Arsenal team news vs Man Utd and predicted lineup | OneFootball

Arsenal will look to close the gap on Premier League runaway leaders Liverpool when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Man Utd

Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard

The final game of this latest Premier League weekend sees Arsenal visit Manchester United, knowing Liverpool extended their lead to 16 points following a come-from-behind win over Southampton. The Gunners have two games in hand against their title rivals, but ending their more-than-two-decade championship drought is becoming increasingly unlikely with each passing matchday.

Arsenal team news vs Man Utd

Arsenal are facing a significant challenge ahead of their trip to Manchester, as five players are ruled out due to injuries. Kai Havertz (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Gabriel Martinelli (hamstring), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are all sidelined.

Head coach Mikel Arteta may choose to field the same team that convincingly defeated PSV Eindhoven, but he could also decide to rest players in preparation for the second leg of their last-16 tie next week. There are no new injury concerns following the win against PSV. However, if Arteta opts to make changes, it is likely that he will adjust the defensive lineup.

Arsenal are managing White’s playing time carefully after his knee surgery in November, so he might be on the bench again.

Riccardo Calafiori, who impressed as a substitute against PSV, may start at left-back instead of Myles Lewis-Skelly. Additionally, Ben White, who has yet to start a game since returning from injury last month, could play at right-back in place of Jurrien Timber.

As previously mentioned, Arsenal is struggling with their attacking options, as they are missing four forwards due to injuries. Mikel Arteta is anticipated to start as a striker for the fourth consecutive match, and since moving into that position, he has scored three goals in four games.

“It is kind of crazy, but it is about having the right mentality, the right approach to the game,” says Merino.

“I was in my school team [when I last played as a striker], with the kids there. I mean, I was playing everywhere, not only as a striker. It was five kids running around on the pitch!

“But now is the time I am playing as a striker and it is something new for me. I am trying to adapt the best way possible.”

United’s bête noire celebrates 200th game

To revive their slim championship hopes, Arsenal must bring the same ruthlessness they showed in Eindhoven to their match against Manchester. The Gunners enter this Premier League fixture having failed to score in their last two games, managing only three shots on target during that period.

They will be optimistic about their chances against a wounded and disoriented Manchester United side, which has conceded the opening goal in 12 different Premier League games since Ruben Amorim’s first match in charge following the November international break; only Leicester City (13) has conceded more during this timeframe.

This occasion will also mark Mikel Arteta’s 200th Premier League game as manager. He has won 118 of his first 199 matches, placing him fifth among managers for the most victories in their first 200 games in the competition (with Pep Guardiola at 146, José Mourinho at 137, Jürgen Klopp at 127, and Sir Alex Ferguson at 122).

Arteta has also won seven of his 10 Premier League games against Manchester United (drawing once and losing twice), with his first victory as Arsenal manager coming against them with a 2-0 win in January 2020. Among all managers who have faced the Red Devils at least five times in the Premier League, Arteta boasts the highest win rate at 70%.