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Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 21
Jan 30, 2021 at 5.30pm UK
Emirates Stadium
Manchester United logo

Arsenal
0 - 0
Man Utd


Soares (13')
FT

Wan-Bissaka (51'), Pogba (73'), Maguire (76')

How Arsenal could line up against Manchester United

Sports Mole looks at how Arsenal could line up for Saturday's Premier League showdown with Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal welcome old rivals Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday looking to continue a resurgence which has lifted them back into the top half of the table.

Only Manchester City have picked up more points over the last six games, with the Gunners making it five wins and no defeats during that spell courtesy of a 3-1 victory at Southampton in midweek.

Arsenal's resurrection of their campaign has seen European qualification become a target once again, but this weekend they take on a Man United side flying high in second place.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Mikel Arteta could set his side up for the contest.



Possible ARS XI vs. MNU

Out: None
Doubtful: Thomas Partey (muscle), Emile Smith Rowe (muscle), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (personal), Kieran Tierney (leg), Martin Odegaard (fitness), Dani Ceballos (calf), Pablo Mari (calf)

> Click here for Arsenal's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Arsenal will hand late fitness tests to a number of players ahead of this one, while they are also hopeful that captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be back available.

The Gabon international has missed the last two games in order to help care for his unwell mother, and he remains a major doubt for this game.

Arteta confirmed that the situation is now "looking better", but was less forthcoming over whether Aubameyang had left the country and would therefore face quarantine rules, leaving his availability shrouded in a certain degree of mystery.

Aubameyang's presence would likely be missed considering he has netted four goals in his last five games against Man United, including the winner in the reverse fixture at the beginning of November.

Arsenal fans will also have to wait to discover the extent of the injuries suffered by Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe, both of whom limped off with muscle discomfort against Southampton in midweek.

Arteta put that down to fatigue and so it would not be a surprise to see either or both players miss out this weekend, but the magnitude of the game could take precedent and lead to both being included.

New signing Martin Odegaard provides a readymade alternative to Smith Rowe, although Arteta is likely to exercise caution over his introduction to the team after his arrival on loan from Real Madrid, and so a place on the bench could be more likely here.

There are also question marks over the fitness of Kieran Tierney, Dani Ceballos and Pablo Mari, the latter two of whom are expected back in training in the coming days and may therefore fall just short for this match.

Bukayo Saka has established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet for Arsenal now, with his goal against Southampton in midweek seeing him become just the second English teenager to score in back-to-back Premier League games for Arsenal, following in the footsteps of Ashley Cole.

Indeed, Saka has now been directly involved in seven league goals this season - the most by any teenager in the division, and the most by an Arsenal teen since Cesc Fabregas in 2006-07.

Alexandre Lacazette has also begun to rediscover his scoring touch, with his goal against Southampton seeing him reach double figures for the season.

> Click here to see how Manchester United could line up for this contest


Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on January 23, 2021
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


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