Game Week 4 Predictions: Arsenal to beat Manchester United

Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford will go head to head again on Sunday. Who will come out tops? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 

Arsenal vs. Manchester United

Emirates Stadium

4:30pm

Arsenal has proven to be vulnerable at home, and that must warm the hearts of United fans when they travel to the Emirates to play against Arsenal on Sunday.

The Gunners have conceded in the first minute at home in three of their last nine home games; that counts for something. The slow start and the way they take their foot off the gas when they’re leading, thereby allowing opponents back into the game, remain a huge problem to be fixed.

Manchester United have had an indifferent start to the new season. Two hard-fought wins in three games and a poor loss at Tottenham mean Arsenal fans can also dream of a good result against Eric Ten Hag’s men on Sunday.

A 1-0 win over Wolves on the opening day doesn’t tell much; the visitors could have earned a point if the referee had called the obvious penalty at the death. The win over Nottingham Forest was fortuitous; a red card and a late penalty saved their blushes. They have to improve here.

Arsenal fans must have their hearts in their mouths at the moment with the news that Thomas Partey has been injured for three months. The Ghana international had to wait for the transfer window to slam shut before picking up a long-term injury.

United has injury worries too. Luke Shaw, Mason Mount, and Rafael Varane are all out injured, and Ten Hag has to find solutions. Sofyan Amrabat arrived on deadline day and could walk straight into the starting eleven.

Arsenal is expected to revert to their normal lineup of a back four that includes Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Maghalaes, and Alex Zinchenko. The experiment of Partey at right-back can rest now, and Kai Havertz can sit this one out.

Manchester United is expected to feature their new signing, Rasmus Hojlund. The Norwegian has yet to kick the ball for the Red Devils since his big-money move. All eyes will be on him as he tries to replicate the Erling Haaland energy.

Arsenal has enjoyed some beautiful results against Manchester United in recent seasons and would hope for that again on Sunday. With Manchester City running away at the top, you don’t want to fall off so soon.

Expect Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard to have a say in this game. Mikel Arteta will also do well to keep the lineup simple. United needs a result, and Arsenal also needs to keep the pressure at the top. It’s a game the neutral would love.

Verdict: Straight win for Arsenal