Manchester United and Arsenal Club Crests
The old Premier League rivals collide at the Emirates (Picture: Getty)
Arsenal and Manchester United both face being without key players when the old rivals meet at the Emirates this week.
After their sides enjoyed thumping weekend wins over West Ham and Everton respectively, Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim lock horns for the first time in the Premier League.
Thomas Partey made the journey across the capital but was not named on the bench as the Gunners sealed a thrilling 5-2 victory.
The midfielder was ruled out with a muscle injury with Mikel Merino another to miss out that evening due to a knee problem.
Arteta will provide a further update at his pre-match press conference this afternoon.
Gabriel Magalhaes, who was an injury doubt heading into that game on Saturday, opening the scoring in east London but was forced off at half-time. The Brazil international received a blow to the head from Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, looking dazed as he got back to his feet with Jakub Kiwior brought onto replace him.
Arteta confirmed the change was not concussion-related but a result of the injury he carried into the match, picked up in the 5-1 win over Sporting.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Thomas Partey of Arsenal arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on November 30, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Partey missed the 5-2 win over West Ham (Picture: Arsenal/Getty)
Jurrien Timber meanwhile is expected to continue at right-back with both Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu unavailable.
United meanwhile have shown signs of resurgence under Amorim but the Portuguese coach will be without Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo for the trip to north London.
Both players picked up their fifth bookings of the season in the 4-0 win over Everton, earning themselves an immediate one-match ban.
Summer signing Leny Yoro is an option to come in and replace the Argentine at the back after Amorim confirmed he will be part of the squad on Wednesday night.
The Frenchman has not played since suffering a fractured metatarsal in July but having built up his fitness at Carrington in recent weeks, is now closing in on his debut.
Manchester United Training Session
Yoro in contention to make his competitive debut (Picture: Getty)
Harry Maguire is also available again but Amorim might be tempted to turn to Luke Shaw to slot in on the left of his back three. The England international has come off the bench to occupy that role in all three of Amorim’s games in charge, another who is building up his fitness again persistent injury trouble.
There is also a dilemma up front with Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford all bagging a brace each in their last appearance.
How United could line up on Wednesday…
Hojlund was an unused substitute after his midweek double against Bodo/Glimt, likely rested on Sunday with the trip to Arsenal in mind.
Bruno Fernandes meanwhile was spotted nursing his ankle with an icepack after being replaced in the second-half against Everton but Amorim has dismissed any injury concerns over his skipper.
Predicted Arsenal XI vs Man Utd
Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Predicted Man Utd XI vs Arsenal
Onana, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Shaw, Diallo, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dalot, Rashford, Fernandes, Hojlund
Whhere to watch Arsenal vs Man Utd? Kick off time and TV channel
Arsenal vs Man Utd kicks off at 8:15pm on Wednesday 4 December.
The match is part of Amazon Prime’s midweek Premier League coverage, available to stream for subscribers.
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