Morgan: Let's Make A Statement

Morgan Schneiderlin believes Manchester United can make a bold statement of intent when the Barclays Premier League leaders visit rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

The Reds moved to the top of the table last weekend with a comfortable 3-0 win over Sunderland that capitalised on Manchester City’s earlier defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. As a result, Louis van Gaal’s men are now one point clear of the Blues after seven matches played.

Sunday’s trip to North London provides possibly the sternest test of United’s title-race credentials so far but summer signing Schneiderlin is confident of securing another important victory. “I am looking forward to the game, very much so, because the Emirates is a great stadium and they are a good team,” the Frenchman told MUTV.

“I think Arsenal will be there competing for the title until the end and it is up to us to make a statement on Sunday. Last year they had a good result against United in the FA Cup and we had a good result against them in the league, so we know we can win this game and it is going to be a battle. We want to make a statement and show everyone that we deserve to be in first place.”

The Reds head into this weekend’s blockbuster on the back of an excellent comeback victory over Wolfsburg in the Champions League, while Arsenal are reeling from a shock 3-2 defeat to Olympiacos that has provided a hammer blow to their European aspirations.

“They need to bounce back and this is a good platform for them to do it," admits Schneiderlin, “but we do not focus on what they are feeling and do not give importance to it.

“They have good qualities all over the pitch and we need to be aware, we need to concentrate. If we play our game then we have every chance to win the game. We know that they have weaknesses and we will try to exploit them as much as possible.”