Home > Football > Arsenal, Manchester United or who: Which team plays the Premiership's best football?
by CaughtOffside.com on 21 February 2007
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But we’ve started with the two most popular choices, Arsenal and Manchester United, just to get things rolling. Feel free to make your case for a different club or simply add to the one for these by responding in the comments.
Arsenal play better football: Arsene Wenger's men play the more attractive football, there’s no question. Everyone knows their movement, technique and one-touch passing is second to none and a joy to watch. A collective will to attack and teamwork that seems almost unreal in its completeness - and results in some mesmerising football.
We’ve all seen it happen dozens of time in every match; it’s only a question of whether the finish is there. Quick interchanges on the edge of the box until Cesc Fabregas pops a deft little ball through, or Thierry Henry gets on the end of a quick one-two to try to pass the ball into the far corner. Even the simplest finishes are beautiful to watch.
United are exciting to watch, but are reliant on their world-class players like Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to get them through. They’re entertaining and effective because a handful of players simply overpower less-talented teams. But there’s a reason their reserves struggled to beat Exeter, a reason they don’t do well in the Carling Cup. When the big names put their feet up, so does the exciting football. Kieran Richardson isn’t Ronaldo, John O’Shea isn’t Scholes, and no one else is Rooney.
But with Arsenal it’s different. It’s not even a style, it’s a philosophy and way of playing football that is greater than any single player. When Wenger plays the youngsters (and they are really young) in the Carling Cup - even without Henry - yet the likes of Denilson, Armand Traore and others slot right in without missing a beat. Just ask Tottenham and Liverpool, who were swept aside with embarassing ease.
Comments (41)
by Premendran on February 21, 2007
I think ARSENAL plays better football compare to other teams.
by John Kitagaana on February 21, 2007
Yes I have closely watched the two teams play, and am not saying this because I support Arsenal, but I am the kind of person who give credit where its due. From tactics to the temp of the game Arsenal are by far better than any team in the Premiership. It is very easy to tell who best the team is when its winning, but ManU is a bore to me when winning because they resort to defensive and time wasting tactics which is not the case with Arsenal who keep the game alive, no wonder they can score as much as six goals. The Arsenal plays very clear and clean football because they dont have those malicious players like, Heinze, Rio whose sole role is to hurt their opponents.
by APAMAKU OSCAR on February 21, 2007
i think United are more superior than Arsenal wen it comes 2 who plays da more attractive football than da other, NO QUESTION.
by Raymond Chiam on February 21, 2007
Yes Arsenal is pretty to watch on their days... but United is exciting because of their never-say-die attitude.
by timus on February 21, 2007
by cliff on February 21, 2007
No doubt gunners play the best stuff
by mario on February 21, 2007
This is no question that arsenal play the better football, even the youngsters are amazing, look at denilson, fabregas, its no competition
by Carlo on February 21, 2007
In the end it is the points that a team gets at the end of the season that counts, but United have played this football last season and it didn't work out. Reason : they were creating a team that now can play this football. The paragraph about how United play better says that Arsenal don't know wing play. Did the person writing that watch the Arsenal vs Man United game at the Emirates this season??? I do believe that the equaliser and winner both came from crosses. What's more, Arsenal have beaten United twice, Liverpool 3 times and drawn away at Chelsea playing their football. This tells me that out of the top 4 teams in England, Arsenal play the best football. The reason Arsenal might struggle is when teams go in with a mindset of playing for a draw. I don't care what team you are, when an opposing team plays that way, you will struggle. It's not even a question of the opposing team playing counter attack, the team doesn't have an attack(eg the Blackburn game)!!
by Timoh on February 21, 2007
gunners any day
by Naheed on February 21, 2007
Arsenal play the best passing football. But united seem to have more styles of play in their drawer, but the passing isnt as great. Arsenal of late are starting to explore the other styles, so i forsee a time that, combined with what they already know in the passing style, they are gonna be unstoppable.....invincibles 2????!!!!!! But in short...Arsenal are definately the team that plays better football...even tho the league postion doesnt quite suggest it....YET....but that will surely follow...everyone knows it deep down dont they...come on...be honest...:-)
by Jeff on February 21, 2007
Undoubtedly United play the more attractive football. How can anyone deny it? Not only do they play the best football but they get the best results.
by Ali on February 21, 2007
Man Utd of course are a wonderfull team to watch, but the team which plays more attractive is no question Arsenal.They may not have much shots on target as we would want to see and sometimes screw their chances and get punished for it but as always we see that their movement,passing, and techniqe is awesome and very fascinating.It's very beautifull that we begin to fall in love with it.Man Utd are great but the always will need the likes of Wayne Ronney,Paul Scholes,and Christiano Ronaldo to help get them through.Arsenal do not always need Henry to do everything as they showed that in the carling cup with a young team and against Chelsea and Man Utd
by Witts on February 21, 2007
On single performances, Arsenal provide value for money most with regards to entertaining football. There performances are not consistent , however. Therefore I would suggest Man Utd provide more entertainment on a regular basis. Given the chance to watch United play Charlton (as I have no affiliation with either), for example, I would take that option, rather than watching Charlton play Arsenal.
by hans on February 21, 2007
arsenal are great to watch when on a roll but find it hard to adapt when playing combative/defensive teams. And Wenger's tendency to whine about that is annoying btw. ManU have playes some excellent football this season but on occassion have been unimpressive also. Overall, this season, United edge it. but only just
by ken kimani on February 21, 2007
by uzoigwe frankln uzoigwe on February 21, 2007
chelsea football club played the most enjoyable football than any other club i love the blues
by Alex I on February 21, 2007
Arsenal, like the article says, just aren't effective enough. United attack over and over again using varying styles depending on the opposition. Arsenal try and score using one touch football, and if it fails, they try the same thing again. Both are great to watch, but United have the edge.
by culsow on February 21, 2007
United 4 sure
by Gonza on February 21, 2007
by Ersen Ahmet on February 21, 2007
Arsenal p[lay good football, but they dont get results (not consistently anyway). They always set out the same strategy and teams know how to stifle and frustrate them. Manchester united on the other hand, are playing some of the best football I've ever seen. Fast, furious and to the point. They have magical Ronaldo, masterful Rooney and the age old master Laarson. The midfield reads like a whos whos and the defense had been very solid indeed. Top that all off with one of the worlds best goalkeepers and probably the best manager of all time and arsenal simply cannot compete...
by Anujan on February 21, 2007
Go go arsenal. The other team are shit and there are fucked up so u can beast them
by Alex I (again) on February 21, 2007
Carlo, must you make me point out that this Manchester United team has gone to both the Reebok (Where Arsenal lost 3-1) and White Hart Lane (Where Arsenal drew 2-2 in the Carling Cup) this season and won 4-0. There is no question that United are the most effective and therefore the best football team in the Premiership. You can bang on and on about how you've beaten us twice, but the fact is, the league is won over 38 games and two lucky wins will bring you nothing. I love watching Arsenal, I just wish their fans would accept, that while their team will be a force to be reckoned with in a couple of years, they aren't there yet, whereas United are.
by nintachan on February 21, 2007
United... United...
by Kalin Kanov on February 21, 2007
and they play the best football.