This fixture once was the benchmark for football in the Premier League. Now, little more than pride is on the line as, already in early March, the domestic campaigns carry little weight for both clubs.
Man United have had their worst season for decades. The winter was the first time that they had been outside of the top ten in the **Premier League**era at Christmas and the camp continue to underwhelm.
Ruben Amorim attempts to lead a revolution with his 3-4-3 system: it has yielded little reward so far. The team languish in a lowly position of 14th— almost as close to the bottom three as the top four.
The side seriously struggled under Erik ten Hag for most of 2024 but at least lifted the FA Cup to briefly pause their pain. Now, even that outlet has evaporated. After a penalty shootout triumph over the Gunners, Fulham beat the Red Devils in the fifth round of the competition. Only the Europa League is on the line and a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad situates their fate in a tense balance.
**Arsenal**aggressively approached their away day, smashing seven strikes past PSV to wrap up a place in the quarter-final of the Champions League. It was a thrashing to lift the mood around a club that had heightened hopes for the season and are likely to fall short of the mark for the third year in a row.
Two blanks in front of goal against West Ham United and Nottingham Forest forced fans to accept the league is Liverpool’s to lose. Their best bets of silverware died after FA Cup and Carabao Cup eliminations earlier this year. Trophy talk relies on breaking new ground on the elite European stage.
That is a sobering reality for Mikel Arteta, but the 42-year-old is certainly in charge of the favourites for the three points. A win would extend the team's longest winning run against the Red Devils in the record books to five fixtures. Arteta also takes charge of his 200th **Premier League**outing and boasts the fourth highest tally of triumphs (118) of any manager’s first double century in the competition.
Manchester United
Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, and Amad Diallo are a long way from repping the Red Devils.
Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are also absent, though they attempt to be back before May finishes.
Manuel Ugarte and Harry Maguire missed the trip to Spain in midweek due to minor knocks from the FA Cup exit a week ago. When asked about their availability, Amorim answered "I do not know."
Patrick Dorgu did not play in that tie as he has a three match ban for a tackle on Omari Hutchinson that led to a red card. That means Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui is likely to fill in for him as the left wing-back and Victor Lindelof looks set to start a league fixture for the first time this campaign.
Arsenal
It is the same state of play for the Gunners in their threadbare offense. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are on the mend from their hamstring injuries. Gabriel Jesus (ACL) and Kai Havertz(hamstring) miss out for the rest of the season, so more minutes should go to Mikel Merino upfront.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was lucky not to see his second red card in less than a fortnight at PSV. He was absent from the squad at the City Ground as he served a suspension following his dismissal in the defeat to the Hammers. But he will be available to be an active part of the plans for this fixture.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is taking a long stint to heal from his knee surgery. Ben White will want to build more match fitness upon his return, but Jurrien Timber takes the spot as right back for the moment.
Likely Line-ups
Manchester United
Onana; Yoro, de Ligt, Lindelof; Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Dalot; Zirkzee, Hojlund, Garnacho
Arsenal
Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly; Ødegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Key Players
Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes
Amorim has been a strong advocate for rest and rotation in his four months as the manager. But there is one stalwart of the side who has hardly been benched and has the utmost trust of his compatriot.
Bruno Fernandes bid farewell to Sporting before the arrival of Amorim at his old club and some suggested he would be a casualty from the fallout of the sacking of ten Hag. In truth, the Portuguese pair have been on the same wavelength at Old Trafford as the captain kept a hold of the armband.
His petulance persists as a source of frustration for some observers, but the 30-year-old is still one of the brighter lights in a difficult context. His diesel engine and range of distribution have helped him to drop deeper in midfield for Amorim. Yet, he still has recorded 8 goals and assists from 14 games in the new year and put the Red Devils ahead with a sweet finish when the teams met in the FA Cup.
Fernandes is not everyone's cup of tea, but he will wish to lead by example on Sunday afternoon.
Arsenal – Declan Rice
Since he moved north London, Declan Rice has helped the team in ways that go far beyond his skills as a destroyer. Those traits could be the difference that disrupts their opponents in a tight encounter.
Rice reminded spectators of his all action qualities in the middle of the park in midweek. The combinations on the often weaker left side sparked thanks to his movement ahead of the ball and asserted how he can be a threat when the spaces are a little bigger to break into the final third.
His ball striking from set-pieces has also been an integral tool within the Arsenal armoury. He assisted one of the two goals that the Gunners got from a corner at the Emirates Stadium in the last league meeting between the two teams. The FA Cup clash conveyed how the hosts will be wiser to that type of damage but there is little that a defence can do if the quality of the crossing is at a high level.
Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The game will take place at Man United’s ground: Old Trafford.
What time is kick-off?
The match will start at 16:30 GMT on Sunday, 9 March.
How can I watch?
Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch the action on Sky Sports Main Event.