Can Arsenal get anything at Old Trafford on Sunday?

Arsenal have been in total disarray in recent weeks, thanks to a combination of players leaving and a poor start to their Premier League campaign.

So this is a really bad time to face a Manchester United side who have claimed maximum points from their Premier League games so far and seem brimming with confidence.

The two go head to head on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford.

Lift

There was a glimmer of hope for Arsenal in midweek when they managed to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. In truth there were some nervy moments against Italian side Udinese but in the end the Gunners came through comfortably with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Surely that victory will lift the club slightly? It was the sort of result everybody in North London needed after a miserable few weeks.

Missing

Looking at the negatives for Arsenal though and you realise the club are down to the bare bones squad players wise. Midfield seems of particular concern at the moment with key players missing for the encounter with Manchester United.

England international Jack Wilshere is still injured and fellow central midfielders Alex Song and Emmanuel Frimpong are both suspended. Even Gervinho, who has been playing as a winger is suspended.

This would be a big worry for me if I was Arsene Wenger. The Champions were regarded as having quite a weak midfield before the season started but have looked decent in the middle of the park thus far this season.

Manchester United on the other hand will be without first central-defensive partnership Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. However the Red Devils have strength in depth in the defensive areas with the likes of youngsters Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, not to mention Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans.

That’s a key difference between the two clubs, United have got enough strength in depth to cope with injuries to key players but Arsenal just haven’t got a big enough squad.

Signings

Manchester United have declared that they will not venture into the transfer market again this summer. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger needs to sign players in key areas but has yet to acted before the transfer window shuts.

The Frenchman is notoriously stubborn about not spending money in the transfer market and unfortunately has been unable to take his blinkers of this summer. It does seem a ridiculous situation though, a manager at a top club with an obvious lack of bodies yet refuses to bring in new face.

There has been a rather strange rumour going around that the Gunners board are not allowing Wenger to spend money. However that’s hard to believe considering they have just taken in £60million from the sales of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.

Defence

Arsenals defence has looked quite suspect as well so far this season. The club is currently without first choice left-back Kieran Gibbs and haven’t been about to sign a solid centre-back partner for Thomas Vermaelen. Wenger has had to rely on youngster inexperienced youngster Carl Jenkinson to plug the gaps.

Unfortunately for Arsenal the Champions strike force has looked rather useful this season. England striker Wayne Rooney seems to be rediscovering his form and young Danny Welbeck has carried on from where he left off at Sunderland last season.

One positive for the Gunners though is that Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny is looking more and more comfortable as the Arsenal number one. The young Pole is a confident lad and it shows.

His penalty save against Udinese in the Champions League was not only superb, it was also crucial in keeping the advantage with the Gunners. Had Antonio Di Natale scored the penalty Udinese would have only needed another goal to go through and the momentum would also have been with the Italians.

Surprise

In seasons gone by it wouldn’t have been a surprise for Arsenal to go to Old Trafford and come home with points. However the state the Arsenal squad is in at the moment it would be a major surprise if they get anything at the home of the champions.

If everybody was fit and available I would have gave the Gunners a chance. Unfortunately with the sheer weight of injuries and suspensions I can only see defeat for Arsene Wenger’s men on Sunday.

Can Arsenal claim any points at Old Trafford on Sunday?