Arsenal host Manchester United on Sunday in one of the 2023/24 Premier League most anticipated games of the season.
The Gunners are already five points off the pace set by last season’s title winners Manchester City after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Fulham last time out coupled with City’s 5-1 victory over the same opponent on Saturday.
United are a point behind in tenth after claiming their second win of the season with a 3-2 comeback triumph over Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal will hope to return to winning ways in order to keep pace with Man City while Man United will hope to overcome their away form worries in order to secure their third victory of the season.
Despite being brilliant at home, the Red Devils’ form on the road since Erik Ten Hag in 2022 has been far from convincing as they have won only eight of their 20 games.
They face an Arsenal side who are very difficult to beat at Emirates as they have lost just two of their last 24 Premier League home games (W18, D4).
Team News
Arsenal will be without Thomas Partey for this game as the midfielder suffered an injury in training this week.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is available again for selection after serving a one-game suspension for his red card at Crystal Palace while summer signing Jurrien Timber is a long-term absentee.
For United, they will be without Raphael Varane who came off during the halftime break against Nottingham Forest and is set for a few weeks on the sidelines.
Luke Shaw (muscle), Tyrell Malacia (muscle), Mason Mount (thigh), Kobbie Mainoo (ankle), Amad Diallo (knee) and Tom Heaton (calf) will not be at Ten Hag’s disposal either, but Rasmus Hojlund has shaken off his back problem and is ready to make a much anticipated first-team debut.
Sergio Regulion is also available to play after having completed his move from Spurs on deadline day.
Key Stats
Arsenal have won four and drawn one of their last five home league games against Man Utd.
The Gunners could win three home league matches in a row against the Red Devils for the first time since between 1988 and 1991.
Manchester United have lost five of their last nine top-flight meetings with Arsenal (W2, D2).
The home team has scored three goals in each of the last four league games between these two teams.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 22 home Premier League matches against United teams (W19, D3), facing Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and West Ham in that run without losing.
United can lose both of their opening two away fixtures of a league campaign for the first time since the 1973-74 top-flight season, in which they were relegated.
Manchester United have won only one of their last 10 top-flight visits to London (D3, L6) – a 2-1 victory at Fulham last November.
What was said by both managers
Speaking ahead of this game, Man United boss Erik Ten Hag said his team is looking forward to it as one of the biggest games in Premier League.
“It’s one of the biggest games in the Premier League. We’re really looking forward to that fight.
“They’re always interesting games, intense games, I think it’s two teams who really play offensive football with the right intentions I would say. The audience is always the big winner of that game, so we’re really looking forward to that game.”
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal boss promised a competitive game on Sunday.
“We know the history between the two clubs and the games that we had in the past. They were a really good example so it’s going to be a really competitive match and a big battle on Sunday. Obviously we want to come away from that with three points.”
Probable Line-ups
Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Manchester United: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
