Manchester United vs Arsenal Premier League preview: How to watch, lineups, Old Trafford & prediction

Arsenal are preparing for the biggest game of their Premier League season so far as they travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. Here is the match preview of Thursday’s clash.

Oh it’s a big one; the big one. No one game will determine the outcome of the season but across the board this is one of the fixtures that can help define it.

It’s now confirmed there will be no ‘new manager bounce’ for the hosts with Ralf Rangnick not set to take charge until the weekend, even if he has now been confirmed and could, sneakily, have some say in events that take place. He won’t be in the dugout, however.

A 1-1 draw with Chelsea last time out saw them lose more ground on their own European hunt, a result that leaves them five points behind Arsenal ahead of the meeting. The mantra should always be to go out and win, so hopefully this cushion can ease some of the pressure the team may be facing. After all, Old Trafford has historically not been kind to Arsenal.

Manchester United vs Arsenal: Premier League preview as Mikel Arteta’s side travel to Theatre of Dreams to face Ralf Rangnick’s new side

What about recently? Well, funnily enough, it has.

Arsenal are currently on a six-game unbeaten run against the Red Devils in the Premier League. Victory at Old Trafford last season was a giant monkey off the back, one who’d been clinging on since 2006, a win that made it three without loss at the Theatre of Dreams.

On home soil it’s also three games without defeat, as Arsenal have accrued a delightful total of 12 points from a possible 18.

The last time they secured back-to-back Old Trafford wins? You have to go all the way back to 1979 for that in the old Division One where two Alan Sunderland goals did the business for the Gunners. Arsenal would finish seventh that season and win the FA Cup, beating United once again in the final.

This time around there is a huge opportunity presenting itself for Arsenal to earn a statement win. While they’re still some way of competing with the top three, coming out on top against the ‘best of the rest’ is where they show true signs of progress. Equally, lose, and Mikel Arteta’s side are still above United.

But we’re not thinking about that. It’s all on the three points in what will be an absorbing encounter.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Thursday 2 December
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:15 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Old Trafford
TV Channel/Live Stream? Amazon Prime Video (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Martin Atkinson

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