An iconic rivalry in English football will be renewed, but recent encounters between Manchester United and Arsenal have been largely dominated by one side. While Manchester United managed a draw against Arsenal in the FA Cup, eventually winning on penalties, they have suffered defeats in their last four league matches against Mikel Arteta’s team. This marks their longest ever losing streak against Arsenal in league play.
After a demanding Europa League match against Real Sociedad, Manchester United will need to summon considerable energy to face an Arsenal team brimming with confidence after a dominant 7-goal victory over PSV Eindhoven just two days prior. Arsenal’s attacking lineup is still affected by injuries, but their scoring form in the Premier League remains strong, having not gone goalless in three consecutive league games since August 2021.
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, March 9
- Location: Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
- TV: NBC
Team News
Manchester United: Patrick Dorgu is suspended due to a red card received against Ipswich, creating a challenge for manager Ruben Amorim at left wing-back, a position crucial for containing Arsenal’s young talent, Ethan Nwaneri. Dorgu joins a lengthy list of unavailable players for United, including Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Lisandro Martinez, and Amad Diallo. Toby Collyer returned to play against Real Sociedad, but Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte were absent due to minor injuries, and their availability for the Arsenal game is uncertain.
Amorim emphasized the need for recovery and tactical intelligence ahead of the Arsenal match, especially with the Europa League round of 16 second leg looming. He stressed the importance of player rest and assessment during this critical phase of the season.
Possible Manchester United XI: Onana; Lindelof, De Ligt, Yoro; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Zirkzee, Garnacho; Hojlund
Arsenal: Following their goal surge against PSV, Arsenal aims to demonstrate that their victory was not merely a result of poor defending but a testament to their attacking prowess. The absence of injured key attackers like Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka has noticeably impacted Arsenal’s attack, and Mikel Merino is still adapting to leading the front line.
Despite this, Merino is likely to retain his place in the starting lineup, with minimal changes expected from the team that played on Tuesday. Arteta might consider resting key players in their upcoming match given their comfortable lead in another competition. The primary objective for Arsenal in this game is to solidify their position in second place and widen the gap from teams chasing Champions League qualification spots.
Possible Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Match Prediction
Considering Manchester United’s potential fatigue, this game might present an opportunity for Arsenal to secure a narrow victory based on their defensive strength. Predicted score: Manchester United 0, Arsenal 1
