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Arsenal’s season has certainly not gone according to plan, but they can still top Manchester United and that counts for something. Here’s what you need to know.

There is a certain joy that comes from defeating Jose Mourinho, and not just defeating, but wholly conquering. Arsenal has not known that joy much as of late, but should they finish above his Manchester United, then surely we Gooners care derive some sort of joy from it, and how devoid we have been of joy this year.

If Arsenal defeat the Red Devils and they win out, there is nothing Mourinho and his foot soldiers can do to finish above the Gunners. Granted, nothing is ever a guarantee with this Gunners squad, it does beg to be mentioned that if ever they were going to perform, perhaps down the stretch, with little to play for, they may find the fluidity that has been so lacking this entire season.

The Special One has already created his pre-match excuse, that he will be resting his best players for the Europa League, a competition that was below him just four years ago, but I digress. Whatever the squad we see, we know they will fight.

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And if nothing else, we saw a depleted United squad hand us a 3-2 defeat last year, a defeat that saw me eating my own words for being so dismissive of Marcus Rashford.

The damage can still be done to the Gunners. Their defense will welcome back Shkodran Mustafi, who will hope to offer a bit more defensive stability than this club has seen in the recent past, but they will also be losing the control kingpin, Granit Xhaka, in the midfield, so I’d call that a solid wash.

With Mustafi hopefully back in the starting XI, Wenger will be able to put together his best possible back three, which he can round off with one of three available center backs, Nacho Monreal, Gabriel Paulista or Rob Holding.

I’d opp for the unfairly shafted Holding, but my opinion doesn’t count for much.

The Xhaka absence will force either Francis Coquelin or Mohamed Elneny to step up in his stead, which hardly inspires the confidence that Xhaka does, but it will be an excellent opportunity for either a man who is not wont for opportunities (Coquelin) or a man that could certainly use a couple more.

With all of that in mind, here is all you need to know.

Next: Arsenal's Predicted Starting XI To Face Manchester United

Date: 7 May 2017
Venue: The Emirates, London, England
Time: 11:00 EST, 16:00 BST
TV: NBCSN
Radio: Talk Sports Radio World, Sirius XM Channel 85
Stream: Arsenal Player, NBC Sports Live Extra