Manchester United vs Arsenal preview: Red Devils out to destroy Gunners’ title bid

Manchester United’s penultimate home game of the Premier League season brings title-chasers Arsenal to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag suffered his heaviest defeat in charge of the Red Devils on Monday as Crystal Palace brushed aside his side with a stunning 4-0 win at Selhurst Park.

Despite insisting he has no fear of being sacked, the Dutchman cannot afford another embarrassment after slipping to eighth in the table, two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United.

Kobbie Mainoo’s emergence is a rare bright spot this term, with the Premier League including the United wonderkid in their shortlist for the Young Player of the Season award.

Mainoo’s rise to stardom quickly made him a fan favorite with his string of standout performances, including a superb goal in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in April.

United will need their teenage prodigy at his best after Casemiro’s woeful display against Palace if they are to topple Arsenal.

The Gunners thrashed mid-table Bournemouth 3-0 last weekend to maintain a one-point lead over second-placed Manchester City, although the perennial champions have a game in hand.

Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford to drop points at Old Trafford, where they have lost back-to-back league encounters against Man Utd, conceding exactly three goals on both occasions.

Palace’s sumptuous performance earlier this week condemned Man Utd to their 13th league defeat of the season, their worst tally since the 1989/90 campaign.

While the championship looks like a lost cause, United could still salvage this disastrous year with the FA Cup, a title they coincidentally won in 1989/90.

Avenging a heartbreaking 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture in September would set them up well for their next clash against Man City, but the Red Devils’ defensive leaks cannot inspire much confidence.

Not only have United kept just two clean sheets in the Premier League since mid-December, but they have conceded at least once in their last nine competitive outings.

Arsenal’s free-scoring front line is well-placed to take advantage of United’s defensive woes as they bid to complete their first league double against the Red Devils since 2006/07.

However, the Gunners have managed just one triumph in their 16 top-flight visits to the Theater of Dreams since September 2006 (D5, L10), despite finding the net in their last nine (W1, D4, L4).

The visitors can be confident of winning four consecutive league games since losing to Aston Villa in mid-April, with three of those wins coming in a clean sweep.

Arsenal have outscored every other Premier League club on their travels this season, picking up 39 points on the road (W12, D3, D3).

According to ManUtd.com, Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford are back in training, but this contest will come too soon for the former, who last played for United in mid-March.

In addition to the Argentine centre-back, the Red Devils are without Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

Bruno Fernandes is not 100% fit but both players should make Ten Hag’s starting XI.

The visit of Arsenal will be without long-term absentee Jurrien Timber, but the rest of Arteta’s squad will land at Old Trafford.

Manchester United vs Arsenal potential line-ups

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Andre Onana; Diogo Dalot, Casemiro, Jonny Evans, Aaron Wan-Bissaka; Scott McTominay, Kobbie Mainoo; Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Rasmus Hojlund.

Arsenal (4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Takehiro Tomiyasu; Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard.