This Sunday sees two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs lock horns as Arsenal head to Manchester United for a 4:30pm kick-off.
There’s currently some disparity between the teams, with the Gunners currently second in the Premier League table and the Red Devils in 14th place.
However, Manchester United v Arsenal is the kind of fixture where the form book goes out of the window and anything can happen.
TBR Football looks at who Mikel Arteta could name in the Arsenal starting XI for Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford.
Manchester United v Arsenal team news
Myles Lewis-Skelly has completed a one-match ban following his red card against West Ham United last month and is available for domestic action again.
There are no new fitness or suspension concerns for Arsenal in wake of the midweek 7-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
Arsenal attacking quartet Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, plus defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, remain unavailable due to injury.
As for Man United, Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte missed the Real Sociedad trip and remain doubts ahead of the Arsenal game.
Patrick Dorgu won’t feature against the Gunners as he serves the second of his three-match domestic suspension.
Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw remain on the sidelines due to injury.
Goalkeepers Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton have also been out injured of late, while centre-back Jonny Evans hasn’t featured since December.
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Arsenal backed to drop Myles Lewis-Skelly for attack-minded Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal are unlikely to make too many changes from the starting XI that ran riot at PSV in midweek.
Indeed, we predict that there will only be one change, which would come at left-back.
Arteta opted to substitute Lewis-Skelly midway through the first half against PSV after he found himself walking a disciplinary tightrope.
Lewis-Skelly was booked in the 24th minute for pulling back Luuk de Jong, and just minutes later tripped Richard Ledezma down the PSV right.
Referee Jesus Gil Manzano opted not to send Lewis-Skelly off, but Arteta wasn’t willing to risk it as he subbed the youngster off on 34 minutes.
With that in mind, Man United may well consider Lewis-Skelly a weak link at present and could target him in the game if he were to start.
Riccardo Calafiori would be the man to replace him, and with him, there’s the added benefit of him being being a great attacker.
Arteta recently spoke about how surprised he was by Calafiori’s attacking instincts and eye for goal, which would make him a dangerous outlet against the Red Devils.
The rest of the team would likely be unchanged. This means David Raya in goal, Jurrien Timber on the right and Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba at centre-back.
Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard would be the midfield three, while Mikel Merino could continue up front, flanked by Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri.
Arsenal predicted starting XI v Man United (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
