Manchester City v Arsenal – Hosts hold Edge in big EPL clash

Categories: Football | Published by: Andy Nelson

31/10/2020

Updated: 28/01/2023

2020-21 English Premier League preview: Manchester City v Arsenal – Old Trafford – Sunday, November 1, 2020 – 16:30 hrs GMT

Manchester City v Arsenal Preview

With both teams languishing in the bottom half of the EPL table, Sunday afternoon's clash between Manchester United and Arsenal will be of some significance.

While Arsenal have already lost 3 of their 6 Premier League outings so far, United have lost two. But Ole Solksjaer’s men seemed to have hit top form last week on the European front, winning impressively over Paris Saint and then mauling RB Leipzig 5-0 on Tuesday.

As far as their Premier League form goes, their last outing was a goalless draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Arsenal too have had a good start to their European campaign, chalking up wins in both their opening Europa League fixtures but their EPL form has been disappointing.

Mikel Arteta's men have succumbed to defeats in three of their last four EPL outings, losing to Top six sides like Liverpool, Manchester City and Leicester City.

As for team news, Arteta will have to do without some key players like David Luiz who took a knock in the defeat to Leicester, Bukayo Saka and Willian – all ruled out for the Old Trafford game owing to injuries.

Arteta rested the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Thomas Partey, Gabriel and Alexandre Lacazette in Thursday night's Europa League game against Dundalk with an eye on the Old Trafford clash.

Solskjaer, of course, didn't have the same luxury as Arteta in resting his key players in his club's Champions' League outing with Leipzig but he will be without the injured Phil Jones and Eric Bailly at the back and Jesse Lingard upfront.

£15.4m signing from Porto, Alex Telles will be missing after testing positive. Anthony Martial will miss out owing to a suspension.

Manchester United predicted line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation:

De Gea (goal); Wan-Bissaka, Lindeloff, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Mata; Rashford

Arsenal predicted line-up in a 3-4-3 formation:

Leno (goal); Mustafi, Gabriel, Xhaka; Bellerin, Ceballos, Partey, Tierney; Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Arsenal with their lack of creativity of late and a weakened defence could be under threat what with someone like Marcus Rashford after his tremendous recent form coming all guns blazing at them.

Apart from Rashford, there will be the creative Juan Mata and Bruno Fernandes upfront to make life difficult for the Gunners.

Surprisingly, the Red Devils haven't replicated the same kind of form they have hit on their European campaigns in their domestic outings.

Solksjaer's constant chopping and changing of formations to the starting XI could be a reason for United's below par results in the Premier League.

Despite a 0-0 to Chelsea last weekend, Sunday's Old Trafford clash should be an exciting one with both sides desperate to win.

With Arsenal’s reputation for deadly counter-attacks there could be goals on both sides with Aubameyang particularly wanting to be on the scoresheet after going through a five-match goal drought.