Man United vs Arsenal

Two main courses are served in the Premiership on Sunday for, not only are Chelsea and Liverpool crossing swords, but Man Utd and Arsenal are also preparing to do battle. It's fair to say that the Theatre Of Dreams has proved to be more of a theatre of nightmares for the Gunners. Since Division 1 became the Premiership, Arsenal have travelled to Old Trafford for 14 matches and have only left with maximum points on two occasions. The Red Devils won eight of the fixtures in question. Arsenal find goals perilously hard to come by at Old Trafford. Indeed, Arsene Wenger's charges have managed to score just five goals in those 14 matches and, if recent form is anything to by, the north London side won't be enhancing that record on Sunday. Despite their midweek victory away to Hamburg in the Champions League, Arsenal's start to the season has been decidedly lacklustre. Fireworks were expected when the Gunners entertained Aston Villa at their new home, the Emirates Stadium in Ashburton Grove, on the first day of the season, but a 1-1 draw was the order of the day. It was thought that the fireworks had been ordered for their next home game, in which Middlesbrough were to be on the receiving end of an Arsenal extravaganza that would light up the skies in north London. But this fixture was also to end 1-1. And, just for bad measure, Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Man Utd's neighbours, City, at Maine Road in between. In complete, total and utter contrast, Man Utd have started the season looking like a team rich in belief and desire. Four Premiership matches played, four wins, 12 points and 11 goals scored, Man Utd are on the warpath. And, guess what, Wayne Rooney's now back following a three-match ban. Rooney was instrumental during his side's 3-2 Champions League victory over Celtic in midweek and while he had to watch Louis Saha grab the limelight with a brace, he will be shaper for that - the small build up of cobwebs will have been duly blown away. Make no mistake, the 'Boy Wonder' will stick at least one past Arsenal in this match and, at 11/2 with Stan James, my money is on him to score first. Arsenal's current crop of players seem better suited to Champions League football than the perils of the Premiership, so it will be no surprise to see them turn on the style and go far in that competition this term, as indeed they did last year when reaching the final. However, it still seems to be the case that they find it hard when teams defend deep against them. In Michael Carrick, Man Utd have acquired a player who provides an efficient defensive barrier from midfield, and Ferdinand and Brown are going great guns in central defence at present. Even Thierry Henry might struggle to break down United on this occasion. Louis Saha looks like a player who is understandably hungry to make up for lost time. The Frenchman has been blighted by injury since moving to Manchester, and he has a point to prove. And there's life in the old boy yet - Ryan Giggs is playing with youthful exuberance and has hit the back of the net in the Red Devils' last two Premiership matches. He will once again be a threat with his incisive runs. This is a game that Sir Alex's charges will win, and probably win well. Rather than risking a punt on the correct score, though, I fancy a bit of the Evens on offer with bet uk about 2-3 in the total goals market. In Man Utd and Arsenal's last six meetings at Old Trafford, an average of 2.3 goals per game have been scored, a stat which augurs extremely well for the recommended bet. Verdict 1pt Wayne Rooney in the first goalscorer market @ 11/2 (Stan James)2.5pts 2-3 in the total goals market @ Evens (betuk)