Manchester United are at Old Trafford again on Sunday, when they face Arsenal in the Premier League. After defeats in their first two home games this season including a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham, United have come back stronger keeping two consecutive clean sheets. They were at home against RB Leipzig in the Champions League in their previous game, and they ran out 5-0 winners, with Marcus Rashford coming off the bench to score an incredible hattrick.
Ole’s men have really turned their form around and have picked up big wins against some of Europe’s elite teams. They face a stern test this Sunday too as Mikel Arteta brings Arsenal to the Theater of Dreams. Arsenal have been lacking a cutting edge all season and might find goals hard to come by against a Manchester United defense that has now found its feet.
A rivalry that has died down in the past few years, when there was once Title races depended on it, the two teams now face off with not a lot at stake. The players and managers will gear up the same way for this game, knowing the historic significance of this clash.
It is likely that Solskjaer will elect the same 4-4-2 formation that worked so well against Leipzig’s back 3 and with Arsenal leaning towards a back three, there is little reason for United to change formation.
Formation: 4-4-2
GK: De Gea
The Spaniard had a shaky start to the season, but had looked solid in the recent games. The addition of Henderson raised questions of whether De gea would be replaced this season but those worries are non-existent now.
Defense: Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka, Telles
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof seem to have found their rhythm as a pairing, and one of the reasons that David De Gea has had an easier time between the sticks. Wan-Bissaka has also been influential in defense while his contributions going forward have also improved significantly. The same cannot be said about Luke Shaw however who could see himself dropped to the bench against a quick Arsenal front line. Ole might use this game to hand Portuguese fullback, Alex Telles his first start in the Premier League, and he might be the furthest forward of the two Fullbacks.
Midfield: Mctominay, Fred, Bruno Fernandes, Juan Mata
The Midfield has seen a bit of rotation for Manchester United but that may just be down to the fixture congestion. Bruno Fernandes and Juan Mata were both handed a rest in midweek after they started the game last weekend against Chelsea and this game could see them return to the starting lineup. Mctominay and Fred will be the defensive assurance behind the two creative midfielders but with so much emphasis on defending as a team, United could swap out Mata for either of Pogba, Matic or Van de Beek.
Forwards: Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani
The man in red hot form Marcus Rashford has a guaranteed starting role in this game, after bagging a hattrick against Leipzig in midweek from the bench Rashford will be raring to go against Arsenal. The MBE has started the season in red hot form and he already has 6 goals to his name this season. He could be partnered alongside Edinson Cavani, a Striker that knows a thing or two about goalscoring. This is a high profile game and exactly the kind of fixtures that Cavani would be looking forward to. The Uruguayan could make his first start for United this Sunday, after Greenwood was handed the start in the Champions League game.
