Second or fourth?

Wayne Rooney. AFP photo

What you need to know:

SOCCER. Most of the English Premier League is already done as a competition but there is still a fight for places between three teams: Man City, Arsenal and Man Utd. Tomorrow’s clash between old enemies at Old Trafford will go a long way in settling that fight

This fixture has never failed to excite, ever. It has always been a very entertaining fixture. The last time these two teams met was at Old Trafford in the FA Cup. The result was a 1-2 victory for Arsenal.
However, the most one-sided fixture we have seen in the Premier League between these two sides was the 8-2 win for Manchester United at Old Trafford.
United need one more point to secure qualification for next season’s Uefa Champions League, although that could be secured in advance of the match at O.T if Liverpool fail to beat Crystal Palace at Anfield today.
The Reds returned to winning ways against Palace at Selhurst Park last weekend after a run of three consecutive defeats, thanks to goals from Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini.

Louis van Gaal’s men now have an opportunity to complete a League double over Arsenal, following this season’s previous win at the Emirates Stadium in November.
The Gunners suffered a shock defeat to Swansea City on Monday night but head north to Manchester with confidence, having beaten United in this season’s FA Cup sixth-round encounter at the Theatre of Dreams.
Normally both these teams “turn up” for this fixture. They both played exceptionally well in the last game, and the only reason Arsenal scored the equaliser was through Valencia’s poor back-pass to David De Gea.
Arsenal are guaranteed a top-four finish once again, while only two defeats and an improbable goal-difference swing against them will deny United fourth place.

Arsene Wenger’s side, in third, have played a match fewer than second-placed Manchester City and United, a place back, but defeat would drop Wenger’s men to fourth. Only the top three qualify automatically for the group stages of the Uefa Champions League and both Wenger and opposite number van Gaal will be keen to avoid the prospect of a tricky play-off tie.