On Sunday, 14th-placed Manchester United will clash with second-placed Arsenal in what promises to be a high-intensity Premier League showdown at Old Trafford.
Nolan James Mar 9
Manchester United and Arsenal have already faced off twice this season, each securing a victory. Arsenal claimed a 2-0 win in their Premier League clash on December 4, with set-piece goals from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba sealing the victory.
In the FA Cup, Manchester United had the upper hand, winning via a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Bruno Fernandes put United ahead early in the second half, but Gabriel found an equalizer soon after Diogo Dalot was sent off in the 61st minute.
United’s Premier League season has been disappointing, with little left to fight for but pride. Sitting 10 points behind seventh-placed Bournemouth and 16 points clear of relegation, their chances of European qualification look slim.
Cup competitions have also been unkind to the Red Devils. They were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the quarter-finals by Tottenham (4-3) and suffered a shocking FA Cup exit to Fulham on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Fifth Round.
Their best hope for redemption lies in the UEFA Europa League. They remain unbeaten in the competition and head into the second leg of their Round of 16 tie against Real Sociedad after a 1-1 draw in Spain.
Arsenal entered the season with high expectations but now find themselves 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand. Their primary goal will be to finish the season strongly and see where they stand in the final table.
In cup competitions, the Gunners failed to reach the League Cup final, losing 4-0 on aggregate to Newcastle in the semi-finals. They also suffered an embarrassing FA Cup defeat to United.
The Champions League remains a possible but challenging path to silverware. After finishing third in the group stage, Arsenal bounced back with an emphatic 7-1 win over PSV in the Round of 16. However, tougher tests against the likes of Real Madrid or Liverpool could await them if they progress further.
United were held to a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad on Thursday, with Joshua Zirkzee’s goal canceled out by a controversial penalty converted by Mikel Oyarzabal.
Before that, they crashed out of the FA Cup against Fulham on penalties after another 1-1 draw. This result came just days after they scraped past Ipswich Town in a 3-2 victory. Other recent results include a 2-2 draw with Everton and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tottenham.
Arsenal’s 7-1 thrashing of PSV in midweek was a much-needed confidence booster, with goals from Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard (2), Leandro Trossard, and Riccardo Calafiori.
However, before that dominant display, the Gunners had struggled, drawing 0-0 with Nottingham Forest and suffering back-to-back defeats against West Ham (1-0) and Newcastle (2-0). Their only victory in that stretch came in a 2-0 away win over Leicester City.
Manchester United and Arsenal have historically played tight matches at Old Trafford, where Arsenal has won just five Premier League games. However, one of those victories came last season when Kai Havertz scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.
United’s home form has been shaky, with six wins, one draw, and seven losses in 14 matches. Arsenal, meanwhile, have been strong on the road, boasting the second-best away record in the league with 26 points from 14 matches.
Interestingly, all five of Arsenal’s Premier League wins at Old Trafford have come via a 1-0 scoreline—a trend that could well continue this Sunday.
