Arsenal vs Man Utd Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Ruben Amorim earned his first victory as a Premier League manager at the weekend and he now takes charge of his first ‘blockbuster’ as his Manchester United side visit a much-improved Arsenal side to the Emirates this week.
Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 4th December, 2024: UK – 8:15pm / US ET – 3:15pm / US PT – 12:15am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime / US – Peacock
Arsenal Preview: Gunning for more
Arsenal went into the November international break having suffered a wobble but they have returned action in much-improved form with Bukayo Saka saying they are ‘back to our best’. Saka was instrumental as the Gunners hammered West Ham United by five goals to two with all seven goals coming in that game coming in the first-half at the London Stadium.
Prior to that demolition against capital city rivals, Arsenal had demolished Portuguese champions by five goals to one in the UEFA Champions League at the Jose Alvalade in Lisbon midweek a few days after a comfortable 3-0 defeat of high-flying Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.
Man Utd Preview: Bringing back the fear
Ruben Amorim took charge of Manchester United over the November international break and the Red Devils have started his reign with two wins and a draw. They come into this one on the back of a 4-0 annihilation of Everton at Old Trafford at the weekend with a brace each from maligned forwards Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee.
That came after a topsy turvy defeat of Bodo/Glimt in midweek in the UEFA Europa League with a 3-2 victory and another brace from a forward, Rasmus Hojlund. Amorim took charge of a United side languishing in the bottom-half but they are already looking up and towards the top four or five and potential UEFA Champions League qualification this season.
Arsenal Team News: Finding freedom
Mikel Arteta has often been criticised for his Arsenal side becoming too functional in recent times but 13 goals in three games show a newfound freedom in attack.
That has been massively aided by the return of Martin Odegaard from injury as well as the excellent form of the aforementioned England international Bukayo Saka.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Unavailable: White (Injured), Tomiyasu (Injured)
Questionable: Gabriel (Injured), Mikel Merino (Injured), Partey (Injured)
Man Utd Team News: The change in system
Ruben Amorim moved Bruno Fernandes into a more defensive role against Bodo/Glimt but he returned to a more advanced position against Everton and is expected to remain there.
Amorim rotated a fair bit at Sporting and has done so in the early stages of his reign at Old Trafford as he deals with a few defensive injury doubts such as Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof and Leny Yoro. Martinez and Mainoo are both suspended so they drop out with Maguire and Ugarte likely candidates to come in.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire; Diallo, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho; Rashford
Unavailable: Martinez (Suspended), Mainoo (Suspended)
Questionable: Evans (Injured), Yoro (Fitness), Lindelof (Injured)
Arsenal vs Man Utd Prediction
This is a really intriguing encounter at the Emirates because it is far too early to say ‘now lets see if they can do it against a title challenger’ for Amorim’s United but it can give an early indication as to how big the job is for Amorim. Arsenal are in excellent form at the moment and will fancy their chances of exposing gaps within the United side, albeit the hosts will likely set up to be counter-attacking. It still, though, seems unlikely that United will topple the in-form Gunners.
Arsenal vs Man Utd Tip: Double chance – Arsenal to win or draw
