After conflicting fortunes in European competitions midweek, Manchester United and Arsenal meet with a considerable amount on the line.
Arsenal simply must win to keep pace with Leicester and Tottenham at the top of the Premier League table. The Gunners should be raging favourites in this three-horse title race and need to make the most of weakened sides like Manchester United if they are to do so.
The hosts on the other hand will be desperate to build on a promising run of form and keep their dim top four hopes alive. A draw will not satisfy either side, so an entertaining and attacking contest awaits.
Key Battle – Mesut Ozil vs Morgan Schneiderlin
Ozil has been in phenomenal form for Arsenal all season. In this form, he is one of the most dangerous creative midfielders in the league and the German will certainly be heavily involved in most of Arsenal’s good work.
Morgan Schneiderlin will be essential in shielding United’s inexperienced back line, which potentially could feature Guillermo Varela (22), Paddy McNair (20) and Joe Riley (19) accompanying Daley Blind.
The Frenchman’s success in breaking up Arsenal’s attacks and recycling United’s possession will be crucial in the outcome of the game. If Ozil and co are once again allowed to run rampant then it is difficult to see United leaving the game with a result.
Team News
Manchester United’s extraordinary injury crisis has again worsened in recent days after Anthony Martial injured his hamstring during the warm-up of their Europa League clash with FC Midtjylland. Defensive rock Chris Smalling was also forced to miss that clash with a shoulder complaint.
Martial and Smalling have been key players for United all season and do not look likely to feature here. Marcus Rashford deputised for Martial, in perhaps one of the most extraordinary and unexpected debut performances of all time, scoring twice in United’s 5-1 demolition of their Danish visitors. The youngster will be faced with an altogether different challenge against Arsenal’s stingy defence and their experienced central defenders if he is called on to start here.
Another option may be to call on Adnan Januzaj, who was ineligible for the midweek Europa League clash, to lead the line. Januzaj has the talent to be an excellent footballer and can offer United the creativity that a finisher like Rashford may fail to provide. In any case, without Martial, Louis van Gaal will be scrambling for answers in the front third.
In midfield, van Gaal has a choice between the experienced Michael Carrick or the more lively Ander Herrera to partner Schneiderlin in midfield. The selection will tell a great deal of van Gaal’s approach to the game. Carrick is the more conservative call, a man who will sit deeper and offer more defensive insurance while making safe and consistent passes from the back. Herrera on the other hand would offer a bold and aggressive signal of intent. Unlike the veteran Englishman, Herrera is more than willing to make runs deep into enemy territory and hurt the opposition on the scoresheet. Van Gaal does not have time to be faint-hearted, he should be bold and back in his Spanish maestro.
In a rare bit of good news on the injury front, goalkeeper David de Gea is expected to make a return to the lineup. Marcos Rojo still does not look fully fit and will likely start on the bench and McNair could be called upon to partner Blind if Smalling is not fit. Carrick filled in for Smalling midweek but does not appear to be a likely replacement in this game.
Arsenal on the other hand have the luxury of entering with a settled and balanced lineup. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may be left out of the team following his poor showing against FC Barcelona midweek.
Theo Walcott would provide Arsenal with a true threat on the counter-attack, if United soak up possession in their customary way at home. Arsene Wenger would be wise to test United in wide areas given the sheer inexperience of United’s full-back combination of Guillermo Varela and Joe Riley.
Head-to-Head
Manchester United have met Arsenal 222 times with the Red Devils claiming the honours on 95 occasions, the Gunners on 81 with 46 draws.
Previous Meeting
Arsenal flew out of the blocks with a flurry of early goals in what was a totally dominant display. The ruthless Gunners ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.
Alexis Sanchez scored twice and Mesut Ozil once as Arsenal demolished an underwhelming and overmatched United side.
Prediction
Despite their recent setbacks in the Champions League and FA Cup, this is a very good Arsenal team which is close to full strength. They should be too strong for a United XI stretched to its bare bones and relying heavily on a host of unproven youngsters. Arsenal have everything to play for whilE United’s priorities clearly lie with FA Cup and Europa League glory.
Manchester United 1 Arsenal 2
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