Manchester United will be aiming for consecutive wins in the Premier League as they take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium today. Despite conceding two early goals against Nottingham Forest last weekend, the Red Devils mounted an impressive comeback to secure a 3-2 victory.
Key players like Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes shone, but manager Erik ten Hag will be looking for a more solid defensive performance in North London today. United hasn’t won a league game at the Emirates since the memorable 3-1 victory in December 2017, a match where David de Gea made 14 stunning saves. They now have a chance to break that winless streak at the stadium.
Predicted Formation: 4-2-3-1
Since his debut for United last month against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Andre Onana has delivered a mixed bag of performances, securing one clean sheet. He will be aiming for another shut-out against Mikel Arteta’s side.
In defense, there could be two changes from the lineup that won 3-2 last weekend. Diogo Dalot filled in as the makeshift left-back against Forest due to injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia. He might make way for Sergio Reguilon, who has joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. The left-back has already trained with the squad and could make his debut in the starting lineup.
With Raphael Varane injured for a few weeks, Lisandro Martinez will have a new central defensive partner. Victor Lindelof is the natural replacement for the Frenchman in the heart of the backline. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is likely to continue in the right-back role ahead of Dalot, given his one-on-one defending skills that can prove valuable.
In midfield, there are no expected changes from last weekend. Although Sofyan Amrabat signed on deadline day, he was not registered in time for this trip to face Arsenal in London. Casemiro is anticipated to start in the defensive midfield role, with Christian Eriksen in the number eight position. Bruno Fernandes will operate from his customary attacking midfield position. This trio will look to control possession against Arsenal in pursuit of a positive result.
While Scott McTominay is an option ahead of Eriksen, it appears he hasn’t traveled with the squad.Moving further forward, Antony and Marcus Rashford are expected starters on the right and left wings, respectively. We may witness a debut for Rasmus Hojlund up front today.
Anthony Martial’s performance against Forest was ineffective, and he was substituted after the hour mark. Hojlund has been training for a week after recovering from a back issue and should get at least 60 minutes. The 20-year-old has earned praise, drawing comparisons to Erling Braut Haaland. He has an opportunity to make an impact on his club debut against Arsenal.