Manchester United vs Arsenal – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | EPL 2022-23

Ajax coach Erik ten Hag
Ajax coach Erik ten Hag | Photo Credit: IMAGO

Manchester United will look to continue their impressive run of form when they welcome in-form Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)

Key Statistics

Manchester United have kept two clean sheets in their last two games.

The Red Devils have won three league games in a row for the first time since early 2022.

They have scored more than one goal a game in just one of their last six games.

Arsenal have won their last six Premier League games. 

They have scored 2+ goals in each of their last six league games.

The visitors have kept two clean sheets in their last two away league games. 

Head to head

Manchester United have the upper hand in this fixture. They have won 25 of the 60 Premier League meetings between both sides. Arsenal have 17 wins while 18 of the games ended in a draw.  

Latest performances in all competitions

Manchester United: W-W-W-L-L

Arsenal: W-W-W-W-W

Manchester United

Manchester welcomes Arsenal to Old Trafford this weekend in what will undoubtedly be a crunch test for both teams and football fans alike all over the world.

The Red Devils suffered two straight defeats in their first two games of the campaign, the latter being a 4-0 drubbing in the hands of Brentford. The huge loss seemed to have been the perfect wake-up call for Erik Ten Hag’s wards who finally got their season off to a start with a win against Liverpool, and since then, they have not looked back winning three games on the bounce for the first time since 2020.

Albeit, United are still far from the level head coach Erik Ten Hag would want them to be at, with his team often starting off the game well in the first half only to trail off in the second. 

With the likes of Casemiro and new signing Anthony yet to make their full debut, the signs and general feeling around the Theatre of Dreams has improved, but Manchester United now face a staunch test of their true mettle this season when Mikel Arteta’s in-form team roll into town. 

One major area of concern for Erik Ten Hag will be his team’s lack of goal threat, having scored just two goals in their last two games. Despite this, the Dutch tactician has insisted on the front three of Sancho, Elanga and Rashford getting the nod ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portuguese legend starting all of United’s games so far this season from the bench. 

But with The Red Devils set to face a tougher opponent, a start for Cristiano Ronaldo may be in the books, especially with Anthony looking less likely to be registered in time for the crunch test. 

On the other hand, the decision to drop established first-team players such as team skipper Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw seems to have worked to devastating effect, with the paring of Summer signing Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane with Tyrell Malacia and Diogo Dalot on either side flank, Erik Ten Hag finally has a defence he can trust.

Possible Manchester United starting line-up

David de Gea; Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia; Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho; Marcus Rashford; Cristiano Ronaldo.

Injured: Brandon Williams  

Doubtful: Anthony Martial

Suspended: None 

Arsenal

The Gunners currently lead the title-chasing pack after five rounds of football with a 100% record. 

Mikel Arteta’s side are the only team in the division to have won all their games this season, playing some swashbuckling football along the way. 

Arsenal come into this encounter off the back of an entertaining 2-1 win over Aston Villa with goals from new signing Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, making sure that Villans left the Emirates Stadium empty-handed despite Douglas Luiz having netted an equaliser earlier on. 

Mikel Arteta will be anxious for his team not to drop points as they now look to make it six out of six against Manchester United to maintain their perfect start to the season, especially with Manchester City breathing down their necks. 

The Spanish tactician will also be sweating on the fitness of both Aaron Ramsdale and Club Captain Martin Odegaard, with both players having picked up a minor injury during the midweek win over Steven Gerrard’s boys. Mikel Arteta was optimistic about the chances of Zinchenko, who missed the last two games due to injury returning to the lineup against United, with Odegaard and Ramsdale both needing further scans to determine if they’ll play or not. 

With three wins in their last five encounters with Manchester United, Arsenal will fancy themselves with a real shot to make it four from six and further extend their lead at the summit. Especially with summer signing Gabriel Jesus and returning defender William Saliba both being in imperious form, the Gunners finally look like real title challengers.

Possible Arsenal starting line-up

Matt Turner; Ben White, Gabriel, William Saliba, Kieran Tierney; Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi-Lokonga; Emile Smith-Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli; Gabriel Jesus.

Injured: Reiss Nelson, Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny

Doubtful: Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Aaron Ramsdale

Suspended: None 

Prediction

Manchester United 1-3 Arsenal