Manchester United vs Arsenal

Midweek Premier League action concludes at Old Trafford with a mouth-watering, blockbuster encounter between underperforming Manchester United and resurgent Arsenal.

While waiting for the impending manager Ralf Rangnick to obtain a work permit, caretaker boss Michael Carrick will be aiming to maintain his unbeaten competitive record in interim charge (W1, D1). Despite holding Premier League pacesetters to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge last time out, Manchester United head into proceedings having accrued the lowest number of Premier League points across an eight-game spell in the competition’s history (5 – W1, D2, L5). What’s more, since beating Newcastle United 4-1 in mid-September, the ‘Red Devils’ have gone winless in their last four Premier League home outings (D1, L3), frustratingly drawing a blank three times in the process. A lack of ruthlessness in front of goal ties in well with United’s recent scoring output versus Arsenal, as they’ve failed to find the back of the net in their last three Premier League H2Hs.

Given United’s form wobble, this could be Arsenal’s best opportunity to register four consecutive league clean sheets against old foes for the first time in the club’s history. The ‘Gunners’ take the field in high spirits, having avoided defeat in their last six Premier League encounters against United (W3, D1). Pursuing a seventh successive top-flight H2H without a loss for the first time in the competition’s history, Mikel Arteta’s men are flying high following a 2-0 win over Newcastle at the weekend. Barring a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool a fortnight ago, the Londoners have gone unbeaten in nine of their last ten Premier League matches (W7, D2), having lost three in a row beforehand. However, a poor scoring record on the road could be an issue, with only relegation-threatened Norwich City (2) netting fewer Premier League away goals than Arsenal (3) so far this season.