This week’s View From The Enemy comes direct from the official Man United website and is packed full of facts and news ahead of the Red Devils trip to Arsenal tomorrow. I didn’t know this will be our 200th League meeting. That’s a bit of a milestone….
Anyway, here is the view of the game from our oldest enemy….
YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO ARSENAL V UNITED
Manchester United travel to Arsenal on Sunday for a Premier League encounter which could prove crucial for our top-four ambitions.
While this week has been dominated by Wednesday’s dramatic win over Paris Saint-Germain in Europe, a quick look back to last Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton reminds us we leapfrogged the Gunners in the race for a Champions League spot. It was our 10th win in 12 league matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
This will be United’s second visit to the Emirates Stadium this season, following our impressive 3-1 victory in January, when goals from Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial saw us knock Unai Emery’s men out of the FA Cup.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big match…
WHAT’S THE TEAM NEWS?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad has been boosted by the return of Paul Pogba from suspension after the Frenchman had to sit out Wednesday night’s Champions League tie at the Parc des Princes.The Norwegian suggested in his pre-match press conference that Anthony Martial, Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera could be involved and revealed that Eric Bailly is okay after suffering a heavy challenge from PSG’s Marco Verratti on Wednesday evening. There were no updates on the fitness of former Gunners star Alexis Sanchez, Jesse Lingard or Juan Mata; however Lingard was pictured in training on Friday morning.
WHAT ABOUT ARSENAL?
Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Torreira begins the first part of his three-match ban against United this weekend due to the straight red card he received against Tottenham in Arsenal’s last league outing. Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and former Reds striker Danny Welbeck remain out of action for the Gunners, while defender Stephan Lichtsteiner is back in full training and could return to the side on Sunday.
HOW ARE ARSENAL GETTING ON?
Prior to Thursday’s 3-1 first-leg defeat at Rennes in the Europa League, the Gunners were showing signs of recovery from an indifferent winter period. They have brought themselves back into top-four contention after taking 10 points from the last 12 on offer, only dropping two in last weekend’s entertaining North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. After that 1-1 draw at Wembley and the Reds’ subsequent win over Southampton, Unai Emery’s men are fifth in the table and one point behind United.
Did you know? says….
We have met Arsenal more often than any other opponent. In fact, Sunday will be our 200th league meeting with the Gunners; the first, in October 1894, ended 3-3.
ONE TO WATCH
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent goalscorers since Arsene Wenger splashed out almost £60million to sign him from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018. The Gabonese international has scored 19 goals from 36 appearances in all competitions so far this season, including a strike against the Reds in our FA Cup victory.
WHAT’S OUR RECORD LIKE AGAINST ARSENAL?
Sunday’s match will be the 230th meeting between the two old rivals in all competitions. The Reds have the upper hand with 97 wins compared to Arsenal’s 81, while there have been 51 draws. We emerged victorious from last season’s league encounter at the Emirates when goals for Antonio Valencia and a Jesse Lingard double ensured we won 3-1 – the scoreline we have since repeated in January’s FA Cup visit.
WHO’S THE REFEREE?
Jonathan Moss will take control of the game on Sunday. It will be the fifth time the Yorkshire-based official has overseen a Premier League clash involving United this season, the most recent being our 2-2 stalemate at home to Burnley in January. Simon Bennett and Marc Perry will be Moss’ assistants, whilst Martin Atkinson will be the fourth official at the Emirates.