Arsenal vs Manchester United: Match preview, betting tips and predictions

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang wheels away in celebration after firing Arsenal past Manchester United in the first leg at Old Trafford. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

Arsenal vs Manchester United
Emirates Stadium
6:30pm

Manchester United left their fans in bitter state with disgusting taste of defeat against bottom club Sheffield United on Wednesday and this fixture can’t come sooner enough for them to make amends.

The Red Devils went from the highest of highs by beating Liverpool to advance in the FA Cup to the lowest of lows by losing 2-1 at Old Trafford to Chris Wilder’s team who had only won once in the entirety of the season so far and their performance on the day didn’t deserve less than the result.

Arsenal have come out of the woods in sharp contrast to the current feeling among their opponents, they halted the rot of just one win in seven prior to their 3-1 success over Chelsea and have since gone unbeaten in the league but were dumped out of the FA Cup by Southampton.

Mikel Arteta had obviously sacrificed the FA Cup for league results by fielding weaker side against the Saints in the first of their double header before going on to beat them 3-1 in the league to move above them on the premier league table.

Arsenal are ticking, and that coincides with a change in style, the introduction of academy graduate, Emile Smith Rowe in place of Willian - who had failed to impress after signing from Chelsea has turned things around for the Gunners in more ways than one.

In the reverse fixture, Arsenal beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored from the spot after Paul Pogba impeded Kieran Tierney in the United area, it was Arsenal’s first win at Old Trafford in a very long time.

Arsenal do have doubts over a few players for this fixture, captain Aubameyang will be unavailable due to personal reasons and Tierney is a doubt after sitting out the Southampton win but Gabriel Martinelli should be available, however the fixture might come too soon for Martin Odegaard that just joined on loan from Real Madrid.

There are no new injury concerns for the hosts, fans will expect Edison Cavani to start ahead of Anthony Martial, the Frenchman failed to spark in the rare defeat to Sheffield and Victor Lindelof should replace Tuanzebe beside Harry Maguire.

Arsenal have enjoyed more victories than United in this fixture of late, winning three of the last four and the Gunners have the second best defense in the league this season, a huge contrast to what was obtainable in the past.

Manchester United are ten points clear of Arsenal going into this fixture, it will be a cracker, a game of maturity, patience and chances taken but United are the best away from home in the league this season, this is theirs to lose.