Football Previews

Man Utd vs Arsenal preview, predictions & team news

By CJ Smith

Published: 16:11, 29 September 2019

Arsenal travel to Old Trafford on Monday to face an out of form and out of sorts Manchester United.

The Red Devils laboured to a penalty shootout-win over Rochdale in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, following on from their miserable 2-0 Premier League defeat to West Ham United.

Meanwhile, the feel-good factor actually seems to be returning to Arsenal after a 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa and their 5-0 Carabao Cup demolition of Nottingham Forest, in which the Gunners saw the likes of Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and summer signing Kieran Tierney all return from injury.

The points are vital to both sides but who will take them? Read on for our preview, predictions, team news and TV coverage information.

When is Man Utd vs Arsenal and where can I watch live?

Competition: Premier League

Venue: Old Trafford

Date: Monday, 30 September 2019

Kick-off: 8 PM BST

TV coverage (UK): Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League

Last five meetings: Man Utd vs Arsenal

10 Mar 2019: Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd (Premier League)

25 Jan 2019: Arsenal 1-3 Man Utd (FA Cup)

05 Dec 2018: Man Utd 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

29 Apr 2018: Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

02 Dec 2017: Arsenal 1-3 Man Utd (Premier League)

Aggregate Score: Man Utd (LWDWW) 10-7 Arsenal (WLDLL)

Ones to watch

Man Utd: Paul Pogba

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba applauds fans after 4-0 win over Chelsea

Paul Pogba is currently struggling with an ankle injury, but Manchester United will be hoping he can return for Monday’s clash.

The Frenchman takes a lot of criticism and, sure, at times, he can frustrate. But Pogba is still by far the most talented, imposing player at Old Trafford right now – as proven by his absence in that languid defeat to West Ham.

Having him on the pitch gives United more fluidity in both measured possession and open field counter-attacks, thanks to his expert passing and massive stride.

Key stat: Pogba has created 11 chances in the Premier League this season – at least three more than any of his team-mates.

Arsenal: Calum Chambers

Calum Chambers, Arsenal’s “multi-tasking maniac” as our very own Muhammad Butt put it, has certainly made waves this past week or so.

The 24-year-old bagged a goal from the bench in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa and followed it up with a remarkable hat-trick of assists in the League Cup against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

There are many Arsenal fans now calling for Chambers to partner Holding at centre-back in the long term but for this weekend at least, with Bellerin still recovering and Ainsley Maitland-Niles hardly covering himself in glory last week, we’re likely to see him at right-back.

Key stat: Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of Chambers’ three starts across all competitions this season.

Team news

Manchester United

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed Paul Pogba is a doubt for Monday’s game, still struggling from the ankle injury which previously saw him miss three matches.

United will be without Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Diogo Dalot and Angel Gomes through injury but could see Luke Shaw named on the bench as he nears full fitness. Although Marcus Rashord’s groin injury sustained against West Ham isn’t as bad as first thought, he is still likely to miss Monday’s clash with Arsenal.

Predicted XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Matic, Pogba; James, Greenwood, Mata.

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Arsenal

Bellerin, Holding and Tierney all made returns from injury on Tuesday, with the latter making his Arsenal debut. However, Emery has already confirmed Bellerin will miss out on Monday, while it’s likely to be the same for the other two.

Maitland-Niles returns from suspension but may be unable to supplant Chambers after his fine performances recently, while Alexandre Lacazette is out until October.

Predicted XI: Leno; Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Pepe, Ceballos, Nelson; Aubameyang.

Squawka prediction

Man Utd truly are awful at the moment and although Pogba’s return would offer some hope, the signs are not good for Solskjaer. They face an Arsenal side who themselves are wildly inconsistent but with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dani Ceballos and Nicolas Pepe in the side, they really could cause the home side trouble.

Scoreline prediction: Man Utd 0-2 Arsenal