Arsenal visit Manchester United in their first match of the new Premier League season on Sunday afternoon.
The Gunners will be looking to hit the ground running ahead of a gruelling opening to the new campaign, which includes games against Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle before the end of September.
Arsenal beat Athletic Club 3-0 at the Emirates in their final match of pre-season on Saturday, courtesy of goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.
Gyokeres and fellow new signing Martin Zubimendi both looked excellent for the North Londoners in that clash against the Basque side, and Mikel Arteta will hope to integrate the two new signings into their first competitive game for Arsenal against United.
Theo Walcott makes Manchester United vs Arsenal prediction
Arsenal were held by United in this fixture last season, in a game which saw Ruben Amorim’s team successfully frustrate Arteta’s outfit by sitting deep.
However, the Gunners were severely depleted in the forward areas at that point, starting Mikel Merino up front, with Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard either side of the Spaniard.
This time around, Arteta will have the likes of Gyokeres, Havertz and Saka to call upon, as well as exciting new additions Zubimendi and Noni Madueke.
This should give Arsenal the edge over a United side that finished 15th last term in the Premier League.
Ex-Gunners winger Theo Walcott is confident that his former team will indeed come up trumps in the north-west.
Speaking on the Overlap US, Walcott predicted Arsenal to beat their old rivals 1-0.
“I will go for a 1-0 win for Arsenal,” Walcott said.
“And I’m going for a Martinelli goal.
“I think they’re going to expose United’s domination of having the ball, and I just think it’ll be a break goal and Arsenal’s defence is pretty solid.”
Gabriel Martinelli has frustrated fans during pre-season, although the Brazilian is likely to start at Old Trafford, with Madueke not yet fully fit and Leandro Trossard recovering from an injury.
Despite the 24-year-old’s poor form, Walcott’s prediction isn’t too egregious, given the space that United will likely leave down their left-hand side and how Martinelli is capable of exposing that on the counter-attack.
Arsenal have to be wary of Manchester United’s new signings
United have strengthened their squad as well this summer.
While not addressing some of their key issues in midfield, the Red Devils have significantly bolstered their forward line.
Matheus Cunha has arrived from Wolves, Bryan Mbeumo has signed from Brentford for in excess of £70 million, while Benjamin Sesko has joined from RB Leipzig.
It remains to be seen whether Sesko will be fit in time to face the team that chased him for a large portion of this summer, although the Gunners will no doubt be wary of what he can produce.
Walcott thinks Arsenal should have signed Mbeumo a few years ago, and he’s arguably the player Arteta’s team needs to be most aware of.
The tricky wide man scored 20 Premier League goals last season and has the ability to trouble the Gunners’ often vulnerable left-hand side.
Arteta should start Jurrien Timber at left-back to deal with the new United signing.
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