Mikel Arteta will likely name an unchanged starting lineup when Arsenal and Manchester United face off at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Arsenal will aim to keep the fading Premier League title hopes alive when they lock horns with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday evening. Mikel Arteta has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has served his suspension in the Premier League, and the youngster should retain his spot in the starting lineup. So, Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Gabriel Martinelli (thigh), Gabriel Jesus (knee), and Kai Havertz (hamstring) are the only players on the sidelines.
However, Saka and Martinelli should return soon, and they will likely be available after the international break. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Arteta did not provide a fitness update on any player. However, the Spanish tactician discussed Martin Odegaard’s importance to his squad.
The Arsenal manager said, “When you have so much data and are looking at certain aspects of the game, that cannot reflect just the performance of a player, but it’s what you’re talking about in that phase and then still arriving in great positions in great situations to provide assists and score a goal and he’s proven that many times. The other day was a very good example of that.”
Arteta also discussed Lewis-Skelly’s progress, saying, “I think it’s about dominating the situation. Control the situation, you need to dominate what space you’re defending. What is the level of exposure that you have? Is the opponent facing you or not facing you?”
The Arsenal boss continued, “What is the probability to win that ball, and when do you have to commit to certain duels? Then you have to apply defensive principles that are very clear to have, most of the time, the best possibility to win the ball and not get exposed. If you don’t do that, then there will be problems.”
David Raya will take his spot between the sticks, with the away side lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him against Manchester United on Sunday. The backline should feature Jurren Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Myles Lewis-Skelly. So, Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori will miss out.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, and Declan Rice. The latter will provide the creative impetus from the middle of the park, while Rice will be the engine for his team. Finally, Mikel Merino should start as the makeshift striker, with Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta. So, Raheem Sterling will be a backup option on the bench.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard