And so we come to one of the biggest clashes of the season

Three games into the season and Manchester United face their biggest yet test by hosting high flying Arsenal at Old Trafford today. While the Londoners have petered out in their title challenge over the last some seasons, Manchester United have launched a fresh attack for immortality in that period. However, the start to the season for these two giants of the English game could not be further apart.

While Arsenal have started with a bang, knocking in goals left, right and center, raising hopes amongst their fans of a title bid after many years, Manchester United, devoid of their most potent weapon have looked lackluster and pedestrian at times. While the Wigan victory did go to calm the nerves somewhat, yet attaining the perfection of seasons gone still seems a somewhat distant dream.

For the Londoners the game represents opportunities multifold. While they not only get to showcase their seriousness for title aspirations by winning this game, at the back of their mind would also be extracting revenge for that massacre at Emirates in the Champions League semifinal. And no wonder, the manager and the players all look keyed up for the big game tonight.

As for Manchester United, this presents another opportunity to once again silence the doubting Thomases. A victory tonight would go a long way in not only assuring the fans of the team being in good and challenging shape but would also allow the players the sense of belonging and confidence so required to mount a title defense. The signs were there of the team gelling together and adapting to the new system and an authoritative performance against Arsenal would be just the catalyst that could catapult Manchester United to feeling as champions again.

On the team news front, while the Fabregas is the high profile miss for the Londoners, Rio is still missing for us along with Neville, Van Der Sar and Hargreaves.

With Fletcher being a certainty in the park and what with recent news of turmoil related to Carrick and Anderson, it would be an interesting to see who Fergie picks to man the midfield. Personally, I would like to see Anderson in the attacking midfielder role just behind Rooney and Berbatov pulling the strings with Fletcher providing the solidity. While the back four and front two are almost certain, Valencia and Nani should occupy the wings.