Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag will be without several key first team players as he prepares to face league leaders Arsenal this afternoon.
A resurgent Manchester United are the only side to have beaten Arsenal in the Premier League this season having claimed a memorable 3-1 victory at Old Trafford at the beginning of September, but have failed to win away at the Gunners since December 2017.
Should they manage to claim a stunning double over Mikel Arteta’s rampant Arsenal, they can make amends for their midweek stalemate with Crystal Palace and move within five points of their opponents at the summit.
Arsenal vs Man United Team News
Arsenal Team News
Mikel Arteta has been fortunate in that Gabriel Jesus has been the only major injury concern to his typical starting 11, and the Brazilian remains sidelined until at least February.
After missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea last week, the club moved quickly to secure an alternative in the shape of Brighton’s Leandro Trossard, who completed a £27m move to North London on Friday.
Although the Belgian is unlikely to feature from the start, his proven Premier League experience means he is primed and ready to be thrust into helping his new side maintain their table-topping position.
Straight into it, Leandro 💪 pic.twitter.com/ln3o0T5zcA
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 21, 2023
Elsewhere, Reiss Nelson, Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares also continue to miss out with the latter also edging closer to a move across London to Fulham, which could pave the way for Arsenal to make a move for highly-rated Spanish teenager Ivan Fresneda next week.
Much of the build up to this fixture has centred around the midfield battle between two of the league’s most effective holding midfielders in Casemiro and Thomas Partey, and with the former ruled out through suspension, observers have been quick to point out this could be a deciding factor this afternoon in favour of the Gunners.
Arsenal Possible XI: Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Manchester United Team News
As mentioned, Casemiro’s fifth yellow card of the season picked up in their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace means he is ruled out of this crucial clash. Erik Ten Hag’s frustration was visible on the touchline as he shook his head following a cynical challenge from the Brazilian, but he was quick to remind the press that they won earlier in the season without him.
Casemiro’s compatriot Fred will more than likely deputise in his stead after impressing under Ten Hag when given the chance so far, although the Dutchman heads into another game week without Anthony Martial and Diogo Dalot.
Despite this, Dalot’s replacement Aaron Wan-Bissaka has flipped his own fortune on its head after being cast aside last season, and should retain his spot here where he’ll be up against the typically tenacious Gabriel Martinelli.
Manchester United Possible XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Eriksen, Fernandes; Antony, Weghorst, Rashford.
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