Having watched the weekend go by seeing wins for the other four top six sides, both Arsenal and United will be desperate for all three points at Old Trafford tonight. United, in woeful form, host a spirited Arsenal side who have bounced back nicely from that disappointing draw at Watford two weeks ago with three wins in all competitions. It's the original Premier League rivalry and it's renewed tonight!
The Gunners haven't seen many positive results away at Old Trafford, especially this last nine years or so and although United edge this as slight favourites with the bookies (somehow!) Unai Emery and his men will know that there will be no better time to rob United in their own back yard. Kick them whilst their down is the age old saying and whilst Arsenal aren't that physical, kicking them with a smashing victory would be ideal.
The only injuries to the senior squad being dealt with now is the ankle problem to Alex Lacazette and the painful looking head injury to Emile Smith Rowe that he picked up against Forrest in the week. Mavropanos, Bellerin, Tierney and Holding are all available and whilst its unlikely they will all make the squad, they are good options nonetheless. Rob Holding laid on a special performance Tuesday night and whilst Sokratis and Luiz have seemingly been Emery's preferred starting partnership in defence, Holding's return could change that. Hector Bellerin played for the U23s again over the weekend so he looks to be a little further away from the starting XI than Tierney and Holding who have genuine chances of getting a look in.
Having finally announced his club captain and leadership team, Unai Emery goes into this game with the pronounced fact that his new captain's current form gives him a real headache. Granit Xhaka, although having been played out of position in a lone role, has been sub par so far this season and arguably should sit this game out. Arsenal's best XI now should be a base midfield of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira with Dani Ceballos in the number ten role just ahead. This may not happen of course, and unfortunately I don't expect it to. Xhaka's experience and leadership trumps his poor form and Emery will know that between Guendouzi, Torreira and Ceballos, there isn't that much big game Premier League experience in there. Going forward, Aubameyang and Pepe will play in either an attacking two or with one of Nelson or Saka in a three. Emery has options so its now about fine tuning his shape and XI to best beat Manchester United, not what he thinks his best side is.
United head into this one with major doubts over Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford whilst Paul Pogba is also a doubt but has more of a chance than his attacking colleagues. These absences could pave the way for seventeen year old Mason Greenwood to start upfront...and us Arsenal fans know all about United teenage academy forwards and game winning performances!! But without these three names in the side, there is a real lack of invention and attacking prowess so Solskjaer will be looking to the likes of Juan Mata and academy product Andreas Pereira to get the creative juices flowing. Experienced head Nemanja Matic will be looking for a return to defensive midfield whilst the developing defensive partnership of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof will really be tested against Aubameyang and Pepe's pace, direct running and intelligent link up play.
For potentially the first time in years, regardless of form and what's happened previously, most look at this United side and are happy to see no real superstar and no real match winner. Even when the likes of Wes Brown, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher were backbones to United's team, their averageness was completely carried by the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov and so on. Arsenal have a real chance here to make a statement with a solid win away at Old Trafford. United have lost three of their last six Premier League games at home which traditionally just doesn't happen. Its time for Emery and his side to leave a real mark and inflict more misery on their bitter rivals, and with a return to the top four in their plans, Arsenal need to take opportunities like these and deliver all three points.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Calum Chambers
CB: Rob Holding
CB: David Luiz
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Granit Xhaka
CAM: Dani Ceballos
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
LW: Bukayo Saka
Prediction: 3-1 to Arsenal with the Gunners' attack being too much to handle.
@craigbennett10
The Gunners haven't seen many positive results away at Old Trafford, especially this last nine years or so and although United edge this as slight favourites with the bookies (somehow!) Unai Emery and his men will know that there will be no better time to rob United in their own back yard. Kick them whilst their down is the age old saying and whilst Arsenal aren't that physical, kicking them with a smashing victory would be ideal.
The only injuries to the senior squad being dealt with now is the ankle problem to Alex Lacazette and the painful looking head injury to Emile Smith Rowe that he picked up against Forrest in the week. Mavropanos, Bellerin, Tierney and Holding are all available and whilst its unlikely they will all make the squad, they are good options nonetheless. Rob Holding laid on a special performance Tuesday night and whilst Sokratis and Luiz have seemingly been Emery's preferred starting partnership in defence, Holding's return could change that. Hector Bellerin played for the U23s again over the weekend so he looks to be a little further away from the starting XI than Tierney and Holding who have genuine chances of getting a look in.
Having finally announced his club captain and leadership team, Unai Emery goes into this game with the pronounced fact that his new captain's current form gives him a real headache. Granit Xhaka, although having been played out of position in a lone role, has been sub par so far this season and arguably should sit this game out. Arsenal's best XI now should be a base midfield of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira with Dani Ceballos in the number ten role just ahead. This may not happen of course, and unfortunately I don't expect it to. Xhaka's experience and leadership trumps his poor form and Emery will know that between Guendouzi, Torreira and Ceballos, there isn't that much big game Premier League experience in there. Going forward, Aubameyang and Pepe will play in either an attacking two or with one of Nelson or Saka in a three. Emery has options so its now about fine tuning his shape and XI to best beat Manchester United, not what he thinks his best side is.
United head into this one with major doubts over Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford whilst Paul Pogba is also a doubt but has more of a chance than his attacking colleagues. These absences could pave the way for seventeen year old Mason Greenwood to start upfront...and us Arsenal fans know all about United teenage academy forwards and game winning performances!! But without these three names in the side, there is a real lack of invention and attacking prowess so Solskjaer will be looking to the likes of Juan Mata and academy product Andreas Pereira to get the creative juices flowing. Experienced head Nemanja Matic will be looking for a return to defensive midfield whilst the developing defensive partnership of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof will really be tested against Aubameyang and Pepe's pace, direct running and intelligent link up play.
For potentially the first time in years, regardless of form and what's happened previously, most look at this United side and are happy to see no real superstar and no real match winner. Even when the likes of Wes Brown, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher were backbones to United's team, their averageness was completely carried by the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov and so on. Arsenal have a real chance here to make a statement with a solid win away at Old Trafford. United have lost three of their last six Premier League games at home which traditionally just doesn't happen. Its time for Emery and his side to leave a real mark and inflict more misery on their bitter rivals, and with a return to the top four in their plans, Arsenal need to take opportunities like these and deliver all three points.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Calum Chambers
CB: Rob Holding
CB: David Luiz
LB: Sead Kolasinac
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Granit Xhaka
CAM: Dani Ceballos
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
LW: Bukayo Saka
Prediction: 3-1 to Arsenal with the Gunners' attack being too much to handle.
@craigbennett10
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