Weekend’s matches could be premier league’s turning point

This weekend may be the fulcrum upon which the English Premier League turns this season.

So far, the top teams have been too close to each other like building blocks on a good wall and it has been hard to predict which team will set itself apart and top the pack.

No horoscope, Ouija board nor superstition can help one to correctly predict the puzzle.

The big weekend will see Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates while Manchester City welcome Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium.

The Gunners are almost at the bottom of despair, having lost two premier league games in a row. They lost to Fulham at the Craven Cottage after leading 1-0 for most of the game.

Their lack of concentration was punished towards the end of the match.

Henry the saviour

During the FA Cup weekend, Arsenal nearly drew with the bottom tier Leeds United had the returning Thierry Henry not saved them from the humiliation of a repeat game.

That night, Arsene Wenger’s strikers showed all their ineptness at seeing the goal!

When Arsenal met Swansea last Sunday, their mistakes at Craven Cottage were repeated. They scored first, wasted chances and finally succumbed to a 3-2 defeat much to the chagrin of their rather loud and wordy supporters.

Thus the Gunners have had a poor run lately and must really up their game to stab Manchester United.

The Red Devils, on the other hand, are still the paper tigers they have been for much of the season.

They had suffered a bad run and, like Arsenal, they lost two league games in a row.

Their lack of confidence was still evident when they went to the blue side of the city to tussle with the Citizens in their FA Cup third round fixture, and though leading 3-0 at the end of the first half with Manchester City reduced to 10 men, they still ruffled and two goals paid back.

The win flattered them as they landed a lowly Bolton Wanderers for their next match.

Crucial win

Red Devils’ win against Bolton has helped many of their supporters feel as if they are past their woes.

It is important to note that both Arsenal and Manchester United have had to bring back their old players to save them during these hard times. United brought back Paul Scholes!

The last time these giants met, Arsenal had the worst team sheet in the century and United made a meal of them, pumping in eight goals.

That was a long time ago. The Gunners are not that weak this time round and they may hit back albeit not with the same coin.

If United win, they will have kept alive their dream of clinching the title, if they lose, the Gunners will have ended their winning drought in style and inch consolidate their title campaign.

One may be tempted to say Arsenal will be at home, but home is nothing this season!

mojuang@yahoo.co.uk