A little less than a week ago, this match is seen as crucial in the championship game, but the visit of Manchester United at Arsenal on Sunday is no longer a game for the hosts to stop their opponents only to win another title .
Arsenal's defeat at Bolton last week did not rule out mathematically in the Premier League with Arsenal, but is no longer necessary to declare that their struggle for the title is almost finished.
Arsene Wenger's side blew golden opportunities to throw down the gauntlet to United beating Liverpool, Tottenham and Bolton in the same week, but wasted their chances, collected just two points.
Now almost certainly leaves Arsene Wenger for a season trophies successive sessions, but the vultures are beginning to find the bones of the failure of the French, who wanr to silence critics and prove a point.
It will hurt Wenger to his heart he could not get to this game in a cry to win the Premiership, or at least ensure that he would take United to the final sprint.
Old enemies
But he is determined to get one over his old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson, whose team is approaching the subject with each game and on the verge of another aspect of the UEFA Champions League.
Their 2-0 win in Gelsenkirchen, Schalke would have been more this week and showed the kind of atmosphere that Ferguson is the finish line approached.
A six-point lead over Chelsea just means a few extra points are needed to bring a record 19 title: e, but Arsenal must win to avoid Fulham eventually catch up to steal third.
United record puts them in good position, having won six of their last seven against the Gunners, boasts an excellent reputation in the Emirates, who have not lost there since 2007.
Team News
Arsenal are boosted by the return of the main center-back Thomas Vermaelen, who was put in practice all season, but is not ready to face United after his Achilles injury.
The Belgian has failed in what was a weak defense that term, but the change of the reservation on Thursday means that it is far from a return to first team.
Tomas Rosicky could be available again after recovering from an illness, but Abou Diaby is sure to miss with a calf injury.
Dimitar Berbatov returns to the team who have lost their last three games with a groin injury sustained in the defeat of the semi-final FA Cup at Manchester City earlier this month.
Darren Fletcher could be back with some of the United States, Vermaelen has played the same game when the team took the book, but is still considered a major doubt.
Paul Scholes serving the last of his three-match ban following his dismissal in the defeat of the FA Cup semi-final at Manchester City, while Owen Hargreaves is still absent from the major U.S. long-term injuries.
Possible Starting XIs
Arsenal: Sczeszny, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott, Arshavin, Van Persie.Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Giggs, Carrick, Valencia,
Rooney, Hernandez.
