Last season Robin van Persie proved beyond doubt he was the top marksman in the Premier League, and he has carried that form on so far for United this campaign.
What was remarkable was that he scored in key games against rivals Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Everton in fact the only top eight team he did not net against were the eventual champions Manchester City.
So you can be pretty sure he will be keen to take that record and continue it into this season, especially after hitting the winning penalty against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend.
And the statistics bode well for the striker, and badly for Tottenham tomorrow.
Firstly, during his time at Arsenal, he has only been on the losing side against them three times in 15 matches. He has scored five goals in those matches, a ratio of one in three, and provided four assists.
Which means he has contributed to goals in nine out of 15 games, including a special one to tie the game at 2-2 last season to take the game level at halftime, a key turning point in a 5-2 win.
When you factor in many of those 15 games will have come early in his Arsenal career, with him featured as a substitute rather than a starter it is even more impressive.
The current Premier League club he has scored most against is Stoke (7), while Tottenham he has provided the most assists against, joint with Everton. Clearly they are a team he feels inspired against.
Even more promising, is that the only time he has faced an Andre Villas-Boas managed side, was last season, when Arsenal spectacularly beat Chelsea 5-3 at Stamford Bridge. Van Persie inspired that performance, scoring a hat-trick.
Will AVB's tactics in defence leave him exposed to Van Persie for a second game running? Tottenham will hope he has learned his lesson.
The three factors, his goals record against the top teams, success rate against Tottenham, and the AVB effect means all signs are pointing to a Van Persie inspired victory for United, especially when Spurs have not won at Old Trafford in 23 years.
Even Arsenal fans would find it bittersweet to see Van Persie scoring past Spurs in a Red Devils shirt.
The visitors couldn't upset the form book and provide a mighty upset, could they?
image: © wonker
Dan Coombs
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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.
As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.
He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.
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