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Manchester United host Arsenal at Previous Trafford in what’s shaping as much as be a high-stakes Premier League conflict for each groups.
United can be heading into the sport off the again of a devastating 4-0 hammering by the hands of Crystal Palace, which served to pile additional stress and distress on Erik ten Hag and his gamers.,
The Crimson Devils have an opportunity to get again to successful methods and make an enormous assertion that they’re no pushovers and what higher solution to do it than in opposition to a prime rival resembling Arsenal?
Listed below are three storylines to anticipate as the 2 English giants put together to lock horns on Sunday.
United can put an finish to Arsenal’s title ambitions
Arsenal will undoubtedly flip up on the Theatre of Goals absolutely conscious {that a} win ensures that the Premier League title race will go into the ultimate recreation of the league season once they face Everton on the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners don’t have it of their fingers, with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis within the driving seat. Arsenal are virtually actually counting on a slip-up from the reigning champions of their remaining clashes vs. Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham for probably the most prestigious trophy within the land to be embellished in purple and white ribbons.
Mikel Arteta and his males are agency favourites to emerge victorious, particularly contemplating United’s persistently poor performances and outcomes, but the Arsenal boss himself will know that Previous Trafford has not been pleased looking grounds since he took over the reins on the North London outfit.
Arteta managed to safe Arsenal’s solely triumph at Previous Trafford within the league since 2006 however has the one one to his identify, in an extended line of stunning and disappointing outcomes, which if repeated, could be deadly for his aspect.
Arsenal have misplaced on their final two journeys to Previous Trafford and wanted two injury-time targets to finish their 3-1 win within the reverse fixture again in September.
This may very well be simply the motivation Ten Hag must inspire his gamers once they step onto the pitch on Sunday. United have the golden alternative to place a big dent in Arsenal’s title prospects, virtually in the identical manner they did in opposition to Liverpool within the 2-2 draw final month.
It is going to actually not be simple for United in opposition to an Arsenal aspect which have smashed in 27 targets and conceded simply thrice in three of their final video games on the highway. Metropolis are the one workforce who’ve saved them at bay and prevented them from clinching all three factors.
Arteta spoke to reporters and was requested about United’s kind and Arsenal’s Previous Trafford file. The Spaniard mentioned, “I don’t give it some thought, each recreation has a special context. We all know the problem and the historical past while you have a look at what we’ve finished over there, so we’re going to need to be at our greatest to earn the precise to win the sport.”
“We all know what we have to do however initially we now have to carry out at a very excessive degree to should win the match. That’s what the main focus is.”
In a season marked by disappointment, the United gamers have an opportunity to reclaim some dignity and produce a glimmer of pleasure to followers by scuppering Arsenal’s title push. The stage is about and the battle traces drawn.
Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes return from harm
Ten Hag is about to be considerably boosted by the return of Rashford, McTominay and Fernandes.
All three stars have recovered from harm and are in competition to return to United’s beginning XI for the sport in opposition to Arsenal.
Rashford has not featured for the 20-time English champions for the reason that dramatic win on penalties vs. Coventry Metropolis within the FA Cup semi-final.
Regardless of his struggles this season, he’s nonetheless a risk to any rival and brings one thing completely different to the workforce. The England worldwide’s excellent file vs. the normal “huge six” can also be well-known and he may have a giant say in how occasions pan out on Sunday.
Rashford has additionally been linked to Arsenal, together with his United future unsure. He could have returned simply in time to hang-out the North London membership and inflict the last word ache on them.
Much more necessary is that Rashford being again means United can area their most potent entrance three alongside Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho on the precise.
One other huge participant set to come back again into the motion is Fernandes. The membership captain wasn’t within the matchday squad for the conflict at Selhurst Park and was an enormous miss.
United lacked the creativeness and creativity he typically injects into the aspect. Earlier than he was sidelined, Fernandes was in terrific kind and even acquired a nomination for the Premier League’s April Participant of the Month award. This time period, he has plundered a formidable 15 targets and 11 assists throughout all competitions and he may very well be United’s fundamental level of distinction vs. Arsenal.
McTominay can also be prone to play from the beginning and regardless of apparent reservations about him in the course of the park, his eye for purpose and turning up on the proper place and on the proper time are simple.
The Carrington academy graduate is having fun with probably the most prolific marketing campaign of his profession and only a few individuals would put it previous him to as soon as once more get on the rating sheet this weekend.
United seeking to get European aspirations again on monitor
United’s European aspirations suffered an enormous hit following their loss to Palace.
The outcome left the Reds in eighth place within the Premier League and 13 factors adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa.
Champions League qualification is mathematically unattainable for United however the Europa League stays an attainable goal, though there’s stiff competitors from Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and Chelsea who’re in fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.
A win over Arsenal would go a good distance in cementing United’s Europa League credentials and that is one thing the gamers can have on the again of their minds as they do battle with Arsenal.
For sure, stepping into the Europa Convention League could be humiliating for United however they might have nobody accountable however themselves.
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