Arsenal welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium in a blockbuster showdown in the race for a top-four finish.
Victory would see Arsenal climb to fourth in the table with Tottenham not in action until Saturday teatime, whereas a win would see Man Utd stay sixth but move level on points with Arsenal and Spurs.
Team News
Takehiro Tomiyasu could return for Arsenal if he is declared match fit for this match, having spent recent weeks rebuilding his fitness following a calf injury.
Kieran Tierney (knee) and Thomas Partey (thigh) remain absent.
Man Utd could welcome Cristiano Ronaldo back after the Portugal international missed their midweek loss at Liverpool for personal reasons.
Scott McTominay (foot) was an unused substitute at Anfield but he will be looking for a start whilst Raphael Varane (muscle) and Fred (hip) face late fitness tests.
Paul Pogba (calf) is unlikely to be risked but Luke Shaw (leg), Edinson Cavani (calf) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have lost just one of their last six meetings against Manchester United (W3, D2, L1).
- Man Utd have won just one of their last six league visits to Arsenal (W1, D1, L4).
- Arsenal have kept five clean sheets in their last six league matches against Utd at home.
- Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have kept just one clean sheet in their last five home matches (W3, L2).
- Man Utd are unbeaten in four league visits to London this season (W3, D1).
Prediction
Given how tight the top-four race is coming into this match, Arsenal certainly got their tactics simply spot on in Wednesday’s win at Chelsea from quick counter-attacks to solid defensive pressing, despite conceding twice in the first half against some strong attacking from the hosts.
Man Utd meanwhile have to realistically win here to keep their top four hopes alive but need a huge reaction to their lacklustre effort at Liverpool, where their defending was frankly poor and attack lacked intensity and a sharpness in their finishing.
Now if Utd don’t show much improvement quickly, I can see Arsenal swiftly punishing them but the Gunners have won just one home game against top six rivals this season, whereas Utd are unbeaten in London so this might just be tighter than many might expect if the visitors play better.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United
Result: Arsenal 3-1 Manchester United
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