football.london reporters pick their Arsenal starting XIs to face Manchester United on Sunday in the Premier League
12:00, 24 Jan 2026
Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres
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Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres are both pushing to start for Arsenal(Image: )
Arsenal renew their long-standing rivalry with Manchester United on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium. Yes, Michael Carrick's men are currently light years behind Mikel Arteta's Premier League title challengers but this is one of the great English rivalries and that will always be the case. In bad news for United, Arsenal are now close to being back to full strength after Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie returned to training on Friday. It means Arteta has plenty to ponder where his starting XI is concerned and here, Chief Arsenal correspondent Tom Canton and Football.London reporter Ryan Taylor have a crack at picking their side to face United.
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Tom Canton - Chief Arsenal Correspondent
After the midweek demolition of Inter Milan, the time has come to reward Gabriel Jesus with a start in the game this weekend and take the place of Viktor Gyokeres.
He scored twice in San Siro and produced the poacher’s edge that the Gunners have been missing for a while.
While the questions over the forward line are worthy, elsewhere, there is little need for change from the team that played last in the league. Many were given valuable rest in Milan.
Calafiori and Hincapie are pushing to return soon, but throwing them in here could come too early.
Timber, therefore, remains at left-back and Ben White comes into the right-back role with a defence set to be tested by Bryan Mbeumo.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Man United : Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Jesus, Trossard.
Gabriel Jesus
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Tom Canton wants to see Gabriel Jesus keep his place in the side following his Inter brace(Image: Getty)
Ryan Taylor - Football Reporter
I'm with TC - just because there's a chance Hincapie and Calafiori might be available, it doesn't mean you should throw them straight back in.
Timber is more than capable of slotting in at left-back and White has rebuilt some nice momentum of late.
In my view, the majority of the XI picks itself with Raya, Saliba and Magalhaes completing the back five. In midfield, Zubimendi, Rice and Odegaard should all start. The biggest dilemma is in attack and who leads the line out of Jesus and Gyokeres.
On merit Jesus should really start but can he start two games in a row? I'd like to see Gyokeres given the chance to ruffle the feathers of Maguire and Martinez with Jesus coming on for the final 30 minutes.
Two seasons ago, he helped kill United off in this fixture late in the game when he struck a brilliant goal deep into stoppage time.
Saka and Trossard are must-picks on the wing but I wouldn't be afraid to unleash Madueke and Martinelli from the bench. Taylor's Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.
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