Arsenal v Man Utd preview

Cesc and Rooney go head-to-head

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: Arsenal 2 Man United 2

SKYBET odds: Arsenal 11/8, Draw 12/5, Man United 15/8

One(s) to watch: Cesc Fabregas & Wayne Rooney

Bet on this match

Related links

Teams

• Arsenal
• Manchester United

Also see

• Sky Sports experts
• Transfer Centre
• Fantasy Football

All eyes on Sunday will be trained on North London as Arsenal host Manchester United in a clash that whets the appetite to the point of salivation, such is its gargantuan promise.

For those of you blessed with special glasses the prospect of Wayne Rooney coming at you in 3D will finally be realised, as Sky become the first ever TV company to broadcast a 3D sports event live.

Fear not those of you without the power of special vision though, as two sides who have been involved in plenty of thrillers of late will surely serve up a feast that even the common man can appreciate.

The race for this season's Premier League title has been nip and tuck all term and a win for either side could see Chelsea usurped at the summit, depending on how Carlo Ancelotti's side fare on their travels to Burnley a day earlier.

That both clubs still harbour title aspirations is testimony to their respective bosses' ability to soothsay in times of relative adversity. United have since the summer been accused of suffering from a post-Ronaldo hangover, as sceptics continue to ponder whether the Portuguese can ever really be adequately replaced, while Arsene Wenger has been accused of grooming potential but never realising it to its full potential.

More than anyone Rooney has helped to banish the spectre of Ronaldo that haunts some corners of Old Trafford, with his four-goal haul against Hull City followed by a last-gasp winner in Wednesday's tumultuous Manchester derby.

Again, despite his protestations to the contrary that United are far from a one-man team, it will fall on the talismanic No.10 to inspire and cajole in equal measures at the Emirates. Likewise, Cesc Fabregas' importance to Arsenal cannot be overstated.

It seems likely, as is Sir Alex Ferguson's wont against the top sides, Rooney will occupy a lonely furrow up front with Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen to kick their heels on the substitutes' bench.

After being rested in midweek Antonio Valencia will be granted a start, with Nani to drop down to the bench - unless Ferguson switches the Portuguese to the left in place of Ryan Giggs, who while excellent against City, is unlikely to have the legs for another 90 minutes.

More likely is the promotion of the industrious Park Ji-Sung, whose ability to track back should get him the nod over the more lackadaisical Nani.

Ferguson's primary concern is at the back rather than up front though, with Rio Ferdinand's absence through suspension, just a week after making his belated return to United's first team, leaving the Scot with a headache Nemanja Vidic will be asked to cure.

The Serbian, who like Ferdinand has endured a campaign interrupted by injury, was on the bench against City and should step in to partner Johnny Evans. The only other change could be at right-back, should Ferguson opt for Wes Brown's experience over the buccaneering but defensively suspect Rafael.

Vermaelen blow

While United are afforded the luxury of replacing Ferdinand with Vidic, Arsenal will likely have to turn to 35-year-old Sol Campbell if as anticipated Thomas Vermaelen is ruled out.

There had been fears the Belgian had broken his leg against Aston Villa in midweek but such a miserable diagnosis has thankfully since been proved to be premature. Sunday's game may still come too soon though, leaving Campbell as the likeliest candidate to slot in alongside William Gallas.

Wenger's injury worries have been exacerbated by niggles picked up by Eduardo and Abou Diaby, which prohibits the pair's involvement in the capital.

Nicklas Bendtner's return from injury gives Arsenal an aerial presence they lack in his absence, with the Dane in contention to replace Eduardo in a wide role in support of Andrey Arshavin.

Fit-again Samir Nasri could start after coming off the bench at Villa Park, with Aaron Ramsey a potential fall-guy given he was relatively quiet in the Midlands. Nasri's success against United in the past could be enough to earn the Frenchman a start.

Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song are also both available, with the latter a candidate to step in for Vermaelen should Campbell's fitness be deemed not quite right for a game of such importance.

Sir Alex has described the game as the most important this season and while nothing will be decided on Sunday, the story of this year's title race could yet be shaped in the capital.

Possible starting XIs

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Campbell, Gallas, Clichy, Nasri, Denilson, Fabregas, Rosicky, Bendtner, Arshavin

United: Van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Park, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia, Rooney