Few will have forgotten Arsenal’s ill-fated trip to Old Trafford last year that saw them humiliated at the hands of a rampant Manchester United side, conceding eight goals and any hope that they might challenge the Manchester duopoly at the top of the league.

A year on and Arsenal arrive in much better shape, with a strong start to their league season. Defeat to Norwich and in Europe altered the mood though, and in spite of eventually progressing in the League Cup they found themselves four goals down inside 35 minutes in shambolic fashion. Manager Arsene Wenger will wish to ensure that the ship is steadied, and getting a result at Old Trafford could be key to whether Arsenal can finally break their silverware drought this year.

That said, they find Manchester United in mixed form as well. Free-scoring but showing a defensive frailty not normally becoming of Ferguson’s men, visitors to Old Trafford feel emboldened to attack their hosts in a way teams of past decades would never have dared. As Spurs, Braga and other visitors have proven, teams that counter with pace and width can cause United problems, and Theo Walcott’s performance against Reading suggests he might present a major threat. A player that divides opinion across the country, his prolonged contract negotiations seem to be bringing out his best form, and he could be the best bet in the anytime goal scorer market if Wenger gives him a start. Arsenal have their own defensive issues, with Laurent Koscielny scoring yet another own goal in a hapless first half display at Reading this week. The fitness of Sagna has given them more stability on the right, and the return of Mertesacker and Vermaelen should provide Gunners fans with more confidence but, in spite of a good record so far at the back in the league, they always appear to have a mistake in them, especially against such quality as United possess going forward.

At this point it is impossible not to move to the inevitable focal point of this fixture on Saturday. Arsenal’s top goal scorer and captain last year now wears the red of Manchester instead, and has already underlined his quality this year. He was unlucky not to be credited with two goals against Chelsea last weekend, and will be a short price to score again this time. There is no doubt that the Arsenal defence will be keen to ensure he is given no freedom, which is why I have decided to look elsewhere. The policing of Van Persie may allow Wayne Rooney to operate just behind him with a little more freedom. Recently Rooney has become integral to Ferguson’s new ‘diamond’ system, and he might be a more likely scorer of the first goal. United may concede, but should have enough to see off Arsenal at home in spite of recent defensive lapses with such riches up front, and a bet on both teams to score, as with most of the clashes between top teams this year so far, seems to be money in the bank too.

Man Utd vs Arsenal Betting Tips

Wayne Rooney to score first at 11/2 with 188bet – sign up get £50 free

Man Utd to win the match at 4/6 with Bet365 – sign up and get £200 free

New 188bet customers get £50 free:

1. Click this link straight to 188bet

2. Open a new account, it costs nothing

3. Bet up to £50

4. Win or lose, you will get a free bet to the same value