Arsenal backs to the wall for United test

Team unity
Wednesday's uninspiring goalless draw at home against UEFA Champions League rivals Fenerbahçe SK was the Londoners' third game without a win in all competitions, and their previous domestic outing ended in their third loss of the season, 2-1 at promoted side Stoke City FC. Not the best time to be facing United, perhaps, but the recent criticism of Arsène Wenger's men seems to have galvanised them as a unit. "We have a really big game on Saturday against Manchester United and we will just focus on that," defender Kolo Touré said. "As a team, we rely on our solidarity."

No complacency
Sir Alex Ferguson's side may even be their perfect opponents at this stage, with no room for the complacency that has crept in at times of late. "We're not in the second half of the league yet, but we need to take this as a really important game and show Manchester United and the other big clubs that we will fight for the title," added Touré, whose team lie a point below Saturday's visitors in fourth, six shy of pacesetters Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC.

Injury list
The hunger to prevail is there, however the Gunners' task will be rendered even more difficult by their injury situation. With William Gallas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Emmanuel Eboué and Theo Walcott already sidelined before the Fenerbahçe game, Manuel Almunia missed the visit of the Turkish champions through illness and Mikaël Silvestre picked up a suspected broken nose. Added to that, striker Robin van Persie is set to start a three-match suspension, leaving Wenger with youngsters Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela as his only strike options. "It's up to them now to show it doesn't matter who you play, you just focus on your game and take your chance," said Touré. Both Gallas and Walcott are "50-50" to play on Saturday, according to Wenger.

Players rested
United were able to rest players during their 1-1 draw at Celtic FC, in contrast, with Edwin van der Sar and Gary Neville given the day off, while Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra all started on the bench. "Obviously, it's another tough away match on Saturday but it's a situation we're used to," commented midfielder Michael Carrick, whose side have suffered just one defeat this season – at Liverpool. "We've got enough strength in the squad to cope with that. At United, we go into every game believing we can win and Saturday's will be no different. Three points would put us in a good position so, hopefully, we can get them."