If whatever that has happened so far doesn’t make a difference, this one will. With Manchester United starting the matchday at the top of the table, being only 3 points behind, this is Arsenal’s chance to have a significant say in the title race. On the other hand, United can stamp their position at the top of the table for the time being with a win in this fixture.
Arsenal host matchday leaders Manchester United on a Sunday in which there are loads of other big matches, including the Merseyside Derby that kicks off before this particular fixture.
The last time Arsenal defeated Manchester United at Emirates was in May 2011 when Aaron Ramsey, who returned from injury then, scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win. Which means, that Arsenal have failed to secure three points against United at home in over 4 years. It is a worrying stat for a top 4 team, to say the least. Manchester United even when they were having their own troubles after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure still managed to stop Arsenal from winning against them. However, the most recent couple of fixtures have pretty much been in Arsenal’s favour, with a crucial 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in the FA Cup and a 1-1 draw in the same fixture in the league. Such has been the case of the meetings between these two sides over the past few seasons.
This season, both United and Arsenal have made decent starts to the league. While United have mustered 5 wins apart from a draw and a loss, Arsenal have mustered 4, losing 2, including a 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge shockingly becoming the only team to have not taken anything from Stamford Bridge, and also being the only team to have failed to score against Chelsea in the PL this season. There couldn’t have been a better time for Alexis Sanchez to hit form, and having scored 4 goals in the last 2 matches in all competitions, he will fancy his chances against the United defence and David De Gea who have been pretty stingy so far.
His link up play with Theo Walcott has been very pleasing for Arsenal fans to watch. Talking about link up play, the Arsenal defence should be up for a major test against the link up play among the 4 attacking players of United- Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata- which has been devastating. There also couldn’t have been a worse time for Arsenal’s arguably best defender Laurent Koscielny to get injured. Considering the pace offered by Depay and Martial, Mertesacker, who is expected to start at right centre back, is going to have a tough time. It won’t be a surprise to see Ashley Young starting at left back, with the injury issues that United have in that position.
As for the injury update, the already existent names of Danny Welbeck, Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere are added with the latest casualties of Laurent Koscielny, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini. Francis Coquelin is expected to return. For the Red Devils, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo will be missing out which will result in Matteo Darmian or Ashley Young starting at left back, while veteran Michael Carrick surely returns.
Arsenal will be looking to give a serious fight for the title and also bounce back from a CL reverse against Olympiacos, while United will look to maintain their good recent form and get back to the top of the table after bitter rivals Manchester City occupied that spot yesterday.
History has seen some nail biting matches between the two English heavyweights, and this one promises to offer no less. Super Sunday can’t be any better.
Predicted Lineups:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): David De Gea, Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay, Anthony Martial.
Confirmed Line-Up[Latest]:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott.
