Arsenal are playing like Champions.

Wilshere broke down the right, chasing a through pass. Collecting the ball he moved into the area with only one thing on his mind, get a shot at goal. Luckily the Marseille defense were happy to oblige and allowed him to cut back onto his favoured left side. He lifted the ball with a delightful, delicate flick and sent it spinning over the keeper and into the top corner. 30 seconds and 1- nil to the Arsenal.

Soon after, Wilshere was freed down the right again, laying a low cross across the area to Ramsey who's shot was blocked by the Marseille keeper, Mandanda. The ease with which Arsenal swept through Olympic Marseille raised expectations that they were going to get a hammering. Yet one didn't follow. Arsenal started to get sloppy with the ball as their tempo dropped. The quick through balls were swept up by the defense, flicks were intercepted, dribbles stopped. There was no real concerted effort from Arsenal to score a second goal and secure the points. This is how Manchester United have played this season, taking a one nil lead then taking the foot of the gas. Maybe it is time to say then that Arsenal are playing like Champions.

Yet there is a significant difference between the two teams. This season when United have taken a lead then conceded the tempo to the opposition they have come undone. This can be seen as recently as Sunday when twice Cardiff came from behind in a game that the Manchester team never looked certain of winning. The same happened against Southampton, Shaktar Donestsk, Stoke City, Sunderland. Almost every game this season they have lacked control, in some they went behind before scraping a win. This is because they are relying upon two players, Rooney and Van Persie. When one is injured then they are in serious trouble as no other player, apart from one performance from Januzaj, has offered a match winning contribution. No such trouble for Arsenal.

They have many players that can influence the outcome of a game. Take the Marseille match as an example. Ozil had a poor game by his standards yet still produced a beautifully weighted ball for Wilshere to tap in the second goal. This ended a decent passing move, something that Arsenal hadn't been able to string together for the entire second half. Wilshere was the star of the match for the home team. However, for most of the season it has been the excellent Ramsey in the staring role. But lets not forget that Giroud has scored frequently, Cazorla has done well without reaching the form of last year, the underrated Rosicky is back and playing well, Arteta is solid, reliable, and we know that Ozil is going to influence more games than he has so far. This is before you mention the pace of Walcott and Oxlade-Chambelin who will come back into the team. There is currently a lot of quality in Arsenal's team, players who can make the difference and win them a game. Even if they are playing badly one of them is likely to produce. Add to that their new found defensive form and they are serious contenders.

Away to Leverkusen tonight, Manchester United have got one player, Wayne Rooney, who can make the difference. We'll see if any of the others can stand up and be counted. They would have beaten Marseille, who were woeful, but if they has scored against them in the first 30 seconds this United team would have capitulated and drawn that match one all. This is the pattern of their season. Last year a one goal lead was enough to win and a second goal would be likely. Now a strange fear has come over Manchester United. No one trusts themselves to do anything creative. The team pass it along the midfield, back to the defenders who either hoof it, or allow De Gea to do so. One nil is no longer enough and without Van Persie and Rooney both playing they cannot hope to outscore opponents. We'll see if it changes in Germany tonight, bizarrely if they win tonight they will qualify with eleven points. Arsenal, currently on twelve, might still go out of the competition.