19 Premier League matches against North-West clubs; the defeat being 2-1, away to Manchester United on 13 April 2008.

7. Won one of eight top-flight matches against 'Big Four' clubs; 1-0, home to Chelsea on 16 December 2007.

8. Not lost a home game against a fellow member of the 'Big Four' in eight; won four and drawn four since Chelsea's 0-2 victory at Highbury on 18 December 2005.

9. Need two more corners to become the first club to win 100 in this Premier League season - the next nearest is Liverpool with 84. Also, hit the woodwork on more occasions than any other club in Premier League matches so far this season (seven).


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MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats

3rd 21 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 5th

1. Dropped just two points out of the last 18.

2. The 2-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on 13 September is their only loss in this Premier League season; and only reverse in 12 league outings.

3. Won 4-3 against Hull last Saturday; it was the first time they had conceded three goals in a league match since Chelsea's 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge on 29 April 2006.

4. On a league high 47 matches without a no score draw; the goalless stalemate, home to Reading on the opening day of last season, 12 August 2007, being the most recent.

5. Scored in each of the last 34 league games; the 1-0 defeat away to Bolton on 24 November 2007 was the last occasion in which they failed to score.

6. Also on the longest current run in the highest league of 88 matches since a loss by more than a single goal; the most recent being 3-0, away to Chelsea on 29 April 2006.

7. Picked up one point out of nine away to fellow 'Big Four' clubs, since defeating Arsenal, 2-1 at home on 13 April 2008.

8. Won only one of seven Premier League trips to London; that victory being 0-3 against Fulham on 1 March 2008.

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Key Player Notes

ARSENAL

Manuel ALMUNIA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Arsenal's Premier League matches this season.

If on the field from the outset:-

Manu EBOUE will be making his 100th start for Arsene Wenger's club.

Mikael SILVESTRE will be facing a former club. The 31 year old France international defender made 361 appearances (249 in the league) and scored 10 goals (six league) for Manchester United between September 1999 and his close season move to the Emirates Stadium.

Suspended:-

Robin VAN PERSIE (three matches)

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MANCHESTER UNITED

Rio FERDINAND is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.

Wayne ROONEY needs one more to total 100 club goals (Everton and Manchester United).

Cristiano RONALDO is one goal shy of 100 for Manchester United.

If selected:-

Michael CARRICK will be making his 350th club career appearance (West Ham, Swindon, Birmingham, Tottenham and Man Utd).

FERDINAND will be playing the day after turning 30.

Oliveira ANDERSON will be making his 50th appearance in United colours.

If on the field from the outset:-

Patrice EVRA will be making his 100th start for the Red Devils.

John O'SHEA will be making his 150th English league start (Manchester United and Bournemouth).

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Head-to-Head

Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-1 at Old Trafford last season, and shared four goals at the Emirates. They also met at the Theatre of Dreams in the fifth round of the FA Cup on 16 February, when Darren Fletcher scored twice and Wayne Rooney and Nani one each in a 4-0 hammering of the Londoners.

In the previous season, Arsenal did the league double over the Red Devils.

Manchester United's only league victory on Arsenal turf since 1999 was 2-4 on 1 February 2005, when ten-man United (Silvestre sent off) virtually ended the Gunners' title hopes that season. Ronaldo scored a double in what was a titantic tussle, and John O'Shea confirmed the points with United's fourth.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Arsenal 65 wins, Man United 72, Draws 41
Prem: Arsenal 9 wins, Man United 13, Draws 10

at Arsenal only
League (inc PL): Arsenal 50 wins, Man United 22, Draws 17
Prem: Arsenal 6 wins, Man United 4, Draws 6

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Last season's corresponding game

Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United
3 November 2007 - Ref: Howard Webb
Arsenal scorers: Fabregas 48, Gallas 90
Man Utd scorers: Gallas 45 og, Ronaldo 82

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Referee

Howard Webb (Yorkshire)

Matches: 9
Red: 2
Yellow: 29
Average: 3.44