Arsenal will welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for a crucial Premier League encounter. The Gunners lead the table by seven points and remain unbeaten at home this season, while United arrive boosted by a 2-0 derby win over Manchester City under interim manager Michael Carrick. Both Mikel Arteta and Carrick anticipate a tough battle.
The match pits Premier League leaders Arsenal against a revitalized Manchester United side on Sunday at 4:30pm UK time, broadcast on Sky Sports. Arsenal have dominated domestically and in Europe, sitting top of the Champions League with a perfect record and still competing in the EFL Cup and FA Cup. They won the reverse fixture 1-0 at Old Trafford on the season's opening day and have not lost any of their 16 home games across all competitions, securing 14 victories. Manchester United, in fifth place and unbeaten in five league outings, seek to build on their impressive 2-0 victory over Manchester City last weekend, where goals from Bryan Mbuemo and Patrick Dorgu highlighted their fluent play free from previous constraints.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the challenge posed by Carrick's side, noting, “With Michael coming in it’s going to bring new ideas, the intensity rises up... We expect a tough match but we will adapt to that for sure. We are at home, and we know how important that is going to be for us.” Carrick, a former United midfielder now in interim charge after Ruben Amorim's departure, tempered expectations, stating, “It’s a big challenge. They’re a very good team... We’re in a good place and looking forward to the game. It’s where we want to be, with that energy and enthusiasm to go and be positive.” He added that the derby win provides a “great foundation” but emphasized, “One game does not make you a great team.”
Team news sees Arsenal monitoring the fitness of Piero Hincapie and Ricardo Calafiori, with Jurrien Timber likely at left-back and Ben White on the right. Arteta must decide between Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus up front, both contributing in a recent Champions League win over Inter Milan, where Jesus scored twice and Gyokeres added a third. Kai Havertz is also returning after nearly a year out, offering versatility. For United, Matthijs de Ligt is unavailable, and Noussair Mazraoui is doubtful post-AFCON. Midfielder Casemiro will depart at season's end, while Harry Maguire's future remains uncertain with five months left on his contract.
Predicted line-ups suggest Arsenal in a 4-3-3 with David Raya in goal, William Saliba and Gabriel at center-back, Declan Rice anchoring midfield alongside Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard, and attackers Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Jesus. United could line up with Dennis Lammens in goal, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez at the back, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, and forwards Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Dorgu, and Mbuemo.
Former United striker Teddy Sheringham criticized past recruitment, lamenting missed chances to sign players like Declan Rice, who has transformed Arsenal's midfield. The clash promises goals, with Arsenal favored to prevail comfortably given their form.
