Arsenal vs. United game still important to the Premier League

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be looking for his side to record their first win over Manchester United in six games, as the Gunners host the Red Devils on Saturday

Arsenal and Manchester United go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday in a game which could see either team return to the top four.

Top four seems to now be the priority for both teams, as Chelsea’s seemingly unstoppable rampage to the title continues.

These two teams were the dominant forces in English football back in the late nineties early 2000’s and competed with each other for the Premier League title, but not this season.

Top Four

The demise of Manchester United Football Club was great exaggerated by last season’s nightmare campaign under David Moyes.

It’s easy to forget that the Red Devils were Premier League champions in 2013.

United for a few seasons competed manfully with arch-rivals Manchester City for the league title, until Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement lead to an uncharacteristically poor campaign for the Red Devils, which saw them finish seventh in the league.

Arsenal has become the team that perennially finish in the top four and do just enough to capture a Champions League spot. Last season looked set to be different as the Gunners sat top in February, but endured a terrible slump which nearly allowed Everton to nip in and steal Arsenal’s fourth spot.

At the start of the campaign everybody associated with the Gunners was optimistic that their team could again challenge for the Premier League title. However, the men from north London have made an inconsistent start to the campaign and are currently 12 points behind league leaders Chelsea in the table.

The Gunners players have been accused of lacking mental strength and character, which is hard to argue with when you consider some of their performances and results this season.

Champions League

These two teams do not look like title challengers now, but they both have a vital aim this season and that is claiming one of those all-important Champions League spots for next season.

The Champions League is the club competition that every club side in Europe wants to be in. The prestige and honour of playing alongside the greatest club teams and players, coupled with the big financial rewards on offer make it paradise for most football clubs.

Manchester United’s seventh place finish has already cost them financially and it will continue to cost the Red Devils if they fail to make the top four this season.

United boss Louis van Gaal will be under major pressure to achieve that ambition this season, or his job could be on the line next summer, especially after the amount of money that they splashed out in the summer strengthening their squad.

Arsenal always inevitably makes the top four spots in the Premier League and no doubt will probably achieve that aim again this season. However, surely the Gunners should be competing for the Premier League title on a yearly basis with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.

They may not have the same financial resources as the two boys in blue, but they certainly have the infrastructure to challenge for the major honours.

Open

The race for the Champions League spots is now relatively open, as the likes of Arsenal, United, Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham have all endured inconsistent starts to the season, so much so that Southampton currently sits second in the Premier League table, behind leaders Chelsea.

No doubt the usual suspects form will improve as the season goes on, but it is vital in the next few weeks that both Arsenal and United try and find some consistency, or their top four rivals could capitalise.

Important

This game used to have a big bearing on the Premier League title, but now it could have a big bearing on the race for the top four places, which could have a knock on effect for eight or nine teams in the Premier League.

This game is still vitally important to both teams and I am sure that both sets of fans will not think this game has lost any of its importance this season.

Is the Arsenal vs. Manchester United match still important to the Premier League?