Preview: Amorim relishing Arsenal challenge ahead of busy few weeks! Hojlund or Zirkzee to lead the line? Martinez & Mainoo suspended!

Arsenal -v- Manchester United

Premier League

Emirates Stadium, London

Wednesday 4 December 2024, KO 20:15 GMT

Manchester United travel to North London to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Wednesday evening. United manager Ruben Amorim has overseen three matches so far with United drawing 1-1 with Ipswich Town, beating Bodø/Glimt 3-2 and Everton 4-0 – turning the fortunes of the Old Trafford club.

United have risen to ninth place in the Premier League table just four points from the top four (goal difference factored in) and six points behind second-placed Arsenal. United could get back in the mix should they beat in-form Arsenal on Wednesday evening. The match will be broadcast life on Amazon Prime in the UK.

United have eight more matches to play before the end of 2024 – six of which are in the Premier League. United will also play in the UEFA Europa League and the Carabao Cup. United could be back in the mix if they continue to win their matches in the Premier League, which is what Amorim would like to see.

United – Form, Goals Scored & Assists

Everton 4-0 W, Bodø/Glimt 3-2 W, Ipswich 1-1 D, Leicester 3-0 W, PAOK 2-0 W, Chelsea 1-1 D

Goals: 8 – Alejandro Garnacho, 7 – Marcus Rashford, 4 – Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, 3 – Amad, Casemiro, Joshua Zirkzee, 1 – Antony, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire

Assists: 9 – Bruno Fernandes, 5 – Amad, 4 – Alejandro Garnacho, 3 – Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford, 2 – Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, 1 – Rasmus Hojlund, Manuel Ugarte

Arsenal – Form, Goals Scored & Assists

West Ham 5-2 W, Sporting 5-1 W, Forest 3-0 W, Chelsea 1-1 D, Inter 1-0 L, Newcastle 1-0 L

Goals: 9 – Kai Havertz, 7 – Bukayo Saka, 4 – Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, 2 – Thomas Partey, 1 – Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling

Assists: 11 – Bukayo Saka, 3 – Declan Rice, 2 – Jakub Kiwior, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Ødegaard, Raheem Sterling, Jurriën Timber, Leandro Trossard, 1 – Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Ben White

Previous Meetings & Connections

United and Arsenal have met 64 times in the Premier League. United have won 26 times, drawn 18 times and lost 20 times. United scored 88 goals against Arsenal, winning eight penalties, scoring five. Arsenal scored 74 goals against United, winning five penalties, scoring three. United need to beat Arsenal this season.

United have kept 17 clean sheets in this fixtures with Arsenal keeping 20. This is a fiery clash over the years with discipline being an issue. United players have been shown 132 yellow cards and five red cards with Arsenal players shown 135 yellow cards and four red cards. Arsenal are strong but still not capable of winning the Premier League.

Paddy Sloan, David Herd, Ian Ure, George Graham, Jimmy Rimmer, Brian Kidd, Frank Stapleton, Viv Anderson, Jim Leighton, David Platt, Andy Cole, Mikael Silvestre, Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck, Henrikh Mkhitarayan, Alexis Sanchez and Chido Obi-Martin have all played for both United and Arsenal.

Team News

United: United’s injury problems are close to an end with just Victor Lindelof on the sidelines at this time. Leny Yoro and Jonny Evans are close to returning but against Everton on Sunday, United lost Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo to suspension against Arsenal after the duo amassed five yellow cards each this season.

Ruled Out: Victor Lindelof (groin/hip/pelvic)

Suspended: Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo

Close to Returning: Leny Yoro (ankle/foot) and Jonny Evans (knock)

Arsenal: The North London club could be missing as many as five players against United on Wednesday evening, which could be a problem for Mikel Arteta. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out of the match with Mikel Merino, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Magalhaes all doubts to make the squad for Arsenal at The Emirates.

Ruled Out: Ben White (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee)

Suspended: None

Close to Returning: Mikel Merino (knee), Thomas Partey (muscular) and Gabriel Magalhaes (other)

Predicted United Starting XI – 3-4-2-1

Onana;

Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire;

Amad, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot;

Mount, Rashford;

Zirkzee

Predicted Arsenal Starting XI – 4-3-3

Raya;

Timber, Saliba, Magalhäes, Calafiori;

Ødegaard, Jorginho, Rice;

Saka, Havertz, Trossard

History, training and the lead up to the big match

United have great history playing Arsenal and there have been some great results for United against the North London club – not just in the Premier League. It was revealed on Monday that United will start their Emirates FA Cup journey this season against Arsenal too, which will add something to this match no doubt.

United have played well in their last two matches but the level of opposition was not as good as Arsenal are at this stage of the season. They are not top of the league but have been performing well this season. At least their supporters will not be talking about winning the league in December again, then crying about not winning it.

It would seem that United have many injured players back for this match with Amorim revealing that Leny Yoro will be in the squad to face Arsenal – whether he plays or not remains to be seen. Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo are both suspended. United have the experience to win this match and I believe that is what they can do.

Arsenal 2-3 Manchester United

Written by Paul