It has not been the best of starts to the calendar year of 2016 for Arsenal. It has not been the worst either, but after a great December and festive period, things have got a bit sticky for the Gunners. There have been some good moments like beating our title rivals Leicester City and we are still in the FA cup even though we now have to squeeze a replay with Hull into the congested schedule.
After losing to Barcelona in the Champions League and failing to score once again though, I think we can all agree that Arsenal need something to spark a run of results and so I reckon the game against Manchester United on Sunday comes at the perfect time for us.
We may be struggling to some extent but United are having a much worse time of things. That is highlighted by the fact the the Gunners are the favourites to win a match at Old Trafford for the first time since the Premier League was formed.
Louis van Gaal is under huge pressure and if they fail to overturn the 2-1 deficit in the Europa League tonight that will only increase. Even if they do go through it will hardly be a glorious moment for them because everyone was expecting them to breeze past the Danish champions FC Midtjylland.
Van Gaal is beset by problems, not least of which is having 14 first team players on the injury list. So even if he did want to rest players and rotate for their game tonight and the EPL match against us on Sunday he would not be able to.
And with the Arsenal forwards struggling to find the net in recent weeks, the fact that the United defence is the area of the squad that has been hit hardest by injuries could be just the thing to get us firing again.
Arsenal need to make the most of all this of course, but is a game against an injury ravaged and out of form Man United just what we need right now?