This is not the first time a Fabregas-inspired team has gone into a showdown with Manchester United supposedly without any chance to win the game. Back in the 06/07 season, Arsenal were missing key players, namely Henry. The media didn’t give us a chance. Our fans didn’t give us chance. We were simply a small roadblock to United’s title assault. We had no chance in this game. Or so we were told.

United came out and underestimated our team. They believed the hype, and conversely the media hype angered our players and gave them added motivation. We hung around until Cesc slipped a delightful ball for Adebayor to toe-poke him. Game, set, match. Three points were in the bag. An unprobable win? Yes. Surprising? Not so much.

Why?

Because Arsenal on their day are as fluid an attacking team as any. Yes, right now we lack confidence, but if the manager can convince our players to play without fear, we have a good chance. We are missing big players, of course, however do not underestimate the determination that will be on display Saturday. United will face the same problems all other teams face when they play us- they will have to get the ball from us to score. The outcomes of the big four showdowns rarely go according to form. We are down, but not out. We will still field a team of 11 gifted players who will want to win. Do not underestimate the importance that our team will put on this game.

Over the past week, I have read countless articles telling us we have no chance in this game, and maybe those articles have justification. However, football is not a game of logic, and anything can happen. We must go into Emirates tomorrow and create the environment we as fans should generate. The players will need it. Be behind our players, encouraging them. God knows Bendnter will need all the encouragement he can get.

Lastly, it is notable that Ferguson is not taking this game lightly. It is a testament to the fact that, over his long career, he has lost enough games like this to know that the big teams always have a chance. United will arguably be as scared of us as we of them. Arsenal are the most unique football team they will play. On our day, our speed of thought, movement, and passing is second to none. The United players most likely understand the huge task they will have in tracking all of our runners. Let’s complicate things by firing up our players. Give them that small dose of confidence they have been lacking recently. If we as fans do that, then anything can happen.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger remains adamant that he will not need to spend during the January transfer window, despite the Gunners being exposed defensively and mentally on several occasions in the Premier League this season.

Domestically, Arsenal’s young guns have found consistent form hard to come buy despite showing rare glimpses of quality in away matches at Bolton, Blackburn and Fenerbahce. Defeats against League newcomers Hull and Stoke City as well as relegation-threatened Fulham have shown some cause for concern though.

The North London giants have once again been linked with hundreds of players outside of the transfer window, but Wenger admits he is unlikely to bring any players in during that period.

“You can expect Arsenal to be active tomorrow at 12.45 and for the rest January is a long time away. I believe that this team personally is very strong and recently they don’t get any credit. But it’s a good moment for this young team to grow together, show resilience, show strengths and an opportunity to be a strong team in the future.

“Good players can always help you but I believe at the moment I have good players here. I do not want to focus on January and I am not sure at all that I will buy.

“The solution is not always to buy players. The solution for me at the moment is to trust the players I have because I trust their strengths and I trust their intelligence, so let’s show it.”

Tomorrow’s game against current Premier and Champions League holders Manchester United spells the first of many tough home fixtures versus England’s elite. High-flyers Aston Villa, and an Wigan side lead upfront by Egyptian marksman Amir Zaki pose a different sort of threat to the one usually given out by league sides.

Don’t forget, you can follow all the pre-match build-up here on Gooner Talk, with a match report published on the blog immediately after the full time whistle blows.

The above sounds like the headline of a team destined for the pit of the Premier League - the relegation zone. However, it is very much a positive headline in my opinion.

Why?

Because Wenger has spent the past 3 to 4 years searching for his next great squad. He has sold and bought many players in the past few years, looking for the winning formula. The time between now and the opening of the transfer market will tell him which of his players really have the stomach for the fight ahead.

Let’s be realistic here, Villa will not challenge Arsenal for 4th place. That is not arrogance, it’s simply acknowledgement of the fact that Villa do not have the strength in depth of Arsenal. So the next few months will not be a struggle for Champions League football, it will be a trial period for the squad as a whole. Last night against Fenerbahce, he played Ramsey, Djourou, and Fabianski.

Seemingly, every position is up for grabs. Wenger is going to learn which of his players really care about the badge emblazoned on the shirt. Will Fabregas pull the team through this difficult period? Which goalkeeper will finally show his worth? Which of our defenders will be the aerially-dominant player that we have been crying out for?

All of these questions and many more will be solved in the coming weeks. Mark my words: the clouds will soon pass. Arsenal possess flair players and weak-hearted individuals, but somewhere in the dressing room is a group of winners who will pull us out of the trenches. I fully believe Wenger will build his next squad around these players. Call it blind instinct or optimism, but I suspect Wenger has maybe, just maybe learned his lesson in regards to his transfer market frugality. He will find his solid core of winners, and add to them in January and/or this summer.

Right now, Arsenal as a squad are going through some very testing circumstances that will test their mental strength. Don’t get me wrong, I am just tired of the Wenger spin machine as the next Gooner, however I do believe Wenger will use his experience at some point and do what is necessary to secure a title. Human nature dictates so. He has spent the past years building a reputation here. Many people credit the building of the Emirates to him.

Simply put, he has a bronze statue to justify. He will not want these past years to go down the drain because of a few trying years. He is human - he will want his cut of the glory. Wenger will soon do what is necessary to dominate England once again. As idealistic as he may be, he still has a burning desire to send his squad of footballers out of London Colney and into the footballing grounds around Europe to spread his idealogy.

Whether that means splashing cash or not, in the long run we will get there.

Have faith in our manager. He is not losing the plot, he is not going mental. He still knows what is required to win the league. We are talking about the man who completely revolutionised the game in England as we know it. Do not disparage the intelligence he has. I am not for advocating blind faith, as I get just as frustrated with him playing 4 central midfielders against Stoke as the next guy, but soon enough he will learn his lesson. In the meantime, enjoy Arsenal’s football and let Wenger have the time he needs to finalise our squad.