UNITED v ARSENAL
January 19th 2007 20:47
* Drought in a flood
Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping for Wayne Rooney to get a break and help Manchester United end Chelsea's two-season domination of the Barclays Premiership.
United are scoring goals for fun going into the crucial clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Curiously, though, 20-year-old Rooney has not been among them.
The England striker’s current record is one goal in 13 matches for the league leaders.
But Ferguson believes there is much more to the young star’s game than scoring.
“Wayne just needs a break,” said the United manager. “I am not concerned at all.
“It will come. What he needs to do is get into that one goal a game rhythm that strikers can do for you.
“If he does that it will make a big difference to our run-in. He is a big-game player.
“Wayne is a great example of a great player. He is prepared to work as hard as anyone.
“He is working his socks off and has a terrific attitude.”
Arsenal chalked up a superb victory at Old Trafford earlier in the season and Ferguson expects another tight contest in the return clash.
He said: “They deserved to win that day and this should be another fantastic game.
“Both teams are playing excellent football and it is a difficult one to call.
“They have aggressive players and so have we - in the right way.
“No team on the this planet can win without having players with the passion to succeed.”
Arsene Wenger accepts the battle between Arsenal and Manchester United is not what it once was - but intends to turn up the heat on the Barclays Premiership leaders at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
A few seasons ago, the duo were the dominant forces in English football and Wenger's side were the perennial title challengers to the Red Devils.
But now with the power base shifted following the emergence of Chelsea, the Gunners have found themselves some 15 points adrift of United and chasing third spot.
“I feel the fact that Chelsea came in took a little bit of the focus off Arsenal and Manchester United,” said Wenger.
“Before over the last two years a game between Manchester United and Arsenal was a game nobody could afford to lose.
“Now even if you lose one there is still Chelsea there and Liverpool joined in, so there is less focus only on Manchester United and Arsenal.”
Wenger added: “I would prefer that we are level on points with Manchester United and it is a very important decider. I like intensity.
“You get it always, but more teams have joined in from lower - Portsmouth, Bolton - or other teams push up.
“That is why maybe top-level teams can drop points everywhere.
“It is much better for the Premiership and that is why you sell the Premiership well all over the world.”
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