Arsenal should be considered the favourites for Sunday’s Premier League main event with Manchester United in spite of their recent domestic goalscoring struggles, ex-Gunners striker Jeremie Aliadiere has insisted.
Mikel Arteta‘s men can write a new chapter of Premier League history at Old Trafford this weekend, as they are one win away from becoming the first team to ever beat the Red Devils in five straight games in the competition.
The Gunners comfortably outwitted Ruben Amorim‘s side 2-0 at the Emirates earlier this season, although they have since been dumped out of the FA Cup by their long-time adversaries on penalties in the third round.
Nevertheless, Aliadiere expects his erstwhile club to set that new Premier League record at Old Trafford, even if their attack has been stunted in back-to-back top-flight games against Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.
Asked by Sports Mole if Arsenal are the favourites for Sunday’s game, Aliadiere replied: “I think so, yeah. Man United are struggling in their own ways as well. There’s a lot of talk about the manager and everything that’s going on there.
Aliadiere explains why Arsenal are favourites for Man Utd clash
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“They’re not in a great position. I think we are favourites, but at the same time, we’ve had our own problems lately. Man United-Arsenal is always a big game regardless of where both teams are in the league.”
While Arteta’s ravaged attack were comfortably kept at arm’s length by West Ham and Forest, they rediscovered their merciless ways in Tuesday’s 7-1 Champions League obliteration of PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
On the other hand, an injury-hit Man United could only draw 1-1 with Real Sociedad in Thursday’s Europa League battle after their FA Cup defence ended at the hands of Fulham, whose former Gunners goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the hero in the penalty shootout.
Aliadiere himself is also no stranger to individual success at Old Trafford, as the Frenchman scored for Middlesbrough against Sir Alex Ferguson‘s Man United for Middlesbrough in a 2007-08 Premier League fixture.
Aliadiere equalised for Boro in the sixth minute after Nani‘s third-minute opener, but his side still fell to a 4-1 defeat on the day, as Wayne Rooney restored Man United’s lead before Carlos Tevez bagged a brace in the second half.
Aliadiere opens up on “amazing” Old Trafford goal
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Despite the scoreline, Aliadiere could still reflect on his effort with pride, adding: “It was amazing. Being an Arsenal man as well, the rivalry between Arsenal and Man United was so huge in my eyes that every time I went to Old Trafford, I wanted to do well and score.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it for Arsenal, only with Middlesbrough. The feeling was absolutely amazing. Shame we lost the game in the end, not a great memory in terms of the end score, but a great memory in terms of scoring.”
Another former Arsenal striker will endeavour to make their mark against the Gunners on Sunday, as Chido Obi could be in contention to start after his eye-catching cameo in the FA Cup loss to Fulham.
Amorim was asked in Friday’s pre-game press conference if the 17-year-old would be an option for the visit of Arsenal, whom he rejected the chance to sign a new contract with last year before jumping ship for the Red Devils.
Jeremie Aliadiere was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of William Hill.
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