Reports of Manchester United’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Remember the week debacle, the 4-0 loss at Brentford, and the overreaction is inspired on social media? On that day, which saw United lose for the second time in two games this season, it wasn’t considered an extremist position to say that United were finished as a football club. Or that Erik ten Hag should try to get his contract torn up.
Well, here we are, only three more games (all wins for the Red Devils) have passed since that disaster and now United are just outside the top four. Their current table position is actually one spot higher than where they finished last season.
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Now comes a big clash against top of the table Arsenal, the only side to have won all their matches thus far this season.
Arsenal FC at Manchester United FYIs
Kick: Sun Sept. 4, 4:30 GMT, Old Trafford
Team News: Arsenal FC Manchester United
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Google Result Probability: Arsenal 26% Draw 27% Man United 37%
PL Position, Form Guide: Arsenal 1st, 15pts WLLLW United 5th, 9pts WWWLL
MUFC Team News
There is no timetable for the return of forward Anthony Martial (achilles), so that preseason knock, or whatever they previously called it, has turned out to be way more serious than they thought. He has not been seen yet this regular season. Brandon Williams (undisclosed) and Facundo Pellistri (ankle) are also out.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.