Arsenal’s Likely Line Up For Manchester United Clash

Arsenal face Manchester United in the next round of Premier League matches on the 22nd of November at the Emirates. Both sides would be coming into the match with contrasting fortunes after Arsenal suffered a disappointing 2-1defeat at Swansea, while Manchester United needed a goal from Juan Mata to see off an obdurate Crystal Palace side at Old Trafford. Arsene Wenger’s side has just four wins from eleven league matches, and has not beaten Manchester United at the Emirates since 2011.

Going into match, there remain several injury concerns from Arsenal. Laurent Koscielny remain out with an Achilles problem, Mathieu Debuchy is still making his way back from an ankle ligament injury. While Mesut Ozil is not expected back until the New Year with the knee ligament injury he picked up against Chelsea in early October.

The positive news coming into the match is that Oliver Giroud could make the squad for the match as he has returned to training from a fractured tibia; Mikel Arteta should have recovered in time to face Louis Van Gaal’s side

As a result, we are likely to see a line-up of:

Wojciech Szczesny, Calum Chamber, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Kieran Gibbs, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Oxlade Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck.

The Substitutes bench could take this shape:

Damian Martinez, Hector Bellerin, Mathieu Flamini, Aaron Ramsey, Lukas Podolski, Yaya Sanogo, Tomas Rosicky

Arsene Wenger has tweaked Arsenal’s formation for the last three Premier League matches, choosing instead to adopt a 4-4-2 formation, which has seen Alexis Sanchez deployed in a more central role behind Danny Welbeck. The work rate of both strikers make up for the shortage of players in midfield, but Arsene Wenger has tended to make up for that shortage by adopting a doubt pivot of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini. However, Jack Wilshere was absent through injury and suspension before returning against Swansea, and he is expected to stage a comeback to the line-up alongside Mikel Arteta, who would be important in Arsenal’s ability to keep possession.

Arsenal’s league campaign have been largely stop start this season, when things were looking up following the first consecutive league victories of the season against Sunderland and Burnley respectively, they suffered a reverse against Swansea City after throwing away another lead with just a quarter of the match left.

As a result of the club’s indifferent form, there are cluster of clubs separated by just a point from 6th to 10th position. It means Arsenal cannot afford any more room for error in the coming league matches starting with the match with Manchester United.

The Emirates have become something of a fortress in the league, after going 24 league games undefeated, a record that dates back to the opening day of last season, although there have been more draws (3) than wins (2) at the Emirates this season in the league, the record is expected to be severely tested by a Manchester United side that boast some array of attacking players, and with Calum Chambers likely to be up against Angel Di Maria, it should be a tasty affair.