Manchester Utd trip a real test for 'stronger' Arsenal, Ray Parlour says

 

Shkodran Mustafi lifts Theo Walcott after the Munititions stockpile forward's objective against Swansea a month ago 

Arsenal "Invincible" Ray Parlor says Saturday's excursion to Manchester united will be a genuine examination of his old club's title certifications.

Old Trafford gave the setting to some of Parlor's greatest highs and lows as an Arsenal player, a 1-0 win in May 2002 securing a Premier League and FA Cup Double barely a year on from an embarrassing 6-1 vanquish.

In September 2003, the midfielder was £10,000 out of pocket as far as it matters for him in the scenes that took after Ruud van Nistelrooy's very late penalty miss in a 0-0 draw - an escape that formed the Gunners' unbeaten Premier League season.
 

That 2004 title was their third and latest under Arsene Wenger, however they travel north for Saturday lunchtime's Sky Live conflict unbeaten since August and inside two points of top spot, having gotten any semblance of Shkodran Mustafi and Granit Xhaka in the late spring.

The key signings for me were Mustafi and Xhaka. Those two down the spine have been exceptionally solid.

Parlor said: ""I look at Arsenal now and think they're exceptionally strong.

"Individuals were continually sitting tight for that enormous focus forward, yet the key signings for me were Mustafi and Xhaka. Those two down the spine have been exceptionally solid, particularly Mustafi who's come in beside Koscielny at the back.

"No lack of regard to Per Mertesacker, who's getting that tad bit more established, however Arsenal need to sit off with him in the team. With Mustafi, you can push up that tiny bit higher and gather the space in midfield.

"It's worked so far, but it's such a competitive league, and this will be a major test. In the event that will win the title, they need to go to spots like Old Trafford and attempt to get an outcome."

Meetings with United were "absolutely" the greatest for Parlor, who reviews the 6-1 misfortune in February 2001 as "a terrible amusement to play in" and says "adrenalin" took them to the title in 2002, in spite of going to Manchester without Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, and Robert Pires.

Parlor (R) and Edu were a piece of the Arsenal side that won the title at Old Trafford in May 2002

Concerning his recollections of the Van Nistelrooy episode, when Martin Keown  Arsenal players in provoking the Dutchman after a progression of run-ins, Parlor said: "We were out of request. There're heaps of things you do in football you lament, however we as a whole got fined by the FA.

"I recollect the letters arriving in a few weeks after the fact and we said to Martin Keown 'open yours up first since you began it'. He got fined £20,000; I completed £10,000, Lauren £5,000 and Ashley Cole £5,000 - somewhat of a bad dream."