The Oppostion – Arsenal

In short, Arsenal look to have blown their chance of winning the league this year. There was a brief moment when they topped the table, but a 1-1 draw at Birmingham at the end of March was followed by two gruelling encounters with Barcelona in the Champions League.

After Lionel Messi destroyed the Gunners in Spain, Arsenal have lost ground on the top two after defeats at Spurs and Wigan leaves them six points behind leaders Chelsea with just nine left to play for.

Although the Gunners have not been their usual, forceful selves away from home, at The Emirates they are a different team. From seventeen games played there this season, Arsenal have won fourteen and only lost to Chelsea and United.

Arsenal last won the Premier League title in the 2003/04 season and have failed to win a trophy since they lifted the FA Cup in 2005.

Manager – Arsene WengerArsene Wenger has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996 and is their most successful manager in terms of trophies. His managerial career is much better than his playing career which stretched between 1973 and 1981. Wenger made 147 appearances for three clubs but manager to score 24 goals in his eight year career.

 

 Wenger is the only non-British manager to win the double in England and is the only manager in Premier League history to go through an entire season undefeated in the league.

Ground – The Emirates Stadium

 

Built in Ashburton Grove, The Emirates has been Arsenal’s home since 2006, with the club leaving their Highbury home after 93 years. Its current capacity is 60,355, which is the second largest in the country behind Old Trafford.

Key Player – Robin van Persie 

 

The Dutchman has just returned from injury and will be hoping to inspire Arsenal to a strong finish.