Manchester United vs Arsenal
Time – India: 22:00 PM (Sunday); UK: 16:30 (Saturday)
Venue – Old Trafford
Referee – Mike Dean
Manchester United-Arsenal is one of the great rivalries of the Premier League. The two sides went head-to-head for the league title in the late 1990s and the early 2000s and played some of the fiercest games of the Premier League in that era.
While the two sides are still trying to rebuild themselves to again challenge for the title, the bitter rivalry still exists. Arsenal have lost their last two league games after a solid start to the season and are looking to get their league campaign back on track.
Elsewhere, Manchester United have recovered since suffering a 6-1 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur but they are still in the bottom half of the table after playing five league games.
A win for either side on Sunday could kick start their league campaign and propel them towards the top half of the Premier League table.
Arsenal have looked more solid under Mikel Arteta but have struggled to score goals in recent weeks. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s lack of goals in the league is affecting them.
On the other hand, Manchester United have conceded just two more times in all competitions since that defeat at Tottenham and have looked more organised in recent games.
Manchester United vs Arsenal: Head-to-Head
Total matches: 232
Manchester United wins: 99
Arsenal wins: 84
Draws: 49
Manchester United have a superior record over Arsenal since their first meeting in 1894. But Arsenal have won two of their last three games against Manchester United, which includes a 2-0 win at the Emirates in January.
The last time the Gunners visited Old Trafford, they managed to earn a point from a 1-1 draw last year.
Manchester United vs Arsenal: Recent form
Manchester United (all competitions): W-D-W-W-L
Arsenal (all competitions): W-L-W-L-W
While the 6-1 defeat at home to Tottenham was a low point for Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have responded well the crisis and have won three of their last four games, which included headline-grabbing victories over Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
But their last league outing was at home against Chelsea, which ended in a drab 0-0 draw.
Arsenal have lost their last two league games against Manchester City and Leicester City but are coming into the game at Old Trafford on the back of a win over Dundalk in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Manchester United vs Arsenal: Team news
Manchester United
Alex Telles is out as he is recovering from a bout of the coronavirus. Anthony Martial also remains absent due to a suspension.
Phil Jones is still recovering from knee surgery and Eric Bailly has also been ruled out for a month after picking up another injury.
Arsenal
Willian is back in contention for selection after recovering from an injury and youngster Bukayo Saka has already shaken off a knock and is likely to be fit for the game.
David Luiz is likely to be out for a few weeks due to a thigh injury and that has left Mikel Arteta with a selection worry at the back.
Manchester United vs Arsenal: Probable XI
Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay, Pogba; Fernandes; Greenwood, Rashford
Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Gabriel, Tierney; Ceballos, Thomas, Xhaka; Willian, Aubameyang, Saka
Manchester United vs Arsenal: Where to watch
India: Star Sports 2, Star Sports Select HD 2
UK: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League
Stream in India: Disney+ Hotstar
Stream in the UK: Sky Sports App
Manchester United vs Arsenal: Prediction
Manchester United seem to have shaken off their early-season cobwebs and have won three of their last four games in all competitions. Wins over Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig in the Champions League showed the options Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have in his squad and they are going into the home game against Arsenal with their tails up.
Arsenal will take solace from the fact that Manchester United are yet to win at home in the league this season. But the Gunners have been inconsistent as well and have lost their last two league games.
The game is likely to be close and cagey as both teams would like to avoid a defeat. But Manchester United should have enough firepower upfront to beat Mikel Arteta’s team on Sunday by an odd goal.
Manchester United vs Arsenal predicted scoreline: 2-1
Also Read: Burnley vs Chelsea: Preview, team news, predicted XI and more | Premier League 2020-21