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Manchester United vs Arsenal preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

By James Cormack

Arsenal players celebrate with Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (2nd L) after he scores the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 2, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal players celebrate with Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (2nd L) after he scores the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 2, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /
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A vintage rivalry renewed. Two old foes pit their wits against one another on Sunday afternoon as top-of-the-table Arsenal visit a resurgent Manchester United at Old Trafford.

A 4-0 defeat at Brentford on Matchday 2 saw United emerge as the laughing stock of the Premier League but Erik ten Hag has since overseen three consecutive victories and added some serious quality to the Red Devils’ ranks.

A 2-1 triumph over bitter rivals Liverpool eight days after their west London trouncing brought life to the Ten Hag era and United followed up that impressive win with slender victories over Southampton and Leicester.

Arsenal, meanwhile, maintained their perfect start to the league season on Wednesday night as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 in what was yet another dominant display. The Gunners continued to purr in the absence of Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko as Sambi Lokonga shone on a rare start.

While the end to their summer window was somewhat underwhelming, the confidence flowing through Mikel Arteta’s side right now is unlike anything we’ve seen in years at the Emirates. The Spaniard’s project is well underway and a statement victory on Sunday would certainly send a message out to the rest of the division.

Manchester United vs Arsenal preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend.

How to watch Manchester United vs Arsenal

When is kick-off? Sunday 4 September

What time is kick-off? 16:30 (BST)

Where is it played? Old Trafford

TV channel/live stream? Sky Sports (UK), fuboTV (Canada), SiriusXM FC (US)

Referee? Paul Tierney

Manchester United Team News

United’s upturn in form coincided with Raphael Varane and Tyrell Malacia’s respective introductions into the XI and both will continue in defence on Sunday. Varane has established a stout partnership with summer arrival Lisandro Martinez.

Ten Hag should have new acquisition Antony available to him for the first time, but the Brazilian will likely be named among the substitutes with Casemiro poised to make his maiden start for the Red Devils.

Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are both injury doubts, but neither were expected to make Sunday’s starting XI anyway. Anthony Martial is also expected to miss out.

Arsenal Team News

Martin Odegaard was forced off against Villa with a knock. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Martin Odegaard was forced off against Villa with a knock. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Arteta has several injury concerns going into the weekend. Reiss Nelson has been joined on the sidelines by Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny, but Oleksandr Zinchenko should be available.

Sambi Lokonga should continue in midfield alongside Granit Xhaka, while Martin Odegaard picked up a knock in the win over Villa and is a doubt for this one.

Aaron Ramsdale is also struggling with a hamstring issue, and his status is unknown.

Manchester United vs Arsenal Predicted Lineups

Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen; Elanga, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford.

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Lokonga; Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Jesus.

Manchester United’s Recent Form

Leicester 0-1 Manchester United (01/09) – Premier League

Southampton 0-1 Manchester United (27/08) – Premier League

Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool (22/08) – Premier League

Brentford 4-0 Manchester United (13/08) – Premier League

Manchester United 1-2 Brighton (07/08) – Premier League

Arsenal’s Recent Form

Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa (31/08) – Premier League

Arsenal 2-1 Fulham (27/08) – Premier League 

Bournemouth 0-3 Arsenal (20/08) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-2 Leicester (13/08) – Premier League

Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal (05/08) – Premier League

Prediction

Mikel Arteta will be attempting to outwit Erik ten Hag on Sunday (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta will be attempting to outwit Erik ten Hag on Sunday (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) /

I think this is where Arsenal’s perfect start to the campaign shudders to a halt.

The Gunners have been superb in their opening five games and while United haven’t exactly been overly impressive despite their recent upturn in form, Old Trafford is still a very tough place to visit and win.

Mikel Arteta may also be hamstrung by several big injuries and while the likes of Lokonga stepped up against Villa in the week, Sunday’s contest will be a much more challenging proposition. It’s poised to be an intriguing tactical battle between the two managers seeing as both want their sides to dominate the ball and control the opposition without it.

A chess match is in store, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the spoils shared on Sunday. That’d be a pretty good result for the Gunners.

Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal