Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Man Utd - FA Cup

With tunnel vision for transfer rumours rife at this time of year, it's easy to forget that there are games of football going on as well.

Arsenal supporters are keen for the club to do business this summer, with social media pages refreshed at a frantic rate in order to discover the next tenuous link.

But we can stop wasting our time for a couple of hours on Sunday as Manchester United come to town for a third-round FA Cup tie. Arsenal have enjoyed their meetings with their once fierce rivals as of late, and only recently down the Red Devils in north London. However, United head into this cup tie off the back of an impressive performance and result at Anfield, while the Gunners were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle on Tuesday to all but dash their Carabao Cup hopes.

Mikel Arteta will not want to enter Wednesday's North London Derby off the back of back-to-back defeats, but he'll also have to smartly manage his squad to ensure his preferred XI is fresh for Tottenham's visit.

Here's how Arsenal could line up on Sunday.

Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Man Utd

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Neto (GK) - Could we get a Neto sighting this weekend? I mean, if we don't, why the hell did we sign him?

Jurrien Timber (RB) - It seems that Timber will only earn respite if he earns a suspension with Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu still out injured. Let's try to avoid Thomas Partey at right-back for the foreseeable, eh?

William Saliba (CB) - No Arsenal outfielder has racked up more minutes across all competitions than Saliba this term (2,414), but Arteta will likely stick with the Frenchman. The centre-back has proven to be infallible since he fatefully missed the final few weeks of the 2022/23 season.

Jakub Kiwior (CB) - Kiwior had a bit of a nightmare on his most recent start in the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace, but Saliba's presence in the second-half did settle him and Arteta could offer Gabriel some respite this weekend.

Riccardo Calafiori (LB) - I'm interested to see what direction the boss goes for the derby, but we'll likely see Calafiori in the team against United after he failed to come off the bench in midweek.

Midfielders

Jorginho (DM) - There are murmurs linking Jorginho with a January switch to Palmeiras, so this could be one of his final appearances for the club following two years of service.

Mikel Merino (CM) - The Spaniard should return to the team after Arteta oddly opted against using him on Tuesday night. We know what Merino is by now, and it's fair to say that he might find it hard to convince many that his addition was worth the summer hassle.

Martin Odegaard (CM) - The skipper may not be at full tilt due to illness, but Arteta would be a brave man to take away Arsenal's leading playmaker in the current context. We need more from Odegaard.

Forwards

Raheem Sterling (RW) - Sterling's recovered from a knee injury and was back on the bench against Newcastle. Assuming he's 100% fit, the Englishman should get a rare start down the right.

Gabriel Jesus (ST) - We don't need to see Kai Havertz again after his midweek woes. Let him rest up in time for the derby. Jesus is primed for a return to the XI having enjoyed a recent burst in goalscoring form.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) - Arteta is currently picking between a lesser of two evils given what Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have served up this term.

READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS HERE!