Arsenal look to extend their unbeaten run as they welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium.
Should Everton lose to Newcastle earlier in the day, Arsenal could go seventh with a win whereas Man Utd could go top if Man City lose in mid-afternoon to Sheffield United.
Team News
Kieran Tierney is a doubt for Arsenal after missing Tuesday’s win at Southampton with a leg injury.
Emile Smith Rowe, Thomas Partey (both knocks), Martin Odegaard (fitness) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (personal) are also doubts, whilst Pablo Mari and Dani Ceballos (both calf) are unlikely to be risked.
Man Utd could welcome Eric Bailly back after a knock kept him out of Wednesday’s shock home defeat to Sheffield United.
Phil Jones (knee), Marcos Rojo (calf), Brandon Williams (knock) and Facundo Pellistri (fitness) meanwhile remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five league games against Man Utd (W3, D2).
- Man Utd have won just one of last five league trips to the Emirates Stadium (W1, L4).
- Arsenal have kept clean sheets in three of last four meetings against Utd.
- No English forward has had more touches on the ball in the league so far this season than Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, who has made 955 touches in 18 appearances.
- Utd’s Bruno Fernandes has had the joint-most shots on target coming into this matchweek, managing 28 shots on goal alongside Leeds’ Patrick Bamford.
Prediction
Arsenal delivered a brilliant comeback performance in midweek to beat Southampton in which they targeted the Saints’ defensive outplay into attack to maximum effect, and that might well set them up nicely for this game given Utd’s inconsistent defence.
Speaking of Utd, they simply came up against a stubborn Sheffield Utd team who dug in and soaked up the pressure, in turn exposing defensive issues when they got the chances to create opportunities upon goal.
I however do expect to see changes for both teams given the current fast and furious nature of fixtures, of which Utd could well work to their advantage given that they don’t seem to rotate much compared to Arsenal who have a lot of injury doubts for this game but a draw wouldn’t be too bad a result here.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United
Result: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United