Midweek brings a major crunch clash between two sides fighting for Champions League qualification slots as Arsenal travels to Manchester United. The Gunners moved up to fourth in the table yesterday after winning an exciting North London derby over Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester United will come into the Wednesday night match in seventh place and desperate to get points, and thus back into the top four race. United were embarrassing on Saturday, managing just a draw at Southampton, who fired their manager today.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery said in his postgame press conference on Sunday that he had already put the enthralling Tottenham win behind him, and was thus looking ahead to the midweek clash at Manchester United.
In looking ahead to who is unavailable for this match, both teams have a player suspended. For Arsenal, Granit Xhaka will serve a one-match ban, and that should open the door to a Matteo Guendouzi first team appearance in midfield. For United, defender Ashley Young will also serve a one-game suspension, and that could lead to a Diogo Dalot start in the back line.
Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly, who missed the draw at the St. Mary’s, could also be back in contention. However, the big news surrounds Arsenal attacking midfielder and one time United transfer target Mesut Ozil.
Emery revealed that Ozil is a doubt during a Monday press conference:
“Today he was working alone, I don’t know if he’s OK for Wednesday. I said yesterday he’s had backache since last Tuesday. He couldn’t play in Kiev or yesterday,” the Gunners boss said. “At the moment, I don’t know if he can play in Manchester.”
A major key to this game will be the play of United midfielder Paul Pogba. The most expensive player in British history looked extremely disinterested on Saturday as he dreadfully underperformed. He drew a lot of negative attention for his play and rightly so.
The Red Devils will need him to come correct if they are to get all three points from this one.
Arsenal vs Manchester United FYIs
Kickoff: Wednesday December 5, 8pm local, Old Trafford
Win probability according to Google: United 41%, Arsenal’s 32%, The draw probability is estimated at 27%.
Odds according to Betway: United are favored to win, backed at 11/8. Arsenal are backed at 19/10 while odds for a draw are 5/2
Starting XI Predictions: Arsenal Manchester United
Prediction: Arsenal 2, United 1
As always, feel free to post your own starting XI and final score predictions in the comments section
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.