Arsenal vs Manchester United preview: How to watch, top four, prediction, lineups, live stream

Arsenal are right back in the thick of action on Saturday as they host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium for another huge clash in their top four bid. Here is the match preview.

From the depths of despair to the highs of heroism. Arsenal looked out for the count in the Premier League top four race following three straight defeats, only to breathe life back into the pursuit with a stunning 4-2 win away at Chelsea.

Riddled with injuries and with confidence sapped, Mikel Arteta’s side produced one of the results of the season as they went to the home of the European champions and left with a richly deserved three points.

The manager made some big calls before the game as he opted to make two changes from the Southampton defeat, with the pair of Mohamed Elneny and Rob Holding playing their part in a disciplined and gutsy performance.

Arsenal vs Manchester United preview: How to watch, top four race, score prediction & team lineups for huge Premier League clash

It’s a result that sets up the weekend’s visit of Manchester United superbly. What a game of football this will be.

There is one club with some real momentum behind them, and another that was embarrassed by Liverpool in the latest installment of a long line of hilarious collapses.

Humiliated at Anfield with a performance that has been widely referred to as shameful, the Red Devils are not only bereft of confidence, they’re bereft of quality, organisation, spirit and guidance. A team of individuals stumbling their way to the final day of the season where they’re either forced out or force their own way out. Manchester United are rotten from the top down. They’re broken.

Which is why Wednesday night’s excursions can’t be wasted. The highs of that performance and result can’t be for nothing if Arsenal come up short against a side desperately short of hope, and whose fans are vociferously voicing their disgust.

Boasting a strong record at home to United, winning here would not only put Arsenal firmly back in contention, it would also lift them into the top four ahead of Tottenham who don’t play until later that evening. It’s level pegging on games played now, and it’s Arsenal’s turn to crank up the pressure.

What a mouthwatering game we have in store.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Saturday 23 April
What Time Is Kick Off? 12:30 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Emirates Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Craig Pawson
Who is on VAR? Jarred Gillet

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Arsenal Team News vs Manchester United – Tomiyasu Back?

Many supporters will have been happy to see Eddie Nketiah leading the line once more against Chelsea, a decision that Arteta confirmed pre-game was enforced on account of Alexandre Lacazette’s lack of fitness.

Having trained for only ’10 minutes’ after recovering from Covid-19, the Frenchman will only get a couple of more training sessions in before Saturday’s game, although Nketiah’s performance is likely to keep him on the bench even if he’s fully fit.

Hope remains that there could be some room in the squad for Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was a welcome face back on the training pitch having not kicked a ball since January. Niggling calf problems have kept him out of action but there is now a growing chance he could be back in the squad.

As for the visitors, Ralf Rangnick has numerous injuries to contend with.

In defence he will be without Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane, although there is some hope from United corners that the World Cup winner could return to the heart of defence.

Fred is also due to miss out with a hip problem, while Paul Pogba took matters into his own hands when he substituted himself in the early exchanges of the Liverpool defeat. He is now due to miss out.

Edinson Cavani is still unavailable and it remains to be seen whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo will be part of the squad following the tragic death of his newborn son.

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Arsenal Predicted Lineup to Face Manchester United – Cedric Back in?

Arsenal: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tavares; Xhaka, Elneny, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Nketiah

Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Telles; Matic, McTominay, Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo

Arsenal vs Manchester United Score Prediction

Everything, quite literally everything, is pointing towards an Arsenal win in this match.

There is not one endearing aspect of Manchester United at the minute (trying to look at it neutrally), whether that be up in the boardroom, over in the coaching staff or in the dressing room.

Bruno Fernandes even confessed after the Anfield defeat that his side have ‘nothing to play for’. This is despite them being just three points behind both north London clubs heading into this game. A damning indictment.

They don’t run, they don’t work for each other, they don’t have any emotional attachment to the club, they don’t have any faith or interest in the manager, and they don’t have any fight left. That’s everything that Arsenal do possess. Brushing aside quality on the pitch, this Gunners team are superior in every one of those departments.

But this is a big game. Arsenal vs Manchester United. Arguably the greatest rivalry that the Premier League has ever had. Even if one team is in disarray and the other is coming off the back of a storming win, there are no certainties in this fixture.

Given the short turnover time, the high spirits the players find themselves in now should be carried over. Sure, United have just announced Erik ten Hag and it might inspire some of the players to raise their games, but they knew this was happening already. Do they even care?

Arsenal will be fired up for this against a weakened visiting side with dreadful full-backs and a fridge in the heart of defence. They have to win.

And they will, just.

Score Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United