Game Week 34 Predictions: Arsenal and United to share spoils at the Emirates

Bukayo Saka and Bruno Fernandes would hope to outshine each other when they meet at the Emirates on Saturday, who will come out tops? (Photo...

Bukayo Saka and Bruno Fernandes would hope to outshine each other when they meet at the Emirates on Saturday, who will come out tops? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 Arsenal vs Manchester United

Emirates Stadium

12:30pm

Eddy Nketiah’s brace powered Arsenal to a 4-2 win over Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge Stadium and that result got fans believing again in the process after a depressing run of three straight losses.

Manchester United were mauled at Anfield by Liverpool, not a big surprise considering the gulf in class between the two clubs for few seasons now. The Red Devils confirmed the signing of Ajax manager, Erik Ten Hag on a three-year deal and he will take over from Ralf Rangnick in the summer.

Saturday will tell a lot of things, does Arsenal really have the nerves to stay in the top four race and bring it to the carpet at the end of May? Can Manchester United claw it back and prove they’re not a spent force? Will both sides settle for a draw and hand Spurs the advantage again?

Manchester United won the goal-fest in December with Cristiano Ronaldo’s double doing the magic, it was a game of many swings but the Portuguese legend settled it from the spot, the fixture is back on our plate and we can’t wait to feast.

Arsenal have just one job, win and move above Tottenham Hotspur and then heap the pressure on Antonio Conte’s men, they will also throw Manchester United out of the top four race completely because they would have created a six point buffer over the Red Devils and with a game in hand too.

For United, they need to beat Arsenal to go level on points with the Gunners and Spurs and then hope to pick things up from there, but they will have to do it without their captain, Harry Maguire who wouldn’t feature after receiving death threats following his recent performances.

Beyond Maguire, Manchester United will be without Paul Pogba who could have played his last game for the club, Fred and Luke Shaw but they can welcome Ronaldo, Scott McTominay and Rafael Varane back into the squad after they all missed the mauling at Anfield.

Arsenal might just be able to call on Takehiro Tomiyasu again after a long time out, Alexandre Lacazette is available but would fans prefer him to Nketiah that scored twice at Anfield? The lunchtime kickoff sets the tone for a frenetic weekend, we can’t wait.

Arsenal have only lost once to United in the last six between them but form and history play no part in this particular fixture, the question will always be… Who wants it more?

Verdict: Both teams to score