Who: Manchester United vs Arsenal
What: English Premier League
The place: Previous Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, August 16 at 4:30pm (15:30 GMT)
Tips on how to comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 4:30pm (15:30 GMT) prematurely of our dwell textual content commentary stream.
Arsenal face a right away take a look at of their Premier League title credentials towards a revamped Manchester United.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a more in-depth take a look at the sport.
How does the season form up for Arsenal?
Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to maintain digging for gold.
The Gunners have completed as Premier League runners-up for the final three seasons, sparking criticism of their failure to recover from the road within the title race.
Arsenal blew vital leads when Manchester Metropolis pipped them to the trophy in 2023 and 2024, earlier than Liverpool left the injury-plagued north Londoners trailing of their wake final season.
Arsenal’s title frustrations are mounting, with followers questioning whether or not Arteta is the fitting man to finish their drought after profitable solely the 2020 FA Cup since he took cost in December 2019.
However the Gunners confirmed their potential final season, with a run to the Champions League semifinals that ended with a slim defeat towards eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
And, buoyed by a bunch of recent signings price greater than 180 million kilos ($244 million) in complete, Arteta is satisfied they will lastly get their fingers on the Premier League silverware this season.
“You retain digging, digging, digging, and it’s a must to be digging as a result of in the future the gold goes to be there,” he advised reporters on Friday.
“For 3 seasons, we’ve had extra factors than [nearly] some other staff on this league, which is unimaginable.
“You have got the consistency, however now we now have to do it in a season, to finish with extra factors than some other staff.
“That’s the target. Once I’ve been taught, once I’ve been educated, that’s it.”
Hampered by accidents to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz at varied levels final season, Arsenal lacked a leading edge and have been held to 14 attracts in contrast with Liverpool’s 9.
That was an important edge as Arsenal completed 10 factors behind the champions.
Who did Arsenal signal this summer time?
In an try to insulate Arsenal towards one other fitness-related collapse, Arteta has introduced in Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, Actual Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard.
After bemoaning Arsenal’s failure to signal Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as Liverpool pulled away throughout the January window, the Spaniard is a much more upbeat determine on the eve of the brand new season.
“I believe we now have nice versatility, very completely different qualities in relation to the opposition, so we’re very proud of that,” he mentioned.
Arteta mentioned that “too many” groups have a official shot at profitable the Premier League for his liking, some he even suspects will “shock everyone”.
Whether or not that was a touch that United, who suffered their worst season since 1973-74 final time period, may emerge as contenders after their summer time spending spree stays to be seen.
Arsenal have been linked with a transfer for United’s new striker Benjamin Sesko earlier than deciding to guess on Gyokeres for a price that would rise to 66 million kilos ($89.5m).
The Swede netted 97 occasions in 102 video games in two years at Sporting, a lot of which got here below United’s present supervisor, Ruben Amorim.
How is the season shaping up for Man Utd?
As an alternative of being reunited with Gyokeres, Amorim overhauled his assault with the signings of Leipzig’s Sesko, Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo and Wolves ahead Matheus Cunha at a mixed price of greater than 200 million kilos ($271m).
United, who haven’t gained the title since 2013, needed to spend massive to erase the stench of their putrid marketing campaign.
Amorim’s staff completed a dismal fifteenth within the top-flight, and squandered an opportunity to qualify for the Champions League with a toothless 1-0 defeat towards fellow underachievers Tottenham within the Europa League last.
The stress is on Amorim, who changed the sacked Erik ten Hag in November, to ship main enhancements in his second season.
Amorim is aware of Sesko will probably be key to that focus on and believes the 22-year-old Slovenian is able to rise to the problem.
“I don’t want to inform Ben, ‘Ben, that is Manchester United, loads of stress. Each sport is like do or die’,” Amorim mentioned.
“He’s at all times fascinated by soccer. He’s actually obsessed about that.”
Head-to-head
That is the 244th assembly between the golf equipment, with United profitable 99 of these video games and Arsenal profitable 89.
The final two conferences led to 1-1 attracts, though a kind of was within the FA Cup with United advancing on penalties.
The Purple Devils haven’t crushed the Gunners since December 2022, a 3-1 residence win lead by a Marcus Rashford double.
The Gunners have gained 4 of the six following conferences.
Manchester United staff information
Defenders Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Noussair Mazraoui (hamstring) are each harm absentees for United.
Joshua Zirkzee and Andre Onana have, nevertheless, each recovered from knocks and can be found for choice.
Arsenal staff information
Arteta has mentioned that the brand new signings, Gyokeres and Zubimendi, are each “match to play”.
Leandro Trossard has had a groin drawback however is anticipated to recuperate in time for choice. Gabriel Jesus stays a long-term absentee with an ACL harm, however in any other case, Arteta has a full squad to select from.
Manchester United predicted beginning lineup
Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko
Arsenal predicted beginning lineup
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
