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Man Utd v Arsenal preview | Latest team news, Saka to start + predicted score

By on September 30, 2019

bukayo saka arsenal

Arsenal have the chance to move back into the top four of the Premier League table with victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford tonight.

We responded well to the disappointment at Watford earlier this month as we bounced back with an impressive win at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League before coming from behind twice to beat Aston Villa despite playing the second half with 10-men.

The Arsenal reserves also thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-0 in the Carabao Cup last Tuesday meaning we head to Old Trafford off the back of three consecutive victories so we should be in confident mood.

After the weekend action, Arsenal currently sit 8th in the table but we can climb up to fourth and level on points with third-placed Leicester with a win tonight so it’s important we come home with a positive result.

Man Utd have endured a disappointing start to their season and are 11th in the table after losing to West Ham last time out in the Premier League while they were held to a 1-1 draw by Rochdale in the League Cup so this is a great opportunity for us.

Team news

Arsenal will have to make-do without the services of Alexandre Lacazette yet again as the Frenchman is still out with an ankle injury but otherwise the squad is in good health.

Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney are available again after returning to full fitness while Ainsley Maitland-Niles returns from suspension after serving his one-game ban in midweek.

Hector Bellerin made his long-awaited comeback with a 15 minute cameo in the Carabao Cup but he played 90 minutes for the U23s on Saturday so won’t make the trip to Old Trafford tonight.

kieran tierney arsenal

As for Man Utd, they are expected to be without Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial due to injury while Paul Pogba is also a doubt with an ankle problem – although I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s passed fit. Luke Shaw is close to a return but might not be risked tonight.

Preferred line-up

No doubt Emery will select Granit Xhaka after confirming him as his new captain but I’d love to see Arsenal go with Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi and Dani Ceballos in midfield tonight. I’d start Holding over David Luiz and Tierney over Sead Kolasinac at left-back.

I’d also go with Maitland-Niles at right-back instead of Calum Chambers for his pace up against Daniel James. Bukayo Saka also deserves to start on the left wing ahead of Reiss Nelson and I wouldn’t trust Mesut Ozil to put in the required shift away from home.

This would be my line-up:

football formations

Likely United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Young, McTominay, Pogba, Lingard, James, Mata, Greenwood

Predicted score

Our record at Old Trafford is woeful as we haven’t won a league game since Adebayor’s winner in 2006 – that’s 12 visits with 8 defeats and 4 draws. This is a great chance to end that barren run as Man Utd have been awful for much of the season and look low on confidence right now.

They haven’t scored more than once in any of their last 7 matches and our dodgy defence should be boosted by the returns of Tierney and Holding. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in superb form so if we can supply him with chances, I think we’ll edge this game tonight. I’m going for a narrow 2-1 Arsenal win.

Man Utd 1-2 Arsenal