**The first Social Media Derby of the season takes place on Wednesday night as Arsenal welcome Manchester United to the Emirates.**
This fixture was once an unmissable event when Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils duelled Arsene Wenger's slick Gunners, but the encounter has doubtlessly dwindled in on-pitch significance over the past decade. However, chronically online supporters have ensured the battle remains fierce via the medium of Elon Musk's _X_.
Arsenal enter the contest in what some continental coaches would call a 'good moment'. They've won their previous three having rediscovered their attacking potency following the return of captain Martin Odegaard.
Amid their current free-scoring run, the Gunners made light work of Ruben Amorim's former club, Sporting CP. Amorim takes charge of his fourth game in charge of United and has enjoyed an unbeaten start to his tenure. Wednesday, however, will be a considerable step up in difficulty from Ipswich Town, Bodo/Glimt, and Everton.
Here's our preview of Arsenal vs Manchester United in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Arsenal have been free scoring since the November break / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
Arsenal vs Man Utd kicks off on Wednesday 4 December at 20:15 BST.
Arsenal have won the previous three meetings and secured a rare victory at Old Trafford on their most recent outing. There's been plenty of drama the last two times the two grand clubs have faced off at the Emirates, with Arteta's men leaving it late on both occasions to claim victory.
**Date**
**Result**
**Competition**
12 May 2024
Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal
Premier League
3 September 2023
Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd
Premier League
22 January 2023
Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd
Premier League
4 September 2022
Man Utd 3-1 Arsenal
Premier League
23 April 2022
Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd
Premier League
**Amazon Prime** are back! The popular streaming service will be broadcasting every Premier League Gameweek 14 fixture in midweek, including Arsenal vs Man Utd on Wednesday.
**Peacock** is your avenue for those in the USA, while the **Fubo Sports Network** is broadcasting the fixture in Canada.
[Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino missed out on Saturday](https://paininthearsenal.com/thomas-partey-injury-update-why-arsenal-midfielder-miss-west-ham-win) due to muscle and knee injuries respectively. Whether the pair will be fit to feature against United is unclear.
Jorginho filled in ably for Partey against West Ham and Arteta won't hesitate in starting the Italian international again if the Ghanaian remains absent. It seems less likely for Merino to play given that he didn't even travel with the squad at the weekend.
Gabriel Martinelli could return to the XI and replace Leandro Trossard. [Gabriel was withdrawn at half-time in east London](https://paininthearsenal.com/mikel-arteta-explains-gabriel-was-taken-off-half-time-west-ham-win) but his latest knock will not rule him out of Wednesday's game.
_**Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Man Utd**__: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli._
United were dealt a double blow during their 4-0 thumping of Everton on Sunday as Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season which means they're suspended for Wednesday's game.
Luke Shaw will step in for Martinez on the left side of Amorim's back three, while Manuel Ugarte and Christian Eriksen are contenders to partner Casemiro in Mainoo's absence.
Leny Yoro could earn his first minutes of the season having recovered from a broken foot, but the young French defender will likely feature off the bench. Harry Maguire has also returned from a muscle injury, but Victor Lindelof is set to miss out again due to a hamstring problem.
_**Predicted Man Utd lineup vs Arsenal**__: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Shaw; Amad, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dalot; Fernandes, Zirkzee; Rashford._
If only this was Erik ten Hag's United...
The arrival of Amorim undoubtedly means this is a trickier tie for Arsenal compared to what it would've been had Erik ten Hag still been in charge. The former Sporting CP coach is superb, but his system is not bullet proof, and I suspect Arteta will be able to expose a few chinks in the armour.
Given how well the Gunners have performed as of late, the Emirates should be pumping for United's fixture and this group of players will respond to a fervent atmosphere. Arsenal win.