Takehiro Tomiyasu starts, Martinelli decision made - Arsenal line ups vs Manchester United
football.london's Gunners writers decide who they think Mikel Arteta should start in this Sunday's Premier League clash at Old Trafford
Mikel Arteta admitted that if you'd offered him the chance to be in the title race with two games to go at the start of the season, then he would have taken it. The Arsenal manager would probably like to have it in his own hands at this stage too, but that's probably asking for too much against this Manchester City side.
Still though, he's keeping positive. "My brain tells me when talking to the players that we are lifting the Premier League," he said in his pre-match press conference. "That’s what my brain is doing at the moment and I want to follow my brain and my gut. This is the way I want everybody to think as well. Hopefully we can achieve it."
Regardless of what Manchester City do on Saturday lunch time Arsenal know they have to get the three points for just the second time in the past 20 years at Old Trafford. The Gunners will be heavy favourites but it's still crucial that Arteta gets his team selection spot on.
Thankfully football.london's Arsenal writers are on hand to decide who they think should start against Manchester United on Sunday.
Tom Canton - Football writer
I sincerely hope that Takehiro Tomiyasu has shaken off whatever was keeping him out of training earlier this week because the Japanese international will be needed this weekend. Despite the false sense of security facing Manchester United can bring, it shouldn’t be leading Mikel Arteta and his side into any level of comfortability with the test they face and Tomiyasu will be very helpful to the cause.
The team has produced some stunning performances and despite one goal away from their Premier League best, I’d still like them to be more clinical. Big chances may come at a premium against a United side who do concede plenty of shots, but it will be about taking them and Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard have all shown the ability to do this in key games in the campaign’s latter stages.
Martin Odegaard enjoys a game against United as do Declan Rice and Thomas Partey who have all record big displays against the Gunners’ historic rivals. The latter in particular was a big reason behind the sole league win since 2006 fourteen years later. David Raya faces another high-pressure game with a chance again to prove his consistency which was perhaps lacking against Tottenham. Whilst the back line is sure to remain strong as they have done for so much of this season.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Manchester United: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
Kaya Kaynak - Arsenal writer
This is such a weird game to pick for. Arsenal should be favourites in every sense of the word against Manchester United, but they just have such a poor record at Old Trafford.
With that in mind I'm picking a team I feel can win the game. Honestly I think if you play Oleksandr Zinchenko at left back you'll be fine here given United's forward options. With the amount of space they offer inside as well, it's easy to see why the Ukrainian could have a good day out.
With that in mind I'm going for even more technical ability in the middle with Thomas Partey and Declan Rice. Martin Odegaard should be licking his lips with the gaps in behind that United backline.
Up front I'm taking a gamble on Gabriel Martinelli. It's not been his best season, but United are a team who will leave him the big spaces he thrives in. It's harsh on Leandro Trossard, but I think it's what's required to win the game.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Manchester United - Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
