Verdict: Arsenal win
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Dachbet
In what is a heavyweight FA Cup showdown on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal will welcome historic rivals Manchester United to north London.
Arsenal
Starting with the hosts, suffering real EFL Cup frustration earlier in the week as they fell to a 2-0 loss at home against Newcastle, Arsenal are seeking an immediate response here. However, watching their Premier League title dreams take a major blow and currently sat six points adrift of runaway leaders Liverpool, Mikel Arteta’s men will have plenty of pressure on their shoulders here. Desperate to avoid what would be an infamous FA Cup exit on Sunday afternoon, Arsenal know the importance of finding some crucial defensive steel. Despite opening the New Year with a thumping 3-1 victory away at Brentford, Arteta’s squad have recorded just a sole clean sheet in any of their previous six appearances across all competitions.
Arsenal Team News
Undergoing hamstring surgery last month, Arsenal will once again be without attacking talisman Bukayo Saka on Sunday afternoon. Likewise, sustaining a muscle injury against Brighton last weekend, the Gunners have confirmed that 17-year-old sensation Ethan Nwaneri will not feature in north London.
Failing to make any kind of impact after completing a Deadline Day move from Chelsea last summer, England international Raheem Sterling will be desperate to get some minutes under his belt. ex-Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus should be handed a full recall at the Emirates.
Manchester United
As for the visitors, while Manchester United might have snatched a dramatic 2-2 stalemate away at Liverpool last weekend, the Reds have drastically struggled to find any kind of stability since Ruben Amorim’s arrival at Old Trafford back in November. Mustering just a single point from any of their previous four Premier League appearances, Sunday’s guests are still battling it out in the bottom-half of the table. Crashing out of the FA Cup last month following a remarkable 4-3 loss against Tottenham, Man United have continued to gain a reputation for their glaring defensive issues. Including an infamous 3-0 drumming at home against Bournemouth on December 22nd, the former Sporting Lisbon boss has seen his downbeat squad record just a single domestic clean sheet since returning from November’s international break.
Manchester United Team News
Expected to leave Old Trafford this month and not making a single appearances since December 7th, England international Marcus Rashford is not expected to feature in north London. Dealing with yet another injury setback, Manchester United have confirmed that Luke Shaw will not travel to north London.
With Amorim expected to make a handful of changes this weekend, summer recruit Leny Yoro could feature from the start. Despite struggling to find his feet at Old Trafford after arriving from Bologna back in July, Joshua Zirkzee could be handed a full recall at the Emirates.
Arsenal vs Manchester United Key Factors to Consider
- When Arsenal and Manchester United last met back on December 4th, the Gunners collected a 2-0 victory in north London.
- Arsenal have won each of their last four Premier League meetings against Man United by an aggregate score of 9-3.
- Manchester United have collected just a single point from any of their last four Premier League showdowns.
- Sunday’s hosts have recorded just a single clean sheet from any of their previous six appearances across all competitions.
- Five of the last seven meetings between Arsenal and Manchester United have finished with both teams finding the net.
Conclusion
Watching their EFL Cup dreams take a real blow earlier in the week, Arsenal will be desperate to claim an immediate response here. Welcoming their historic rivals to north London on Sunday afternoon, the Gunners will be excited by a dominant record against a struggling Manchester United. Including a 2-0 victory when they welcomed the Red Devils to town back on December 4th, they have won all of their previous four meetings by an aggregate score of 9-3. Although United might have snatched a dramatic point away at Anfield last weekend, we are backing a home victory at the Emirates.
Verdict: Arsenal win
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Dachbet
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