As time slowly approached the end of August, Arsenal's fixtures still hadn't eased up.
There were only two matches left, one on August 25th, an away game against Udinese; and another on August 28th, an away game against Manchester United.
Two consecutive away games—this was a test of squad depth.
The first match was relatively easier, given the advantage of a 3-0 lead in the first leg, Udinese would be hard-pressed to stir up any waves away from home; even with a semi-rotated lineup, they could win.
Arsenal was very likely to advance to the Champions League with ease.
But Manchester United... For Arsenal, they're definitely a tough opponent, a special rival.
Not only because this team possesses top-tier strength in the Premier League, but also due to the love-hate relationship between Sir Alex Ferguson and Wenger that spanned over a decade, as well as the clashes and rivalries between Arsenal and Manchester United around the millennium.
