Arsenal in much better shape than Man United

Arsenal in much better shape than Man United

By Myles Palmer

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ENGLAND COULD have four clubs in the last 16 in the Champions League.

Arsenal are walking a weak group, Liverpool can thump Anderlecht tonight, and Real Betis will be no match for Chelsea in Seville.

But Manchester United have no midfield and Roy Keane has slagged off his teammates in an MUTV interview so frank that they showed it to Sir Alex before screening.

The manager banned the interview.

Lille v Man United might be interesting on Wednesday.

Yes, the awesome Rooney is back, but if the team plays as it did in the first game against Lille, or in the 4-1 fiasco at Middlesbrough, Wayne will be as frustrated as Roy is.

Football goes in cycles and the United cycle is over.

Sir Alex has been there 19 years and he wasn't smart enough to quit after 2002-2003.

Fergie is now tarnishing his legend with embarassing signings, embarrassing performances and embarrassing results

My best friend Doug called yesterday and said, "I've figured out what Fergie should do. Buy Gravesen in the window, pay two or three million over the odds to get him, play him in every game, play him with Roy Keane when Keane is fit."

ARSENAL'S BEST PLAYER at Spurs was Clichy and their worst was Reyes, so Arsene should drop Reyes and use a Pires- Gilberto-Fabregas-Ljungberg midfield.

With van Persie and Henry up front.

Reyes should NOT be playing as a striker.

He is a left-footed left winger.

The ball bounces off him far too often.

He has pace and skill and bottle, but he's never gonna be Tony Cottee.

I have been a big fan of Reyes but I've now started to doubt if he will make it long-term.

The redcurrants will beat Sparta Prague 4-0 or 4-1.

WHO SHOULD Arsene sign in January ?

I'm still thinking about that one.

Last summer he should have gone for Yakubu rather than Baptista, a Brazilian who never wanted to play in England.

Yakubu is 22 and a rough diamond and a powerhouse.

He is exactly what Arsenal need up front, just as Mark van Bommel is exactly what Arsenal need in midfield.

November 1st 2005.