Manchester United face one of their toughest challenges yet under manager Ruben Amorim, as they travel to the Emirates on Wednesday night for a high-stakes Premier League clash with Arsenal.
Both teams enjoyed dominant victories in gameweek 13. Arsenal demolished West Ham 5-2, while United thrashed Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford, continuing their impressive run of form.
Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, has been overseeing a rejuvenated side that’s looking better than ever this season. The Gunners came close to matching their stunning 6-0 win over West Ham from last year, racing to a 4-0 lead in just 36 minutes during Saturday's derby.
West Ham made a brief comeback, but Arsenal quickly extinguished their hopes with a Bukayo Saka penalty in a thrilling 5-1 first half that saw the Gunners equal a Premier League record for goals scored in a half.
The second half was quieter, but the damage was already done, as Arsenal secured their third straight win across all competitions, all by at least a three-goal margin. Arteta's side remains one of the closest competitors to Liverpool at the top of the table, even if they're currently ahead of Chelsea only alphabetically.
Arsenal have looked especially strong since the international break, and Wednesday's game marks a special milestone for the club: their 500th competitive match at the Emirates.
The Gunners are one of only three teams in the Premier League along with Brentford and Brighton with an unbeaten home record so far this season. In fact, they've won six of their last seven matches at home and are currently on a 12-game scoring streak in all competitions, making them a formidable force at the Emirates.
Since the return of Premier League football, Arsenal have enjoyed a strong revival under Mikel Arteta, but Manchester United’s new manager, Ruben Amorim, has also sparked a turnaround—particularly for two of his underperforming strikers.
Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee both scored braces in United's 4-0 win over struggling Everton on Sunday. It was a dominant performance that extended the Red Devils' unbeaten run at home to four matches in all competitions, following Amorim's dramatic 3-2 victory against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League during his Old Trafford debut.
United's recent form in the Premier League has been much improved. With eight points from their last four league matches, they’ve moved up to 9th place, just four points behind Brighton & Hove Albion, who currently occupy the final Champions League spot. However, their away form remains a serious issue.
A 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town in Amorim's first away game extended United's winless streak on the road to six matches, with five of those ending in draws. Southampton are the only team United have beaten away from home so far this season.
Looking at recent encounters with Arsenal doesn’t offer much optimism either. United have lost their last three Premier League meetings with the Gunners, and haven’t won at the Emirates since January 2019, when they triumphed 3-1 in the FA Cup, thanks to a goal from Alexis Sanchez against his former club.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Injury concerns continue to pile up for Arsenal, with the latest setback coming from their 5-2 win over West Ham. Gabriel Magalhães was forced off at halftime due to a recurrence of an issue he picked up in the game against Sporting Lisbon. His availability for the upcoming match remains uncertain.
The Gunners are also sweating on the fitness of a few others. Mikel Merino (knee), Thomas Partey (muscle), and Myles Lewis-Skelly (unspecified) all missed the West Ham win after picking up injuries in training.
Meanwhile, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both sidelined due to knee issues, which could open the door for Jakub Kiwior to make his first Premier League start of the season if Gabriel isn’t risked for the crucial clash.
Manchester United will likely have little sympathy for Arsenal’s injury problems. The Red Devils had their own scare when captain Bruno Fernandes limped off in the 65th minute against Everton, later being seen with an ice pack on his ankle. However, manager Ruben Amorim has expressed confidence that Fernandes will be fit for the game.
United, however, will be without Lisandro Martínez and Kobbie Mainoo, both of whom are suspended after picking up yellow cards in the win over Everton. On a more positive note, Harry Maguire is back after injury and could step into Martínez’s spot in defense. Leny Yoro (foot) might also make the matchday squad, though Jonny Evans (knock) and Victor Lindelöf (groin) are doubtful.
To make matters worse for United, Luke Shaw revealed on Tuesday that he’s likely to miss the rest of the year with a new muscular injury. It's yet another blow for a squad already struggling with fitness issues.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire; Diallo, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dalot; Zirkzee, Fernandes; Hojlund
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United
Despite their strong form at Old Trafford under both Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ruben Amorim, Manchester United have often struggled to find the same rhythm on the road—a worrying sign ahead of their trip to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
With key absentees like the energetic Kobbie Mainoo and defensive stalwart Lisandro Martínez, United are likely to face their first real setback under Amorim against an Arsenal side that has found its attacking groove once again.
If our prediction holds true, history will be made, as an Arsenal win would mark the first time they’ve beaten United in four consecutive league matches.
