Well, this is the big one. Arsenal at home. Thanks to Swansea there is a glimmer of hope we can pip them to third, second is now seemingly out of reach thanks to the run of three defeats in a row but if we can achieve the double over Wengers boys then we still have a shout of avoiding the sometimes tricky Champions League qualifiers. Defeat and we can go into our last match away to relegation battling Hull knowing we achieved the bare minimum required this season, but at least we made sure Liverpool remained Champions League free next season as usual. Hopefully Arsenal won't repeat what they did to us in the FA cup recently and will be distracted by their final against Aston Villa. Either way it'll be an entertaining match.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that with all the gossip and rumours regarding Real Madrid and David de Gea seemingly reluctant to sign a new lucrative contract - this could be his last Old Trafford appearance in a United shirt. We all hope this isn't the case but with Casillias having lost his temper with the boo'ing Madrid fans over the weekend then we could well see his departure force Madrid's hand. There is no doubt he has been our saviour on numerous times this season but this whole saga has left an unpleasant taste in my mouth when I think of him turning down £200,000 per week...homesick? Maybe, then why hasn't he come out and publicly said he is struggling to adapt? Either way he'll be in for a huge shock if he makes some of the clangers he made with us when he first arrived...the Madrid mob are unforgiving, ask Ronaldo and Casillias.
Anyway, this week United have welcomed back Luke Shaw, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie who have all been cleared to start training, whether that means Falcao and/or Wilson will be dropped from the bench to make way for Van Persie remains to be seen. Unfortunately the player we really need back - Carrick, is out for the season so we will probably see Blind remain in CDM and Adnan Januzaj will be pushing for at least a place on the subs bench after a starring role in our U21's hammering of City on Tuesday. Personally I'd rather see Thorpe on the bench rather than Evans, Thorpe has never been really given a chance under LvG and Evans is seeming on his way in the summer anyway, but one thing you realise about LvG is that if he likes you then you are undroppable...he doesn't, then you have two work twice as hard as those he likes to get a chance. Whether Di Maria plays a part or not is doubtable if he has recovered from his injury in last weeks training but we'll find out more tomorrow at van Gaal's regular Friday press conference.
For Arsenal - Jack Wilshire will look to play some part after his successful run out against Swansea on Monday, former red Danny Welbeck also returns after missing their last two games but even if he plays you get a sneaky suspicion that his 1in4 goal tally he seems to take into league football will see United be that one...isn't it always the way? Oxlade-Chamberlain is also hoping to play some part as well although the less pace we face the better, Wenger used it to good effect against Valencia on the left in the cup and he had a nightmare.
The Gunners have won none of the past seven League matches against us, losing five, and have just a single win in the previous twelve...no I refuse to mention the FA cup game because I can. Their last league success at Old Trafford came when Adebayor struck in the 85th minute to seal a 1-0 victory in September 2006. We have met twenty two times in the Premier League at Old Trafford with United winning fourteen, drawing five and losing three, so hopefully LvG can continue his good form against the leagues big boys.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that with all the gossip and rumours regarding Real Madrid and David de Gea seemingly reluctant to sign a new lucrative contract - this could be his last Old Trafford appearance in a United shirt. We all hope this isn't the case but with Casillias having lost his temper with the boo'ing Madrid fans over the weekend then we could well see his departure force Madrid's hand. There is no doubt he has been our saviour on numerous times this season but this whole saga has left an unpleasant taste in my mouth when I think of him turning down £200,000 per week...homesick? Maybe, then why hasn't he come out and publicly said he is struggling to adapt? Either way he'll be in for a huge shock if he makes some of the clangers he made with us when he first arrived...the Madrid mob are unforgiving, ask Ronaldo and Casillias.
Anyway, this week United have welcomed back Luke Shaw, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie who have all been cleared to start training, whether that means Falcao and/or Wilson will be dropped from the bench to make way for Van Persie remains to be seen. Unfortunately the player we really need back - Carrick, is out for the season so we will probably see Blind remain in CDM and Adnan Januzaj will be pushing for at least a place on the subs bench after a starring role in our U21's hammering of City on Tuesday. Personally I'd rather see Thorpe on the bench rather than Evans, Thorpe has never been really given a chance under LvG and Evans is seeming on his way in the summer anyway, but one thing you realise about LvG is that if he likes you then you are undroppable...he doesn't, then you have two work twice as hard as those he likes to get a chance. Whether Di Maria plays a part or not is doubtable if he has recovered from his injury in last weeks training but we'll find out more tomorrow at van Gaal's regular Friday press conference.
For Arsenal - Jack Wilshire will look to play some part after his successful run out against Swansea on Monday, former red Danny Welbeck also returns after missing their last two games but even if he plays you get a sneaky suspicion that his 1in4 goal tally he seems to take into league football will see United be that one...isn't it always the way? Oxlade-Chamberlain is also hoping to play some part as well although the less pace we face the better, Wenger used it to good effect against Valencia on the left in the cup and he had a nightmare.
The Gunners have won none of the past seven League matches against us, losing five, and have just a single win in the previous twelve...no I refuse to mention the FA cup game because I can. Their last league success at Old Trafford came when Adebayor struck in the 85th minute to seal a 1-0 victory in September 2006. We have met twenty two times in the Premier League at Old Trafford with United winning fourteen, drawing five and losing three, so hopefully LvG can continue his good form against the leagues big boys.