Arsenal host Manchester United this afternoon in the big match of the Premier League weekend. The Gunners are unbeaten after three matches and are aiming to jump up the table and keep the pressure on league leaders Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s summer signings, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, are still adapting to playing in this new team with the manager trying to implement a more offensive-minded approach without sacrificing defensive balance. So far, Arsenal have had mixed results and they may need to fall back onto last season’s gameplans when facing Manchester United today.
For their part, United have had an indifferent start to the season. Two scratchy wins and a defeat to Spurs leave them just inside the top half of the table but they were busy on transfer deadline day with both incomings and outgoings. Erik ten Hag’s need to improve quickly, particularly in these bigger fixtures, so the added reinforcements of Sofyan Amrabat, Jonny Evans and Sergio Reguilon could prove key to their success this term.
Follow all the action from the Emirates Stadium, get all the latest football odds and the latest offers and tips ahead of Arsenal against Man Utd right here:
Arsenal vs Manchester United
Arsenal host Manchester United in the Premier League
29’ GOAL! – Odegaard guides in Arsenal’s equaliser (ARS 1-1 MUN)
27’ GOAL! – Rashford smashes United into the lead (ARS 0-1 MUN)
13’ CHANCE! – Havertz misfires from close range (ARS 0-0 MUN)
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Man Utd XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Arsenal FC 1 – 1 Manchester United FC
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United (Odegaard, ‘29)
16:59 , Ben Fleming
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Manchester United (Rashford, ‘27)
16:57 , Ben Fleming
From out of nowhere, United lead at the Emirates. Eriksen intercepts a sloppy pass before driving up the pitch. The Dane picks out a lovely through ball to find Rashford and from there, the England forward does the rest.
He cuts inside, bends it around two Arsenal defenders and Ramsdale into the far post.
Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
16:52 , Ben Fleming
22 mins: Halfway through the first half and United are still yet to register a shot on goal. Five for Arsenal but, crucially, none on target.
Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
16:49 , Ben Fleming
18 mins: Arsenal continue to have the lion’s share of the chances in the early goings. Odegaard has a slither of space around the edge of the box but his shot is quickly closed down.
Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
16:45 , Ben Fleming
13 mins: CHANCE! That’s really messy from United at the back and it gifts Havertz a gilt-edged chance in the box. A miscued clearance lands a the feet of the German but he misfires with his left foot from close range and the away side can clear.
Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
16:38 , Ben Fleming
7 mins: A calmer few moments after those early chances from Arsenal. it’s a hot day in North London and that may well play a factor as the game wears on. Right now, United seem in no rush as they patiently probe in possession.
Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
16:34 , Ben Fleming
3 mins: Moments later, Arsenal have a corner which they take short. Martinelli shimmies through on goal but it’s a tight angle and the ball is forced out for a goal-kick.
Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
16:32 , Ben Fleming
2 mins: A bright start from Arsenal as Martinelli surges down the left. The Brazillian looks for Nketiah inside the box but his cross is just behind the striker and cleared away.
Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United
16:31 , Ben Fleming
KICK-OFF! United get us under way in the first half as the sun beams down on the Emirates.
Kick off moments away!
16:29 , Ben Fleming
The players are out of the tunnel and we are moments away from getting this crunch fixture underway!
Sofyan Amrabat ‘will put everything’ into playing for Manchester United
16:20 , Mike Jones
Sofyan Amrabat plans to bring energy to Manchester United after joining from Fiorentina until June 2024, subject to international clearance and registration requirements.
The PA news agency understands United have paid a 10million euros (£8.6m) loan fee for Amrabat, with the season-long deal including the option to trigger a permanent move.
If that option is taken, Fiorentina will receive a 20m euros (£17.1m) transfer fee and up to 5m euros (£4.3m) in potential add-ons.
Sofyan Amrabat ‘will put everything’ into playing for Manchester United
Arsenal vs Man Utd
16:15 , Mike Jones
Marcus Rashford was directly involved in four of Manchester United’s five league goals against the Gunners last season.
