An image showing a general view of inside Old Trafford with the Manchester United and Arsenal crests layered over it in a central position.
Manchester United host Arsenal in the Premier League. (Image: Jan Kruger - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images.)
12:50Samuel Luckhurst
United's slide could continue
The rights holders did their usual schtick of replaying the memorable moments between Arsenal and United in the Premier League era, a vain effort to give the illusion that they are still rivals. They haven't been for 20 years.
From 2005 until 2022, Arsenal were not a serious side. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal were easy to play against during his final 13 years in management.
It was only midway through 2022 that Arsenal started to have the makings of a proper team and that is why they have come runners-up by five points and second points in the past two seasons. Arsenal will be kicking themselves that, with City out of the picture, they are so far behind Liverpool that the champions-elect resemble a mirage.
As for United, they have not challenged for the title since they last won it in 2013. They are the very opposite of serious. So much so that they could be 16th tomorrow evening.
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12:45George Smith
OPINION: How United should line-up vs Arsenal
Ahead of this afternoon's game at Old Trafford, our team of United writers have had their say on how they would like the Reds to line-up:
Samuel Luckhurst:
United have little room to manouevre with such a depleted squad. Ruben Amorim will no doubt pick Victor Lindelof but he has outstayed his welcome and is leaving in the summer. Ayden Heaven merits a full debut.
Casemiro should be saved for the Real Sociedad second leg (unless Manuel Ugarte is fit) and Toby Collyer was bright during his cameo in San Sebastian and United will need a robust midfield. There is merit in bringing Christian Eriksen back in as one of the playmakers as Rasmus Hojlund cannot just continue starting games without scoring.
Diogo Dalot needs a breather and United need a fresher face on the wing. Harry Amass is overdue a debut.
Tyrone Marshall:
This game just doesn't matter. It's completely irrelevant for United's season and its only function is to get in the way of the two biggest games of the season so far, at a time when Amorim's squad is stretched to breaking point. That's why it's time to be brave.
Amorim claimed in his pre-match press conference he has little room to rotate, but he does and he must. Lindelof and Heaven can start in defence alongside the youth of Leny Yoro. Dalot has to go again at wing-back, but play Amass on the other flank.
Casemiro has struggled in the Premier League but looks comfortable in Europe, so save him for Thursday. Collyer can come in alongside Bruno Fernandes. Eriksen is also getting a promotion to the team, with Jack Moorhouse handed his debut in the other No. 10 role.
I'm starting Hojlund purely to try and get him a goal and let him build on an encouraging performance on Thursday, but he gets an hour maximum before Chido Obi replaces him.
George Smith:
With Thursday night's game against Sociedad the bigger of the two at Old Trafford in the coming days, Amorim has to consider making changes, although he is not exactly spoilt for choice.
Heaven looked accomplished when he came off the bench against Fulham last weekend and deserves a full debut in the back-three alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Yoro. However, it would be no surprise to see Lindelof start.
As both Samuel and Tyrone have said, it would be sensible to save Casemiro (if Ugarte is still missing) for midweek and inject some energy into the midfield via Collyer. He was showing signs of promise prior to his recent muscle injury.
In attack, I would like to see Obi given the nod at the tip of the attack ahead of Hojlund, who is now 19 games without a goal. It would be somewhat poetic if Obi was to make his full debut for United against his former club and score.
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12:40Samuel Luckhurst
Protest to take place today
United supporters secured their greatest victory against the Glazers with the Super League protest in 2021. They were the angriest of the mobs that gathered outside stadiums in response to six Premier League clubs' treachery and the postponement of the home fixture with Liverpool, as well as the presence of militant fans at Carrington, undeniably unnerved the club.
The former Red Issue editor, JP O'Neill, wrote an erudite and excoriating piece on the Glazers, Sir Jim Ratcliffe this week. The Glazers have been in situ for almost 20 years and Sir Alex Ferguson's legacy at United will forever be tainted for his inaction back in 2005. Back in the present, things are worse than ever under the Floridian family that has siphoned off United for the best part of a quarter of a century. And still dense defenders like Tim Howard stick up for them.
Some of us are veterans of Old Trafford protests. The shutters came down before the Norwich home game in April 2022. The charged atmosphere outside and inside the stadium on the night of the Liverpool game in August 2022 contributed to the loudest roar I've heard at Old Trafford when Jadon Sancho put United 1-0 up.
For many protesting today, the result will be academic. The league season is a write-off and their intention is to ensure what happens off the pitch takes precedence.
It's a tall order, but it happened in 2021.
(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images.)