Arsenal are set to host Manchester United at the Emirates, as Mikel Arteta aims to maintain their dominant position in the league standings.
Arsenal come into another game, this time against Manchester United, with a dominant lead at the top, which they extended to seven points following Gameweek 22. That time, they could only muster a goalless draw away at Nottingham Forest, but were fortunate enough to see Manchester City and Aston Villa lose their respective matches.
That result also meant the Gunners recorded consecutive goalless draws in the Premier League following their stalemate against Liverpool at the Emirates. The Gunners return to home comforts following a massive run of four away games in four different competitions within ten day, which is a first for any top-flight team ever.
Ahead of Arsenal’s mammoth clash against Manchester United at the Emirates, Mikel Arteta would demand a win from his players, especially after their dominant display at San Siro to beat Inter Milan. The idea would at least lean towards maintaining their seven-point advantage in the table, and now allow any more slip-ups, as they will face a Manchester United side that seem to have hit form at the right time.
Speaking of form, the Manchester United supporters would not have envisaged the result from last weekend, as the Red Devils utterly dominated Manchester City in the derby. Michael Carrick’s first game in charge in his second spell at Old Trafford turned out to be a massive performance from the players, who put Pep Guardiola’s side to the sword.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu proved enough to take three points in the Manchester Derby, but they could have scored many more. The visitors had Gianluigi Donnarumma to thank, as the score could have been a bloodbath given how dominant Manchester United were in the game.
Such a win certainly boosts the confidence of the players and gives Carrick the momentum to take into a game like the next one against Arsenal. However, Manchester United do not have a good recent record at the Emirates, where they have failed to win since 2017.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
For the first time in a long time, Mikel Arteta can say he has a full-fit squad at his disposal ahead of this crucial home game against Manchester United. The Gunners had many defensive injuries to deal with, but the timely return of left-sided duo Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie will have boosted the squad ahead of Sunday.
Whether either of those two players starts remains the question, as Arteta might select the fittest of the two for the left-back slot. After making seven changes to his lineup for the trip to Inter Milan, the Arsenal boss could bring some of those players back in the mix against Manchester United, including Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Magalhaes.
A two-goal display for Gabriel Jesus might have propelled him up into Arteta’s mind ahead of the weekend, and there is a chance the Brazilian leads the line. Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka will be stationed in the wide areas, while Odegaard pulls the string from his attacking midfield role.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Trossard; Jesus
Manchester United
Michael Carrick confirmed there were no fresh issues from Manchester United’s win in the derby last weekend, which could see the interim boss name a similar lineup. Matthijs de Ligt remains the only absentee, while Noussair Mazraoui has returned from his AFCON commitments and will take his place in the squad.
Carrick has no reason to break up the Harry Maguire-Lisandro Martinez partnership at the back. The same could be said about full-back pair Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw, with the four defenders performing exceptionally against Manchester City last weekend. However, Mazraoui should be in contention if Dalot slips up.
The only major decision on Carrick’s hands is the usage of Matheus Cunha, who produced an impressive cameo off the bench. The Manchester United boss might persist with Bryan Mbeumo as his striker against Arsenal, with Amad Diallo on the right. There is a chance Carrick brings Cunha in for Patrick Dorgu, but je could also retain the same lineup as last week.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Diallo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo
Key Stats
- Arsenal are undefeated in their last nine home matches against Manchester United in all competitions.
- Arsenal are undefeated in their last seven matches in the Premier League.
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games.
- Manchester United rank first in the Premier League for xG, shots attempted, and shots on target.
- Arsenal are looking to complete their fifth Premier League double over Manchester United, after 1997/98, 2001/02, 2006/07 and 2023/24. They won 1-0 at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture but have only won both league meetings with the Red Devils without conceding in 1901/02 in the second tier.
Player to Watch
Bukayo Saka
The Arsenal attacker has been in a good vein of form without having his name taken on the scoresheet. The English winger has come under the microscope for his lack of output, but still, he remains the main attacking threat in this team.
Saka does have a good record against Manchester United at the Emirates, and he will want to channel that energy onto the pitch on Sunday. A goal against the Red Devils will relieve the winger of some pressure owing to a lack of goals, but overall, he will be a threat to Manchester United from open play and particularly from the corner spot.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
Manchester United will come into this game in a good vein of form following their victory in the Manchester Derby. However, they will face a new challenge in the form of Arsenal, who are a much stronger than any other team in England or Europe.
While it will be a challenging prospect for Michael Carrick, Mikel Arteta will rely on his team’s superb form against Manchester United at this venue in recent years. Moreover, the Gunners are unbeaten at home this season across all fronts, and that shall continue as they are expected to take three points and could even keep a clean sheet.