(Action Images via Reuters)
Arsenal vs Man Utd
16:10 , Mike Jones
should he score today, Bukayo Saka would become the first Arsenal player to score in four consecutive Premier League appearances against Manchester United.
(AP)
Arsenal vs Man Utd
16:05 , Mike Jones
Bruno Fernandes has scored three goals in his last five Premier League appearances for Man Utd, having scored just once in the previous 15.
(REUTERS)
Arsenal vs Man Utd
16:00 , Mike Jones
Manchester United have won on only one of their last 10 top-flight visits to London (three draws, six defeats). That victory was a 2-1 triumph at Fulham last November.
Meanwhile, 12 of the last 16 top-flight goals Arsenal have conceded at the Emirates have been scored in the second half, but three of the other four have been scored in the opening minute of the game.
Mikel Arteta hails Eddie Nketiah’s fight to play for England after first call-up
15:55 , Mike Jones
Mikel Arteta praised Eddie Nketiah’s fight to be in the picture to play for England after the Arsenal striker earned his first senior call-up.
Nketiah made the cut in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and a friendly in Scotland.
The 24-year-old is England’s all-time record goalscorer at under-21 level but has yet to be given his chance in the senior ranks.
But that opportunity could come in the next couple of weeks and Arteta believes it would be just reward for the efforts of the Arsenal forward.
Mikel Arteta hails Eddie Nketiah’s fight to play for England after first call-up
Arsenal vs Manchester United
15:50 , Mike Jones
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 22 home Premier League matches against United teams (with 19 wins and three draws), facing Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and West Ham in that run without losing.
Arsenal vs Manchester United
15:45 , Mike Jones
Manchester United have won six of their last seven Premier League games but they can lose both of their opening two away fixtures of a league campaign for the first time since the 1973-74 top-flight season, in which they were relegated.
Will they beat Arsenal today or face another loss away from home?
Arsenal vs Man Utd
15:40 , Mike Jones
Arsenal have lost just two of their last 24 Premier League home games with 18 wins and four draws but the Gunners have kept only four clean sheets in their last 26 home league games.
(REUTERS)
Arsenal vs Man Utd team changes
15:36 , Mike Jones
Mikel Arteta makes three changes to the Arsenal team that drew with Fulham last time out. Thomas Partey and Jakub Kiwior drop out of the back line with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel coming in. Eddie Nketiah stops up top ahead of Leandro Trossard.
There’s just one change for Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United with Victor Lindelof coming in to replace the injured Raphael Varane.
Arsenal vs Man Utd line-ups
15:33 , Mike Jones
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Man Utd XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Arsenal vs Manchester United
15:25 , Mike Jones
Manchester United have lost five of their last nine top-flight meetings with Arsenal (won two, drawn two). The home team has scored three goals in each of the last four league games between these two teams.
Can Arsenal repeat that stat today?
Pre-match thoughts from Mikel Arteta
15:20 , Mike Jones
Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, gave his thoughts about taking on Manchester United this afternoon saying:
“We know the history between the two clubs and the games that we had in the past. They were a really good example so it’s going to be a really competitive match and a big battle on Sunday. Obviously we want to come away from that with three points.
“We all want to win games, we all want to play the best possibly way. That’s not going to dictate but it gives you momentum and belief.
“Before the international break, it’s very important to finish well and win your game and go into September with another block of games on a high.”
Erik ten Hag tips Rasmus Hojlund to have ‘very good impact’ at Manchester United
15:15 , Mike Jones
Erik ten Hag is convinced Rasmus Hojlund has the quality, confidence and bravery to flourish at Manchester United as the summer signing prepares to make his debut.
The Old Trafford giants have needed a striker for some time and plumped for potential rather than the proven Harry Kane, who instead left Tottenham for perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
United signed talented Hojlund at the start of August in a £64million deal that could reach £72million, but a back issue has prevented him featuring in the first three Premier League matches of the season.
