Arsenal will look to return to winning ways when they host Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners have been held to back-to-back draws, though have a seven-point lead at the top of the table heading into the weekend’s Premier League action. This match kicks off at 4:30pm and is available to watch live on Sky Sports.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Man Utd
Arsenal Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Arsenal team news vs Man Utd
Mikel Arteta has a decision on his hands in attack. Viktor Gyokeres has been his go-to for much of the season, though has largely been by default.
Gabriel Jesus has made an impressive return to action following an ACL injury sustained last January. Kai Havertz is also an option for Arteta on the frontline.
Jesus bagged a brace in the 3-1 win at Inter Milan on Tuesday night and could keep his spot on the frontline on Sunday afternoon.
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Max Dowman misses out for Arsenal. The teenager, though, is their only concern with both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie are back in training. The pair may not be thrown back in at the deep end, however. As such Jurrien Timber may get the nod ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back once again, which would see Ben White continue at right-back.
With Havertz, Calafiori and Hincapie in training, Arsenal have a fully fit senior squad for the first time this season.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice are also set to return to the side. The trio were all dropped to the bench for Wednesday’s win in Milan, but should rotate back into the side.
Odegaard’s ongoing issues
Martin Odegaard’s season has been impacted by injuries. He became the first player to be subbed off in the first half of three successive starts in Premier League history earlier in the campaign. Since his return to fitness, however, the Norwegian has struggled for form.
Hauled off on the hour mark at Nottingham Forest, the Arsenal skipper was an unused sub in Milan in midweek. While Mikel Arteta may have had one eye on Sunday’s welcome of Manchester United, it’s a fairly damning indictment of Odegaard’s drop off.
Since coming back into the side, Odegaard has been unable to control games in the way many had hoped. Admittedly he proved decisive in wins over Brighton and Bournemouth but the consistency is found wanting.
Odegaard is expected to come back into the Arsenal XI for the weekend. However, with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino waiting in the wings, the 27-year-old needs to up the ante, starting on Sunday.
