Arsenal XI vs Manchester United: Predicted lineup, team news, and Premier League injury updates

Arsenal XI vs. Manchester United: Predicted lineup, team news, and Premier League injury updates

Table-toppers Arsenal welcome third-placed Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, looking for vengeance on the only club to have defeated them in the Premier League this season.

With a win in front of their adoring supporters, the Gunners can build up an 11-point lead over Erik ten Hag’s side, as the visitors try to keep pace with Manchester City.

After receiving a slap on the back from a fan following his man-of-the-match performance in the North London derby, Aaron Ramsdale may be expected to continue his wind-up merchant tactics in front of the Man United end if Arsenal continue to crush practically every rival in their path.

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Ramsdale made several key saves against Tottenham Hotspur before being assaulted by a spectator – a 35-year-old man has since been charged with assault in connection with the incident – and at the same end of the field in the first half, Hugo Lloris’ own goal and a sublime Martin Odegaard effort were just reward for a thoroughly dominant Arsenal performance.

Things could have been even better for Mikel Arteta’s side if Thomas Partey’s spectacular volley had made the net ripple rather than rattle, but another win in the Premier League stretched Arsenal’s advantage at the top to eight points following Manchester City’s derby defeat to Manchester United.

That lead has shrunk to five points after City’s win over Spurs, but Arsenal – who now have a game in hand on the champions – are on the verge of breaching the 50-point barrier at the halfway mark, putting them on track to emulate Man City’s centurions of 2017-18.

While opposition fans love reminding out that there is still a long way to go in the Premier League season, Arsenal has answered practically every test thrown at them and is undefeated in their previous 12 top-flight games, winning ten of them.

Although Newcastle United halted Arsenal’s 10-game winning streak at the Emirates earlier this month, the Gunners have not allowed a goal since the turn of the year and have all the motivation they need to right the wrongs of their Old Trafford defeat.

The Red Devils fans would have been more emotional than Michael Olise following his magnificent free kick on Wednesday night, but Ten Hag’s team squandered the chance to momentarily ascend to second in the table with a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.

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A sublime Christian Eriksen-Bruno, Fernandes combination saw the latter curl home to give the Red Devils the lead just before the break, but a scorcher from Olise cannoned off the underside of the bar on its way in during second-half stoppage time, denying Man United a 10th consecutive win in all competitions.

Man United are still in third place as Ten Hag works his magic, but they have an eight-point deficit to close Arsenal and a three-point deficit to make up to Man City, whose vastly superior goal difference should keep them safe in the runners-up spot for now.

The Red Devils may slide to fourth by the time Sunday arrives if Newcastle can accomplish what they couldn’t do last weekend – defeat Palace away from home – but a 16-game scoring run is surely cause for hope ahead of a trip to North London.

Man United have not failed to score away from home in the league since being thrashed 4-0 by Brentford in August, and just two of their nine road games since have resulted in loss, despite having only one clean sheet on enemy ground since October.

Man United exposed the flaws of a young Arsenal team with a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford in September, albeit it has since been revealed that VAR made an error in disallowing Gabriel Martinelli’s goal for a foul on Eriksen by Odegaard – and Arteta masterminded victory by the same scoreline over the Red Devils at the Emirates last season.

Transfer Updates

Team News

The Arsenal lineup will choose itself after surviving the North London derby, with Ramsdale fine despite being targeted by a nasty fan attack, with Gabriel Jesus still out for several weeks with a knee injury.

Reiss Nelson is also unlikely to return from a hamstring injury in time for Sunday, while Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares will also need to be assessed after picking up injuries, though their prospects of starting this one were always slim.

Bukayo Saka would become only the third Arsenal player to score in three straight league games against Manchester United, joining the likes of Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry.

The signing of Leandro Trossard from Brighton has officially been announced by Arsenal and having registered the Belgian attacker before 12pm on Friday, they are “hopeful” that he can make his debut here.

Casemiro ruthlessly scythed down Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park, earning him his fifth yellow card of the season and a ban for this critical match.

As a result, Fred should replace Eriksen in the midfield, while Jadon Sancho has returned to training after completing an individual program but is unlikely to be considered for a start just yet.

Diogo Dalot and Anthony Martial’s injuries will also need to be evaluated, while Axel Tuanzebe and Donny van de Beek remain out, while Jack Butland will return to the bench after missing the match against his parent club.

Should Martial not be deemed fit enough, another start will come the way of Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst, forcing Marcus Rashford – who has four goals and four assists from 10 league starts against the Gunners – out wide.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Eriksen, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst