Heinze prepares for battle

Gabriel Heinze has revealed that Manchester United are ready to end Arsenal´s unbeaten run and that they are willing to battle to get the right result.

Arsene Wenger´s Arsenal side head to Old Trafford on Sunday one short of 50 league games unbeaten but United will be desperate to put an end to their impressive record.

Earlier in the week, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson turned up the heat with some scathing criticism of Arsenal´s antics at Old Trafford last season and now Heinze has declared that the players are ready for a battle.

´´We´ll do everything we can to stop them,´´ Heinze told The Sun.

´´We want to win whatever the cost. If we can do it playing fantastic football, great, but if not it will be with fight and spirit.

´´Records are there to be broken and it´s an extra boost to know that we are the ones that can do it.

´´You win some games with quality and creativity but others you have to win through heart alone.

´´The ability to battle is as important as playing well.´´

The Argentine full back has already endeared himself to the Old Trafford faithful with his no-nonsense approach and he is ready to match the poise of Arsenal´s attack with his own power.

´´Argentine defenders are well known for their battling qualities, love of tackling and being hard - and all that describes my game,´´ continued Heinze.

´´If I´ve got any kind of reputation as a player it is just down to trying to be a good defender and showing huge desire to win the ball.´´

Man United v Arsenal preview

With Patrick Vieira believed to be winning his battle for fitness, all the A list stars should be on show at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Arsenal captain has been nursing an ankle injury and could still miss out on the Manchester United clash, but Arsene Wenger will obviously give him every opportunity to prove his fitness.

Edu is receiving treatment for a knock he sustained in the midweek draw with Panathinaikos and Gilberto Silva is sidelined.

Thierry Henry has declared he is ready for action after shrugging off an ankle sprain, while Robert Pires and Jose Antonio Reyes should also get the green light, as The Gunners bid to stretch their unbeaten league run to an incredible 50 games.

United will be desperate to close the 11-point gap with the North Londoners and finally kick-start their title bid after a below-par start to the campaign.

Sir Alex Ferguson has stoked the fires ahead of the battle by insisting Arsenal´s players should have been more severely punished for their reaction to Ruud van Nistelrooy´s missed penalty in the corresponding fixture last season.

The Scot realises he must ensure his side is at full strength for the ultimate test of the powers at his disposal. Wayne Rooney´s arrival has increased his attacking options but there were few clear-cut chances created in the goalless draws with Birmingham City and Sparta Prague.

Presuming Ferguson will throw everything at Arsenal, Rooney looks set to start on his 19th birthday with the challenge thrown down to continue his impressive run of form against The Gunners.

Cristiano Ronaldo should return to the line-up on the right flank, with Ryan Giggs on the left, and Roy Keane will lead the side, probably alongside Paul Scholes, although that does seem a pretty attack-minded quartet.

Rio Ferdinand is another big name back in the side, bidding to keep tabs on Thierry Henry, and United know they must show that they are not as far behind their adversaries as the table and recent form suggests.

After much focus on Jens Lehmann´s display in Athens, the two goalkeepers could have vital roles to play with Roy Carroll aiming to prove he is worthy of the United jersey on a long-term basis and a new contract, after dislodging Tim Howard.

Pas mal le 5-2 de Mu face à Liverpool en réserve ^^

kieran a été très bon pour ce match, peut-etre que ça incitera fergie a le tester sur le flanc gauche quelques fois.

MANCHESTER U. - ARSENAL ce dimanche ! !!!

ptin de match ça ! !! en plus que si arsenal gagne ou fait match nul ce dimance, ce sera leur 50ème match sans défaite ! !!

Bonne affaire pour manchester u. de se surpasser et que c le match à voir pour tt supporer neutre et avide de beau football ! !!

Nomura ´eyed for Man Utd defence´

Fans groups oppose Mr Glazer´s ambition to take over Man Utd
Nomura, the Japanese bank, has confirmed that it is involved in a plan to block any bid for Manchester United by the US tycoon Malcolm Glazer.
The bank said it was in talks with Keith Harris, a former Football League chairman, about plans to create a new ownership structure for the club.

Mr Harris is believed to want to buy shares on behalf of fans, thus giving them a veto over any Glazer bid.

According to newspaper reports, Nomura could provide £200m in funding.

´Best interests´

Nomura declined to give details of its proposals but said that it was working with Seymour Pierce, the investment bank headed by Mr Harris.

