Chido Obi-Martin will play his first game against his former club, Arsenal, when Manchester United and the Gunners face off at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways when they welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday evening. Ruben Amorim has a new roster issue hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Patrick Dorgu will continue serving his Premier League suspension after seeing red in the Red Devils’ most recent top-flight outing against Ipswich Town. Meanwhile, Amorim is still sweating over Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte’s fitness, with the duo recovering from minor issues.
In addition, Altay Bayindir (unspecified), Tom Heaton (knock), Jonny Evans (lower back), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Luke Shaw (calf), Toby Collyer (muscle), Kobbie Mainoo (muscle), Mason Mount (hamstring), and Amad Diallo (ankle) remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Amorim did not provide a fitness update on any player.
However, the Manchester United manager insisted he would not risk any player’s fitness amid his side’s injury crisis. In addition, the Portuguese tactician suggested Chido Obi-Martin could take on his former club Arsenal this weekend.
Amorim said, “I don’t know [if Maguire or Ugarte would be available]. I don’t know. We need to survive Sunday. The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes. We have to prepare for Sunday and then think about this important game in our season on Thursday. But, in this moment, I don’t know.”
The Manchester United boss continued, “Everybody can start. If they are training tomorrow [Friday], if they played today [Thursday], they can be ready. Chido is on the list, so he can play. We are trying to see all the players that are fresh and that are not in danger of getting an injury. Even that, we have to risk a little but we have to be competitive on Sunday.”
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Arsenal on Sunday. The central defensive unit should feature Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Victor Lindelof. Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot will start as the two wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Ugarte will start alongside Bruno Fernandes if he is fit and available. However, Casemiro will deputise for the Uruguayan international if the summer arrival does not prove his fitness. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, and Joshua Zirkzee will form the offensive trifecta for the home side against Arsenal on Sunday.
Predicted Manchester United XI: Onana; Lindelof, de Ligt, Yoro; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Zirkzee, Garnacho; Hojlund
