Scrapping for the scraps as Blues blossom

SUPPOSE they had a big match and nobody cared? Okay then, we exaggerate for effect, but the fact is that no amount of Sky hype will turn tonight’s game between Arsenal and Manchester United at Highbury into the clash of titans it used to be, BC (Before Chelsea).

It still takes some getting used to, this new world order in which the heavyweights who for so long dominated the Premiership are reduced to fighting for scraps while Chelsea move relentlessly towards the retention of their title.

The infant New Year is still too early to be calling the final outcome, of course, but with the champions - fresh from yesterday’s 3-1 victory over West Ham - now 14 points clear of United and a whopping 25 ahead of Arsenal, it’s hard to see how tonight’s game will have any significant impact on the destination of the title.

That said, it’s another measure of how things have changed in the Premiership that the massed ranks of what used to be the ABU army will surely scarce forbear to cheer if United should manage to keep their faint hopes alive of catching Chelsea, by taking all three points from what will be the final league game between the erstwhile Big Two at Highbury.

If United are to at least keep up a credible chase, then victory is essential. However, the real pressure is on the home side: defeat for Arsenal and a Champions League place next season would be seriously in doubt. Failure to qualify would also, you suspect, make it less likely Thierry Henry would remain a Gunner.

These then are big stakes for Arsene Wenger who has seen his side struggle to cope physically and achieve any consistency in the absence of Patrick Vieira.

Freddie Ljungberg admitted as much after the weekend’s scoreless draw with Aston Villa.

“Vieira was a great player, very physical and helped us in the middle of the park,” he said. “We’ve filled in with young players who have done well but everyone needs time to grow, develop and learn.”

But time is now of the essence for the Gunners. Just over 12 months ago, Brian Kerr offered the opinion that Cesc Fabregas would emerge as one of the outstanding players of 2005. Certainly, Fabregas is a splendid talent and could still deliver fully on his promise but, right now, his midfield partnership with Mathiu Flamini, suggests Wenger is asking boys to do a man’s job.

United may not be missing Roy Keane as much as Arsenal are missing Vieira but, again, tonight’s game will be the poorer for the lack of Keane’s combative presence and, indeed, that whole tasty sub-plot which invariably lived up to its billing - on and off the pitch - as the Premiership’s two dominant midfield generals came face to face.

But that is no more and, instead, all eyes will be on the side’s respective potential match winners to see if they can elevate this game above also-ran status. Henry remains one of the Premiership’s great talents but against Villa he looked wholly out of sorts and we can only hope that, for the good of the game as a spectacle if nothing else, he finds sufficient inspiration in tonight’s opposition to recapture his trademark va va voom.

If he doesn’t, then the headlines are likely to be grabbed yet again by Wayne Rooney, the player to whom United now look, above all others, for that electrifying spark of genius. The traditional enmity between the clubs also means that the still volatile Rooney could make the headlines for all the wrong reasons, but if he keeps his focus on creation rather than destruction, then United’s talisman has the ability to transform a second-place contest into first-rate entertainment.

Even if Chelsea will hardly be shaken or stirred.