Arsenal return to Premier League action on Sunday where they will face Michael Carrick’s Manchester United. 

The last meeting between these sides ended 1-0 to Arsenal at Old Trafford. Italian defender Calafiori got the goal. The Emirates has not been a happy hunting ground in the league for Manchester United, with their last league win against The Gunners coming back in December 2017. Antonio Valencia scored and Jesse Lingard scored a brace.

Arsenal come into this fixture off the back of a 3-1 win against Serie A leaders Inter Milan. Jesus scored a brace and Gyökeres scored late on to put the win beyond doubt. In their last Premier League outing, Mikel Arteta’s side drew 0-0 against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground. Despite dropping points, Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the table to 7 points, following Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford and Aston Villa’s 1-0 defeat at home to Everton. In continuation, since their last defeat, Arsenal have gone on an unbeaten run of 12 games, winning 9 and drawing 3, with 1 of those draws coming against Crystal Palace in the League Cup, where they won on penalties.

Manchester United come into this fixture off the back of a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in the Manchester Derby. Mbuemo and Dorgu got the goals. The Red Devils now sit in 5th place, 1 point below rivals Liverpool in 4th.

Arsenal have been handed a boost going into Sunday’s clash in N5. Defenders Calafiori and Hincapie have returned to full training with the first-team squad, which means Mikel Arteta has a fully fit squad at his disposal for the first time this season.

Earlier in the week, Manchester United confirmed that veteran midfielder Casemiro will depart in the summer. The Brazilian joined The Red Devils in 2022/23, and has so far featured in 146 games, scoring 21 goals.

Mikel Arteta ahead of Sunday:

“Well, obviously, Michael coming in will bring new ideas. Always, the intensity rises up. You could see that in the Manchester derby, the kind of behaviours and the game that they played, so we will expect a really tough match and we’ll adapt to that for sure. But we are at home and we know how important that game is for us.

You guys sell it so well, especially in Spain, because you could see the tension and the rivalry and those individual battles that were there as well that make the game really, really special. So, obviously, two massive clubs that have been fighting at the highest level for so many years and we want to try to have the best possible game to win it.”

Michael Carrick on Arsenal:

“We have got our ideas on what needs to be done and how we need to get there. Credit to Arsenal, they are in a really strong place for building a squad and recruitment. Mikel takes credit for that, he has done a fantastic job. We have our own ideas on what we need to do and what it is going to take get there and that is what we are working towards.

“I am looking forward to the game. It’s a big challenge. They are a very good team. It is pretty obvious to say that, they have so many strong points to their game. It is a big challenge. They are where they are for a reason in the Champions League, we are fully aware of that and not taking that lightly at all. We feel we are in a good place and we go there looking forward to the game. It is where we want to be, we want to be positive with that energy and enthusiasm but we know it is not going to be easy.”