" Nomura confirms its Asset Finance Group is in discussions with Seymour Pierce about providing finance to assist them and the supporters with a view to developing a strategy that will provide a long-term future for Manchester United that is in the best interests of the club," it said in a statement.

Mr Harris, a Manchester United shareholder and life-long fan, is believed to have approached Nomura several weeks ago as part of his attempt to stop Mr Glazer taking control of Manchester United.

It is believed that Mr Harris wants to build up a stake in the club of more than 25%.

This would ensure that, in the event of a takeover, Mr Glazer would not be able to remove the club from the stock market without the agreement of supporters.

Keith Harris believes football clubs should be run as private businesses

Supporters´ groups fiercely oppose Mr Glazer´s ambition to take over the club.

Mr Glazer has increased his stake in the club from 19.2% to 28.1% last week.

He recently approached Manchester United about a possible takeover bid although he has yet to make a firm offer.

Finance expert

Mr Harris is an expert in football financing.

He advised former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates on the club´s sale to Roman Abramovich and has worked with a number of other clubs including Spurs and Milwall on raising finance.

According to a report in the Financial Times, Nomura´s would provide funding in the form of debt, which would be partly repaid by a securitisation of future ticket sales or broadcasting revenues.

However, City analysts have expressed scepticism about the proposals.

They argue that since Mr Glazer holds more than a 25% stake in the club, he would be able to block any proposed securitisation plan.

" It is difficult to do anything with Manchester United because so many of the shares are tied up," Rick Denteith, an analyst with Royal London Asset Management, told the BBC.

" It is going to be a very difficult one to get through."

Qu´est-ce qui faut pas faire pour pas se faire racheter...

Manchester United : Keane incertain contre Arsenal
22 octobre 2004 - 15 h 27 -

Forfait mardi à Prague en Ligue des Champions pour cause de grippe, le capitaine de Manchester United Roy Keane demeure incertain pour le choc de la 10eme journée de Premier League dimanche à Old Trafford contre le leader Arsenal.

Déjà absent mardi en Ligue des Champions contre le Sparta Prague, Roy Keane demeure incertain pour le choc entre Manchester United et le leader Arsenal dimanche à Old Trafford, pour le compte de la 10eme journée de Premier League.
Si l´international irlandais n´arrivait pas à se rétablir de sa grippe d´ici dimanche, il serait remplacé par John O´Shea.

Fergie Eagerly Anticipates Must-Win Test

Sir Alex Ferguson concedes Sunday’s Premiership showdown with Arsenal is a ‘must-win’ encounter if United are to stay in the hunt for the title.

The United boss cited numerous examples where such an aperture has been closed, but to lose and allow Arsenal a 14-point advantage would open up a gaping chasm between the two clubs.

Despite such significance being attached to the fixture, Sir Alex was in good spirits at United’s Carrington training base on Friday, where he described a buzz around the club ahead of the clash.

" I’m really looking forward to it," he said. These are the special games, games where you really feel you are challenged. There is a general buzz about the place.

" Over the years, my experience of these situations is that Manchester United revel in matches such as United-Arsenal. The important games are our bread and butter. This is another one of those matches."

The fixture has been dubbed a must-win affair for United – an 11-point gap Sir Alex Ferguson’s team cannot allow to become bloated any further.

" For us to win the league, winning on Sunday is a very important issue. Arsenal could come and get a draw, remain eleven points clear of us and be delighted with that at this stage of the season.

" But leagues can turn very easily," counters Sir Alex. " I remember when we had a 12-point lead over Arsenal and lost it.

" We also had a 12-point lead over Blackburn and almost lost it. It wasn’t until the second last game of the season that they lost at Coventry and we won the league without playing.

" We were 12 points behind Newcastle and won the league. It can change. What we need is to win the game on Sunday and see how that affects the whole complexion of the championship.

" Manchester United-Arsenal games have always been very tight affairs. There is usually very little between the two sides because both are great teams.

" [Reaching 50 games unbeaten] is not our problem. It’s not a problem for Arsenal either because it is a great record to carry. But we cannot concern ourselves too much with what a team has done in previous matches. It’s a game at Old Trafford and I have a group of players that are well and truly capable of winning this match, and that is what I expect us to do."

It is almost unimaginable that there would be question marks over United´s ability to score goals. But, having only found the net nine times in as many league games this season, that is a reality.

Sir Alex is in no doubt, however, that his £50m+ strikeforce can turn that worrying statistic around.

" It’s a bit like asking if it snows in January," joked the manager. " Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record tells you that, and so does young Wayne Rooney’s record. We have others, like Saha and Smith, that are proven goalscorers.

