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Arsenal are next on Manchester United’s fixture list with Old Trafford set to host Arteta’s Gunners in the English Premier League tomorrow afternoon.
A clash that used to be the highlight of the football calendar, this fixture has lost importance somewhat in recent years.
That’s because both sides have failed to simultaneously compete for the title.
Either United have been in the title race and Arsenal have been nowhere to be seen or vice-versa.
For tomorrow, it’s The Red Devils who are going into it as the far inferior side, closer to the relegation zone than they are even the UEFA Champions League places.
With that said, most have The Gunners as the early favourites for the tie.
That’s despite the game being away from home for the London side.
Manchester United have been incredibly poor at home this season and Arsenal have been strong away from home.
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However, if Mikel Arteta’s side are going to come away with the victory, they’ll have to overcome the absence of 5 key players expected to be unavailable due to injury.
Injury setbacks have plagued Arsenal’s title push this season and allowed the Arne Slot’s Liverpool team to extend their lead beyond anyone’s reach.
Arsenal’s hopes of a Premier League title have effectively ended after Arteta’s skeleton crew struggled to keep pace with the league leaders and tomorrow’s game will be a chance for United to gain some much needed points for themselves.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu will all miss tomorrow’s game due to injuries of varying types and severities.
Both Saka and Martinelli have suffered hamstring injuries but are expected to return by April.
Saka has undergone surgery after completely rupturing his hamstring while playing against Crystal Palace back in December, and Martinelli picked up a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s game against Newcastle in early February.
Kai Havertz is also recovering from a hamstring injury, one he acquired during Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai in the winter, but will not be back playing again this season.
Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu are long term injuries and are also unavailable for the game.
Those absences mean that there’s a lot of attacking talent missing for The Gunners.
Ruben Amorim’s side, who have been struggling to score themselves this season, will hope that they have a chance to keep a clean sheet against their opponents tomorrow afternoon.
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