Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Arsenal expect to give Manchester United guard of honour
The prospect of Arsenal's players giving Manchester United and Robin van Persie a guard of honour is likely to incense Emirates fans. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Arsenal anticipate providing Manchester United's newly crowned Premier League champions with a guard of honour when they visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday despite the tension sure to be whipped up by Robin van Persie's first return to the London club.
Van Persie, Arsenal's captain the previous campaign, completed a controversial £24m move to Old Trafford last summer having questioned his former club's ambitions.
The centre-forward registered a hat-trick against Aston Villa on Monday, swelling his goal tally for the season to 28, as United secured their 20th domestic title.
The Dutchman's defection provoked an angry reaction among Arsenal fans and that antipathy will resurface this weekend, a reality that had cast doubt over a pre-match ritual that has become commonplace in recent seasons.
Arsenal anticipate providing Manchester United's newly crowned Premier League champions with a guard of honour when they visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday despite the tension sure to be whipped up by Robin van Persie's first return to the London club.
Van Persie, Arsenal's captain the previous campaign, completed a controversial £24m move to Old Trafford last summer having questioned his former club's ambitions.
The centre-forward registered a hat-trick against Aston Villa on Monday, swelling his goal tally for the season to 28, as United secured their 20th domestic title.
The Dutchman's defection provoked an angry reaction among Arsenal fans and that antipathy will resurface this weekend, a reality that had cast doubt over a pre-match ritual that has become commonplace in recent seasons.
