3 Super Reasons Why Manchester United Will Finish Above Arsenal

With Chelsea already looking odds on favourites for the title and Manchester City looking like the closest contenders, it already looks as though it is going to be a two-horse race for the title. What that also means is that there is only two more Champions League spots. Two spots, that is likely to be closely contested between Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

For all the talk of injuries, crisis and bad results, Manchester United are still in fourth place in the Premier League, while Arsenal, a side who supposedly had a better start to the season than United are currently eighth on the table. The Red Devils have won three of their last four games and are starting to look like a side who can mount a serious challenge for a Champions League spot. They look considerably stronger than their biggest challenge Arsenal and here are three reasons why the Red Devils will finish above the Gunners in the Premier League.

1. Lack of defensive reinforcement (Arsenal)

So far this season, both Arsenal and Manchester United have been hard hit by a defensive injury crisis. Both clubs have had their key defenders already miss large chunks of the season already, but the big difference is that while Manchester United have continually unearthed youngsters from the academy to take someone’s place, the Gunners have been unable to do something similar and have had to rely on the versatility of their fit defenders, to do the job.

Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair, two youngsters that not many would have heard about outside the club are now known the world over. Even with the injuries to Phil Jones, Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling, the club’s only senior central defenders at the start of the season, the Red Devils have looked alright. On the other hand, Laurent Koscielny’s injury means that the Gunners now have just three fit senior defenders. Unfortunately for Arsene Wenger, having started the season with just six senior defenders, he is down to his bare bones and that is another reason why the Gunners will struggle to finish above United this time around.

2. Variety in midfield (United)

If you look at the options that both teams have in midfield, especially in an attacking sense, it is a pretty close run thing. While the Red Devils have Angel Di Maria and Juan Mata, the Gunners have the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez and probably just edge it in attacking midfield. But when it comes to defensive midfield, it really isn’t much of a contest.

Arsenal only have two players who are genuine central midfielders and one of them is 32, while the other is starting to show signs of getting on. Although Jack Wilshere can play as a defensive midfielder, whether he has the defensive discipline to do is questionable. Although United also only have a couple of players, they seem to look the part. Both Daley Blind and Michael Carrick are fantastic at playing as a deep-lying playmaker who can, not just dictate the play, but also nip opposing attacks in the bud. Unfortunately Arsenal don’t have anyone of that ilk and the lack of a defensive enforcer or even someone who can easily link defence and midfield might just end up costing the Gunners.

3. Potency up front (United)

If there is one area where the Red Devils are head and shoulders above Arsenal, that is in the striking department. After the only fit senior striker at Arsenal is the one who was deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford by Louis Van Gaal. In Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie and Radamel Falcao, the Red Devils have arguably the most potent attack in the Premier League.

While it is true that all three might not play as strikers, the simple fact is that the trio will certainly hit double digits for goals and might end the season having twice as many goals as the Arsenal front line. With Olivier Giroud and Yaya Sanogo out injured, Danny Welbeck is the club’s only fit striker, but the truth is that even if they were fit, they would struggle to come close to the United’s striking trio. The strike force is one area that might swing the door in United’s favour as they currently have three strikers who would walk into most first-teams, including Arsenal.