If Arsenal needed a game to get their heads back into the season, then they don’t come much better than this.
If last weekend’s result to Spurs went a bit differently, many would be welcoming United to the Emirates Stadium in an almighty six pointer.
And whilst the Gunners hopes rest on Manchester City slipping up as well, three points against Jose Mourinho’s men could be just what the club needs.
With an FA Cup final to look forward to and a slim chance of getting Champions League football, Arsene Wenger certainly isn’t taking his foot off the gas just yet.
But having played their 64th game of the season, United have conceded to the fact they’ll have to rest key players ahead of their second leg semi-final tie in the Europa League.
That’s left Wenger rubbing his hands when it comes to getting the result, but he can’t afford to take anything lightly on Sunday afternoon!
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal will be without Granit Xhaka this weekend (no he hasn’t been banned) because of the nasty kick to the calf he picked up at White Hart Lane last weekend.
The good news is that we’ll get a good chance to see how Shkodran Mustafi fits in to this new 3-4-2-1 formation after he recovered from a three week absence.
Despite returning to training with the first team, Lucas Perez has suffered a minor knock back and will sit out yet again.
Meanwhile, David Ospina is back in full training and is likely to return to the bench, whilst Santi Cazorla remains the only serious injury in the squad.
Arsenal Absentees: Cazorla, Lucas, Xhaka (doubt)
Man United Team News
Well, where do we start with this lot? Mourinho’s men are knackered at the minute and with several players already injured there’s a good chance they’ll rotate massively.
Ashley Young and Marcus Rashford were both taken off through injury during the 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Thursday, meaning some youngsters may have to feature.
Marouane Fellaini will serve the second game of his three match ban, whilst top goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic is nowhere to be seen on the United squad.
Joined on the injury list is Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw so it will be some sort of makeshift defence for Arsenal to exploit.
United Absentees: Ibrahimovic, Rojo, Fellaini, Shaw, Young, Rashford (doubt), Fosu-Mensah, Wilson
Arsenal’s Likely Line-Up
Goalkeeper: Cech
Defence: Mustafi, Koscielny, Holding
Midfield: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Coquelin, Monreal
Attacking midfield: Ozil, Alexis
Centre forward: Danny Welbeck
United’s Likely Line-Up
Goalkeeper: De Gea
Defence: Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Darmian
Defensive midfield: Herrera, Carrick
Midfield: Â Lingard, Mata, Martial
Centre forward: Rooney
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