Arsenal travel to the north-west to take on Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, and predictions have been made ahead of the clash.
The Gunners sit 13 points behind league leaders Liverpool, and thus the Premier League title race is all but over.
However, Arsenal thrashed PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in midweek and will be buoyed by this result, looking to build on this momentum with victory at Old Trafford.
United tend to produce a performance out of nowhere against the North Londoners in Manchester, but given Ruben Amorim’s side’s dire form, it would be a surprise to see anything other than an away victory.
Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture in December, and will be hoping to replicate this dominant display at the theatre of dreams.
Paul Merson says he’d be ‘shocked’ if Arsenal don’t beat Man Utd
Arsenal will still be without Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli for Sunday’s game, although the pair of wingers should be close to returning to action.
This means that Mikel Arteta is likely to utilise Mikel Merino as a striker once again, a decision that has left Paul Merson perplexed previously.
Regardless, the former Arsenal winger and now pundit backed the Gunners to overcome United.
Writing for Sportskeeda, Merson said: “I’d be shocked if Arsenal don’t win. Their qualification to the Champions League quarter-final is sealed thanks to the 7-1 first leg win and they can now have a real go from here. That makes this a dangerous game for United.
“Arsenal have to keep winning every single game from now on and hope Liverpool slip up. Historically, Manchester United have always turned up for games against Arsenal. But honestly, I don’t see them doing it this weekend!”
Score Prediction: Manchester United 1-3 Arsenal
Chris Sutton predicts Arsenal to beat Man Utd
Chris Sutton has been pessimistic about Arsenal in recent weeks, but after seeing Arteta’s team thump PSV, he’s confident they’ll overcome United, but by a smaller margin than Merson predicted.
Writing on BBC Sport, the pundit said: “Arsenal have struggled to score in the Premier League but the goals were flowing freely for them against PSV and this feels like it is going to be another rearguard action for Manchester United, similar to the way they got past the Gunners in the FA Cup.
“United do seem to, somehow, raise their game against the better teams and that is the only way they are going to make this close.
“I still think Arsenal will win it, though.
“Tuesday was the first time I have seen Ethan Nwaneri play in the flesh and I was really impressed with his performance for Mikel Arteta’s team.
“Declan Rice was immense in midfield and Martin Odegaard was excellent too. There has been some criticism of his form recently but he really delivered in that game.
“So, although United might try to make things hard for them, I definitely think Arsenal will find a way through.
“They won’t score seven again, but this game has got all the hallmarks of ending up 1-0 to the Arsenal.”
Score Prediction: Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
While the title is gone, it’s imperative that Arsenal strengthen their grip on second place, and ensure they’re not pulled into the the top four battle.
Having essentially won the PSV tie already, they can go hell for leather in this one, knowing they can rest players in midweek at the Emirates.
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