The most intriguing match of the Premier League season so far takes place today with the Emirates Stadium hosting Arsenal and Man United. With the international break looming, both teams will be determined to grab all three points and make their mark as Manchester City’s title-rivals-in-chief.
Mikel Arteta is without Thomas Partey this afternoon as Arsenal suffered a late injury blow to their preparations. Gabriel Magalhaes will hope it means he finally gets a start after curiously being dropped this season. The Gunners are unbeaten so far but a string of unconvincing displays, including conceding a late equaliser to Fulham last time out, has exposed a few cracks in Mikel Arteta’s new system.
United have also struggled this season without dropping too many points, and could give debuts to new signings Rasmus Hojlund and Sergio Reguilon. The £72million striker’s start under Erik ten Hag has been hotly anticipated following an injury delay. The visitors will hope he adds a vital clinical edge to a side very much missing one this term. Follow Arsenal vs Man United LIVE via Standard Sport’s matchday blog, featuring expert analysis from Dan Kilpatrick in north London!
Live updates
Arsenal make three changes
Arsenal make three changes from the 2-2 with Fulham, as injured Thomas Partey is replaced by Gabriel Magalhaes in the back line.
Gabriel moves to centre-back, alongside William Saliba, as Ben White goes to right-back and Oleksandr Zinchenko is on the left. Eddie Nketiah is also back in, replacing Leandro Trossard.
Manchester United XI: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Martial
Subs: Hojlund, Reguilon, Bayindir, Maguire, Evans, Pellistri, Gore, Mejbri, Garnacho
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Subs: Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Kiwior, Tomiyasu, Trossard, Jorginho, Vieira, Raya, Nelson
Man United XI
…and the visitors!
Arsenal XI
Here’s how Arsenal look.
New shirt numbers
Manchester United ahead of the game announced some new shirt numbers.
Rasmus Hojlund has been given the no.11 shirt after Mason Greenwood’s exit. New goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is the club’s new no.1 and young star Alejandro Garnacho swaps no.49 for no.17 worn now Fred has left.
All three should be in the squad today.
Reguilon revival?
Talking of Sergio Reguilon, his loan move from Tottenham has to be one of the more random transfers of a summer window full of them.
A complete outcast at Tottenham, having last played competitively for Spurs in May 2022, he was shipped out to Atletico Madrid last season and had a tough time of it under defensive-minded Diego Simeone.
So, what has Erik ten Hag seen in him (bar desperation)?
“He’s very experienced player, played for big clubs, already played a lot of La Liga and Premier League games, he has a very good background, he can play very intense football, we are happy,” the Manchester United boss said.
“We had a problem with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia injured, we responded well in that emergency situation.”
Team news talking points
Team news is coming up.
Gabriel Magalhaes will surely come in for Thomas Partey, but Takehiro Tomiyasu is available following his suspension for picking up a red card in that win at Palace, so he is an option. Could Kai Havertz lose his starting spot, with Fabio Vieira pushing him. And how about a start for Gabriel Jesus?
Will Erik ten Hag throw Rasmus Hojlund straight in? Can he trust that Sergio Reguilon is match fit to play? How will make up the defence?
So many questions and all will be answered in 27 minutes. What we do know, though, is that it’s not scarf weather in north London!
Odds
Arsenal are again odds-on to win at home today, which is a sign of the times.
- Arsenal: 4/6
- Draw: 9/4
- Man United: 11/4
Any hope for the visitors?
Hojlund ready for debut
Manchester United fans will hope to see Rasmus Hojlund for the first time today, and Erik ten Hag is convinced the £72million young striker has what it takes to become a star.
The 20-year-old is fit to make his debut at Arsenal on Sunday, almost a month after joining, and his manager is impressed by what he has seen in training.
“He didn’t even play games but now in the training sessions, he confirms the impression we had of him when we scouted him,” the United boss said. “We really intensely scouted him. He’s acting very good this week, very good spirit. He’s very motivated, of course, to start, to be in the team.
“He can’t wait and I think we did the right thing (waiting for his debut) but, of course, I would have appreciated it if it was from the first game on, but that was not the case. But now he is fit, we are happy, he will definitely strengthen the squad and give a very good impact on the team.”
He added: “He is brave and that’s enough. When he is brave and has belief, the rest will come.”
