They are the best team in Europe, at the moment. They played a very controlled and disciplined game in midweek in Europe, away at a side whose attacking prowess is noted to be one of the deadliest in Europe, and came home with a win and a clean sheet.
They quite probably have the best midfield combination in the world, at the moment. And they visit Old Trafford on Sunday.
They are The Arsenal and the Red Devils will not need any added motivation as the Gunners come to town in good health and high spirits.
The Arsenal midfield of Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Thomas Rosicky and Mesut Ozil clearly are the strongest in the world right now with Ramsey taking the league (and indeed Europe) by storm.
He is most definitely the best British midfielder in the English Premier League (EPL) right now apart from Lee Cattermole.
Okay, I am only joking about Cattermole, but not about Ramsey who has finally matured on the pitch. We used to have Gareth Bale, who took forever to step up, but his fellow Welshman, Ramsey, is certainly one of those who has taken time to perform to the potential shown.
The midweek contrast in style and circumstances will count for nought as this is the EPL where drama has to be seen to be created, and Martin Atkinson provided the drama last weekend with an assist for the Arsenal at The Emirates against Liverpool.
At Old Trafford, Arsenal can hardly expect refereeing decisions to go their way (in an ideal world, refereeing decisions will not go one way or the other, but rather the right way) and lapses in concentration could prove costly at the hands of Wayne Rooney and Arsenal's ex-favourite son, Robin Van Persie.
The Red Devils played a very mediocre Real Sociedad while the Gunners had a great result in Dortmund. The expectations will be of Arsenal to continue their fine form but the pressure still remains on the shoulders of David Moyes. Simply, it is a game Manchester United must win!
How he lines up his midfield will once again be key, as he simply cannot afford Marouane Fellaini to dive into challenges as he did in Sociedad. On the other hand, perhaps Adnan Januzaj is poised to endear himself further to the MU faithful?
Whether MU demolish Arsenal or win by a slim margin thanks to an Ashley Young "trip" is of no issue - bring home 3 points, and all that nonsense about "playing attractive football" is forgiven.
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur host Newcastle United and dare we say, an in-form Newcastle. The Magpies will travel to London after demolishing Chelsea of London. Will the Magpies wing it, again? I think not!
The time has come for Andre Villas Boas’ team to step up a level. The results can be the classic one-nils but Spurs have to start dominating matches. There have been enough matches played for the team and players to now hit a high level and consistently maintain it.
The "settling in" period is no longer an accepted excuse. AVB does, however, need to ensure that Spurs do not fail to change gears like Chelsea did when faced with a stifling defense and power on the counter-attack.
At Anfield, expect the home team to steamroll Fulham. After the disappointing performance against Arsenal, the Anfield faithful will accept nothing less than fulfillment. The best strike partnership in football at the moment, have to behave like partners.
Please leave bedroom squabbles in the bedroom. If the SAS pair - Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge - work together, expect another goal glut.
Coutinho's return to full fitness will play a major role in determining Liverpool's ability to create alternative methods of breaking down the Fulham defense, and Brendan Rogers will be hoping that his return can help lessen his side's dependency on the form of their two strikers.
Sunderland host Manchester City on Sunday; the only way the timing could be any worse for Gus Poyet's side is if they had been knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Southampton in midweek.
Manchester City are flying at the moment, and Pellegrini will definitely see this trip as an opportunity for his side to overcome their away-day woes this season.
Nevertheless, Poyet hopes his side can pull off a shock result, aided by the morale boost a cup win provides.
He will take a win any way he can get it, and rightfully so.
For Manchester City, Alvaro Negredo will be looking to add a few more goals to his tally this season; Diego Costa's availability will have put more pressure on Spanish strikers hoping to go to the World Cup in Brazil.
Is there a better way for a striker to cement their national team spot, other than scoring goals? Let's hope not, that takes away all the fun. Here's to a good weekend. – November 9, 2013.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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