We look at the key talking points, team news and stats ahead of the huge encounter on Sunday
London, UK | THE INDEPENDENT | Arsenal and Manchester United will renew their rivalry when the two sides go head-to-head at Emirates Stadium this Sunday.
Arsenal are currently unbeaten after their opening three matches of the 2023/24 season. Wins against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace were followed by a 2-2 home draw with Fulham.
Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd recovered from two goals down to beat Forest 3-2 last weekend. It was their second win of the campaign, and a positive response to losing 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur the week before.
Last season’s north London encounter between them was a classic. Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford each scored stunning goals before Eddie Nketiah’s late strike secured a 3-2 victory for the Gunners.
Team news
Jurrien Timber remains sidelined for Arsenal but Takehiro Tomiyasu returns from his one-match suspension.
Rasmus Hojlund is fit and ready to start. New signings Sergio Reguilon and Altay Bayindir are also available.
Amad Diallo, Tom Heaton, Tyrell Malacia, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount all remain out for Man Utd.
Last five meetings
22 Jan 2023: Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd
4 Sep 2022: Man Utd 3-1 Arsenal
23 April 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd
2 Dec 2021: Man Utd 3-2 Arsenal
30 Jan 2021: Arsenal 0-0 Man Utd
Key facts
– Arsenal have won four of their previous five home league matches against Man Utd (D1), including the last two. They last won three in a row against the Red Devils between 1988 and 1991.
– Arsenal have lost only two of their last 24 Premier League fixtures at Old Trafford (W18 D4), against Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion in February and May 2023, respectively. The Gunners have scored in 22 of those 24 encounters, netting at least twice in 20, but they’ve also only kept four clean sheets in this run.
– Man United have won six of their last seven Premier League matches, their only defeat coming at Spurs last month.
– Bruno Fernandes’s goal and assist against Nott’m Forest last Saturday was the 12th time he’s achieved this feat in a Premier League match, the joint most of any player since his debut in February 2020.
What the managers said
Mikel Arteta: “We know the history between the two clubs and the games that we had in the past. They were a really good example, so it’s going to be a really competitive match and a big battle on Sunday. Obviously we want to come away from that with three points.” More details
Erik ten Hag: “It’s one of the biggest games in the Premier League. We’re really looking forward to that fight. They’re always interesting games, intense games, I think it’s two teams who really play offensive football with the right intentions, I would say.”
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SOURCE: premierleague.com