Arsenal v Man United Preview; Lauren Leaves

Let me start off by saying that I will massively miss Lauren, and that he is still the best right-back at the club. Or was. Eboue might be electric and exciting going forward, but he is too busy being an actress and believing in his own hype to focus on defensive improvement. Hoyte is ok, but it will take something special for him to be a worthy first-choice right-back. Sorry for all the hyphens. In any case, Lauren is a legend, maybe not in the legendary sense (?), but the fact that he was the toughest mo-fo on the team, he was unbelievably consistent, quick, strong, skillful and versatile. His first season at the club was in his natural position of central/defensive midfield - he scored goals, passed well, and did a good job. But his second season, the beginning of his career at right-back, also coincided with Arsenal's first leage title in 4 years, the double of 2001/2002. From then on he made the position his own and was the best right-back in the Premiership for several years. A boxer in his spare time, Lauren was the kind of player you loved having in your team - opposition players absolutely shat themselves when he stared them down, and every once in a while you knew he was just going to flatten an attacker (only ever getting a yellow card of course). From 2000-2005, there were large patches of inconsistency in the team every now and then, but it was always Lauren who would stand out for his calm and accurate passing, good link up play, and dogged defending. I think i've used up every stereotype in the book here. Anyhow, after almost 7 years at the club after arriving from Mallorca, Lauren leaves with 2 Premiership titles, 3 FA Cups, 227 appearances and 9 goals. He will never be forgotten, and especially so because he was one of the invincibles. Laureano Bisan-Etame Mayer... we salute you. I'm glad he was able to part with the club on such amicable terms (although i'm sure we will dread facing him when we play Pompey). To read a bit more about Lauren and his interesting history, click here.

And now to the main event. Arsenal vs Manchester United, on Sunday, at Highmirates Stadium. Sad to say, the emergence of Chelsea has somewhat taken a bit of the heat off this rivalry, but this will no doubt be a classic encounter. Both teams are playing excellent football, Chelsea are lost in between them and in their own politics, and funnily enough with Ferguson top, and Wenger as underdog, things are back to the way they were during those years of Arsenal and United dominance. United need the victory to keep up their title challenge and to avenge their home defeat to the Arsenal earlier this season, and we want the victory to keep up our faint title hopes. Van Persie is a doubt, Gilberto is injured (if this has a highly negative effects, someone needs to go give Robbie Savage a black eye), and Eboue or Hoyte will be an interesting question.

As for United... well it's quite amazing - they come into this game without a single injury or suspension. That's not to say that we are in bad shape, but Gilberto and Gallas, and potentially Van Persie and Eboue missing will take it's toll. It's going to be a lot of pressure on young Cesc Fabregas, and one wonders who will deputise for Gilberto alongside him. It will probably be Flamini, but the Flamster for all his effort is not really the same kind of player. Still, 4-5-1 might be an option, with Adebayor up front and Henry playing the withdrawn role that he assumed when Gilberto was sent off, or Henry might be stuck up front with Baptista or Diaby affording both more protection and more energy in midfield.

And i'll leave you with some Lauren goodness. There was another great clip where he really gives Mido a tough time, but I couldnt find it. So. Anyways: