Gunners, United in clash of season

LONDON: It’s the match of the football season. Some even suggest it’s the most important match in the 11-year history of the Premier League.

Call it what you will, but the league title may be decided when Arsenal play Manchester United at Highbury today. “It’s the biggest match of the season, no doubt about that,” said Man United manager Alex Ferguson. “What we have to do is keep the momentum going that we have built up over the past few weeks.” The Reds are unbeaten in their last 13 league matches, have wiped out Arsenal’s eight-point lead and moved three points clear at the top of the table.

The only recent blemish came last week when Alex Ferguson’s side was hammered 3-1 by Real Madrid in the first-leg quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. But Man U bounced back by thrashing Newcastle 6-2 on Saturday. It’s been two years since the Reds won a trophy — the league title in 2001. Knocked out of the FA Cup this season and looking overmatched against the Spaniards, the Premier League championship is their best chance. The Gunners are the bookies’ slight favourite as they try to become the first team to win back-to-back league and FA Cup titles. The Gunners reached the FA Cup final over the weekend with a lacklustre 1-0 win over First-Division Sheffield United.

Though Arsenal trail Man United by three points, the Gunners have played one fewer match. A victory would pull Arsenal even with a fixture in hand, with home matches remaining against Leeds and Southampton — and away games at Middlesbrough, Bolton and relegated Sunderland. United face a tougher road against four sides in the top 10 —- home with Blackburn and Charlton and away to Tottenham and Everton. Today’s match could feature a battle between the two best midfielders in English football.  But Arsenal’s Vieira will be ready despite knee problems, and Man United’s Roy Keane is fighting hip and knee injuries. Man United’s two other injury worries have faded. Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez picked up a toe injury in the weekend’s Newcastle match but has been ruled fit.

So has David Beckham, who missed that match with a hamstring injury sustained against Real Madrid. Manchester United have dominated the Premier League since it started in 1992, winning every year except 1995 (Blackburn), 1998 (Arsenal) and 2002 (Arsenal).  Until Wenger arrived in 1996, Arsenal’s highest finish was fourth. The Gunners won the league in 1998 by one point and finished a point behind United in 1999. A year later, United won the league by 18 points, and by 10 points in 2001. Last season, Liverpool bumped Manchester United into third, their first trophy-less year since 1995.