Erik ten Hag tips Rasmus Hojlund to have ‘very good impact’ at Manchester United
Ten Hag previews game against Arsenal
15:10 , Mike Jones
Erik ten Hag also spoke about how he is looking forward to an attacking game this afternoon and hopes his team have what it takes to defeat Arsenal.
“I think with their style and their system it’s quite clear and they did very well already last season, we were impressed,” said the United boss,
“But we have seen we can play good against them and we’re really looking forward [to it] because probably [it is] one of the most important games in the Premier League.
“I think everyone is looking forward [to it] and, as I said, both teams have an attacking style so it’s going to be a great game. The audience in the stadium and at home before the television definitely will be the biggest winners.
“But of course, we want and we have to win this game.”
Erik ten Hag on ‘important’ comeback against Nottingham Forest
15:05 , Mike Jones
Manchester United completed a fine comeback in their last Premier League outing by coming from two goals behind to defeat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in a result that manager Erik ten Hag believes will be important for the team going forward.
“I think it was an important marker in the season,” he said, “The season is only in the third game but definitely it was because [it was] such a comeback [that] really gave good team spirit and such a comeback will give a boost to the belief in the team which is on the way and making improvement in the character and making improvement in the belief that even when you are down, when you are losing, that you can always turn around a game and that will help us.”
Arsenal vs Manchester United
15:00 , Mike Jones
Arsenal have won four and drawn one of their last five home league games against Man Utd, including the last two.
The Gunners could win three home league matches in a row against the Red Devils for the first time since between 1988 and 1991.
Manchester United complete loan deal for World Cup star Sofyan Amrabat
14:55 , Mike Jones
Manchester United have signed Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina as they made the Morocco midfielder their fourth signing of deadline day and their seventh of the summer.
United will pay a €10m loan fee to the Serie A club with an option to buy Amrabat next summer for a further €20m plus €5m in add-ons, meaning he could cost them £30m.
Manager Erik ten Hag is reunited with Amrabat, who played for him at Utrecht and who has been a target for United for much of the summer.
The 27-year-old had missed Fiorentina’s Conference League play-off against Rapid Vienna and was training alone as he tried to engineer a move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United complete loan deal for World Cup star
Arsenal vs Man Utd prediction
14:50 , Mike Jones
On paper the two teams look fairly balanced despite Manchester United’s growing injury list. Home advantage could come into play though.
The Gunners should just about see off their rivals thanks to greater firepower in the final third.
Arsenal 2-1 Man United.
Arsenal vs Man Utd predicted line-ups
14:45 , Mike Jones
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Partey, White, Saliba, Tomiyasu, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Man Utd XI: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Amrabat, Fernandes, Antony, Rashford, Martial
What is the early team news?
14:35 , Mike Jones
Arsenal are without long-term absentee Jurrien Timber after he suffered an early season injury. Eddie Nketiah might also miss out, despite his first England call-up, but Gabriel Jesus is on the comeback trail. Takehiro Tomiyasu is back from suspension.
Man United are missing new signing Mason Mount, left-back Luke Shaw, central defender Raphael Varane and striker Rasmus Hojlund, among others.
Deadline day additions Sergio Reguilon and Altay Bayindir will perhaps have to wait for involvement from the start, but Sofyan Amrabat might be put straight in.
How to watch Arsenal vs Manchester United?
14:30 , Mike Jones
The Gunners host the Red Devils at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday 3 September with kick-off set for 4:30pm BST.
This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event and Ultra HD. It will be streamed for subscribers live on the Sky Go app.
If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Good afternoon!
13:13 , Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Arsenal vs Manchester United. The Gunners play host this afternoon as they hope to close the gap on league leaders Manchester City by defeating United at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal finished second in the Premier League last season and are hoping to go one better this time around but they’ll need to win difficult clahses such as this one to do so.
Manchester United are also in need of a win after a scratchy start to the season sees them hovering in 10th after yesterday’s fixtures. Victory over Arsenal would propel Erik ten Hag’s men above the Gunners and keep them in the hunt for a title challenge ahead of the international break.
Kick off for this one is at 4.30pm and we’ll have all the build-up before then so stick around.
