Returning to winning ways, Arsenal is in the mood to gain more points to stabilize their chase against fellow top-four challengers but a distorted Manchester United. Both sides played their rivals in the midweek with contrasting fortunes.
Mikel Arteta took advantage of some comical defensive mistakes by Chelsea to win 4-2 in a goal fest game while the Red Devil misery was piled up as they got thrashed 4-0 to Liverpool at Anfield.
ARS vs MUN Match Details
Date: Saturday, 23 April 2022
Time: 17:00 (IST)
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
ARS vs MUN Match Preview
It is the perfect response Arteta wanted from his boys when they stepped out at Stamford Bridge facing Chelsea. Eddie Nketiah starting in place of the recovered Lacazette bagged a brace before Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka's late penalty kick achieved three important points for the title chase. Although Arsenal couldn't prevent conceding goals, the win was a refresher after three consecutive defeats that gave the rest of the Champions League football chasers to gain ground. Winning against a top London rival was also key to refurbishing the spirit to face similar opposition ahead with six games to go. The victory maintained Arsenal position on fifth but it took them level on points with fourth-placed Spurs separated only by goal difference. The Gunners seemed to have got their goal scoring number nine Nketiah even though it is based on performance from one game. They were able to find the usual creativity against Chelsea that went missing in the last few games and it brings positivity to the side. Granit Xhaka and mostly Mohamed Elneny looked like a solid midfield pair. Arteta is now desperate to avoid a third defeat in a row at home against a wounded guest of the day.
Crumbling 4-0 on the scoreline and 9-0 total from the double in the hands of Liverpool, the season Manchester United endured was always leading them into disarray. A day after, the fans were greeted with the worst kept secret as their club finally confirm the appointment of Erik Ten Haag from Ajax who will be joining the helm from the next campaign. Any manager appointment is set to bring an air of positivity and someone as talented as Ten Haag a belief of claiming lost glories will prevail. But United fans fear the new manager walking into the same trapdoor that haunted his predecessors. The number of tasks the man idolising Johan Cruyff will have at the club is huge and difficult. Current interim boss Ralf Rangnick already insisted the team needs a complete overhaul. With several players out of contract this summer and deadwood remaining for years, the situation is contentious for Ten Haag to work miracles. For now, Manchester United have to steady the ship somehow to achieve a top-four place. They will attempt to snatch points out of Arsenal on Saturday in an away game, lost three consecutive times in the league on the trip. Losing yet another match will detail them further from the top four.
Recent Form (all competitions)
Arsenal: WLLLW
Man United: LWLDL
ARS vs MUN Team News :
For Arsenal, Thomas Partey (thigh) and Kieran Tierney (knee) won't be featuring for Mikel Arteta's side with the latter ruled out for the season. Arsenal might be able to call back right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu from his calf injuries. Arteta said it depends on his training session before the game.
Ralf Rangnick confirmed that Paul Pogba is unlikely to play any further for this season after he sustained a calf injury against Liverpool. The scan made put him on the sidelines for four weeks. In this case, he and Luke Shaw's campaign have ended prematurely. Edinson Cavani is to remain on the sidelines though he expected to have some role before the conclusion. Fred and Raphael Varane could make their return after missing the last couple of fixtures as is Scott McTominay. Cristiano Ronaldo is also back in training, missing the game against Liverpool due to family reasons.
ARS vs MUN Expected Lineups
Arsenal: Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes, Nuno Tavares, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah
Man United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Alex Telles, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo
ARS vs MUN Head to Head
Arsenal are unbeaten against Manchester United at the Emirates in the last three league encounters. Their last defeat came back in 2017 in which David De Gea pulled out a record 14 saves in the game. The last faceoff here ended in a 0-0 draw. The reverse game this season was a 3-2 thriller with Ronaldo converting a 74th min spot-kick to confirm United's win.
ARS vs MUN Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Ramsdale (8.5)
DEF: Wan Bissaka (8.5), White (9), Gabriel (9.5), Tavares (8.5)
MID: Sancho (9), Odegaard (9), Saka (10)
FW: Elanga (8.5), Ronaldo (10.5), Nketiah (8.5)