" Strikers go through blips in every dimension of the game. They are the one part where confidence is a crucial factor. When they score they don’t think they can miss. And when they’re not scoring they don’t know where their next goal is coming from. It just needs a little breakthrough."

United they stand - Marsh

Every now and then a game comes long which is simply monumental in proportions - and this is one.

Whenever Manchester United and Arsenal meet, it is big, but Sunday´s showdown at Old Trafford has so much more surrounding it, especially for Sir Alex Ferguson.

United are already 11 points behind their main rivals and they cannot afford to lose. If they do, they can kiss goodbye to their title hopes.

It already looks a tall order for them, but for Arsenal to go 14 points clear United would have to go on a sensational run and hope that the Gunners drop points between now and the end of the season - and that just doesn´t look like happening.

I know Arsene Wenger has the 50-match run and footballing " immortality" to play for, but all the pressure at Old Trafford will be on Sir Alex Ferguson.

We have been talking about a shift in power in the Premiership for some time now, but if Wenger comes out on top come Sunday, you would have to say he is the main man in English football.

But Ferguson will be acutely aware of that more than anyone, which is why I think United will be as fired up for this one as we have seen in a long, long time.

Robert Pires´ remarks last week about last season´s fines and suspensions being worth it have only fammed the flames. Fergie will see that, point out to his players and the likes of Roy Keane and Gary Neville will need no further motivation to go out there and prove they are still the top dogs.

In my opinion, this is the biggest game in United´s recent history. Lose and not only is the Premiership all over for them for another year, but Arsenal take over as the new kids on the block.

Chelsea might have something to say about that, but until they sustain their challenge at the top over a period of time, it the Premiership´s major players will always be United and Arsenal.

But if there is one thing about Ferguson and his United players, it is they just love the big games. They always seem to perform better when everyone is writing them off and I am not surprised to see Wenger claiming he was mis-quoted about a shift in power, because the last thing you want to do is wind United up even more.

On the pitch, the sparks will fly and I cannot wait to see Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane going at it hammer and tongs, Ashley Cole and Cristiano Ronaldo battling it out down the wing and Gary Neville, possibly, seeing if Robert Pires can walk the walk as well as he talks the talks.

Rio Ferdinand being back and playing so well is a massive boost to United. If there is one defender in the Premiership who has got what it takes to cope with Thierry Henry, it is him. He never panics, is rarely caught out of position and has pace to burn - excactly what you need if you are going to keep Henry quiet.

There are match-ups all over the pitch and every one will be worth keeping an eye on.

And if it does get a little ugly, it will make it even better for those of us watching at home! I thought last year´s Battle of Old Trafford made for sensational viewing, and although it did get a little out of hand, I tend to agree with Pires - it did give Arsenal the edge.

There is so much riding on this one, it will be like a volcano waiting to erupt.

Oh, and there is the small matter of 50 games unbeaten to play for. Arsenal have already produced some of the best football I´ve ever seen, but to notch up another milestone in their biggest rivals´ own backyard would be another terrific achievement.

Given what´s at stake, it is hard to see a classic full of flowing football. But you´d be in idiot to miss the first 15 to 20 minutes because it will be absolute mayhem.

I have already said I think we need a foreign referee like Collina in the middle, but even will need eyes in the back of his head ( at least his hair wouldn´ get in the way!).

le voila le grand week end les gars . ..

une seule chose a dire :

ON VA GAGNER . ..

on ne peut pas perdre des dimanche on va refaire peur a nouveau . La vrai saison va étre demarré dimanche . .

GO MU ! !!!!!!!

que la force de sheva soit avec nos attaquants. ^^

on va faire un grand match c´est obligé ! !!!

le reveil va étre la , henry n´aura pas d´espace , reyes va se faire tomber dessus par heinze . .

on va gagner je le sens bien

Espérons une victoire ^^

je pourrais me passer du grand match si on gagne...

je n´espere meme pas nous allons gagner . ...

je en supporterais pas qu´arsenal gagne son 50 eme match contre nous . .

je crois que nos joueurs et fergie ne supporteraient pas non plus de laisser arsenal gagner son 50eme match.

On va gagner les gars
Et Paul va marquer!

je sens bien rooney il aime ce gendre de match . .

et ronaldo qui s´est reposer . .

mais bon j´espére qurtout qu´arsenal ne va pas nous refaire la méme que l´année derniére et pourrir l match