Saturday 19 November 2016 13:12, UK
Arsenal can lay down a marker in the Premier League title race with a win against Manchester United on Saturday, says Graeme Souness.
The two sides go head-to-head in the ReUnited fixture, live on Sky Sports this Saturday as Jose Mourinho faces old foe Arsene Wenger for the first time since taking charge at Old Trafford.
Mourinho has had a rocky start with the 13-time Premier League champions, who lie sixth in the table, while Arsenal are unbeaten since the opening day of the season and sit just two points off leaders Liverpool.
With this season's title race set to be one of the tightest in years, former Liverpool manager Souness believes the Gunners can send a message to their title rivals with a victory at United.
"I'm not sure they will win it but if they were to get a result at Old Trafford tomorrow, it would go a long way to setting down a marker," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I don't see a great difference between this Arsenal team and other teams from the last decade. If you sit back off them, they will pass you to death and score more than one goal against you and embarrass you.
"The two managers don't like each other very much and the players will be very much aware of that. What happens on the pitch will be very interesting too because you have an Arsenal team that appear to be on fire and see themselves as genuine title contenders.
"This is a bit of an acid test for them. If they go to Old Trafford and get a result then they can say to people that this might just be their year at long last."
Despite their strong start to the season, Souness has questioned if Arsenal can show the right qualities needed to win the title for the first time since 2004.
"Have they got the real metal when push comes to shove when the games get a bit meaty and the league gets a bit tight towards the end?", the Sky Sports pundit added.
"Have they got that in the squad with the real characters, the ones that will pull people through the darker moments? I'm still not convinced at that.
"Arsene constantly talks about the character in the team and they have got to start showing it. Character is going to Old Trafford and winning. That's what tomorrow is all about, going there and showing what character is all about."
