LONDON — One of the great matchups of the Premier League era, Arsenal vs. Manchester United may not be the title matchup it was 20 years ago but there is plenty at stake at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday as these two sides vie for a top four finish. The hosts have their fate in their hands after Wednesday’s 4-2 win at Chelsea and come into this game on a high.
The same cannot be said of Manchester United after their humiliating 4-0 loss away to Liverpool in midweek. Since then they have announced that Erik ten Hag will take over for next season but in the interim Ralf Rangnick remains at the helm, looking for a reaction after a dreadful performance by his side. Stay tuned for all the action, highlights and analysis from the Emirates Stadium:
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How to watch
Date: Saturday, April 23 | Time: 7:30 a.m. ET
Location: Emirates Stadium — London
TV: USA | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Odds: Arsenal +105; Draw +250; Manchester United +250 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
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Ronaldo’s first effort
Some better build up play from United down the right, where Ronaldo gives and goes with Dalot. When the ball comes back to him he is only going to do one thing, his powerful drive fizzing over the top to ironic cheers from the home fans. After they applauded him when the clocks struck seven normal service has been resumed.
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VAR check
United are getting a lot of joy through Elanga in behind Nuno and for the second time in this game he charges through down the right, getting a shot away from too close a position to test Ramsdale. However Craig Pawson signals for a delay in play, Nuno had his arm around the United forward as he fell to the floor. Replays suggest it’s not the sort you’d overturn in either direction. But the pressure in on the hosts right now.
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Saka needs treatment
A collision down the right has Saka getting seen to by the Arsenal physios, giving Arteta a chance for an ad hoc team talk with his side, who have looked a little skittish since that opener. A deflected Fernandes shot hands the visitors another corner but once more McTominay’s head at the back post can’t direct it towards goal. Saka, meanwhile, looks clear to continue.
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Worrying moments for Arsenal
The hosts press a little too high up and Gabriel can’t cut out a through ball. Elanga’s shot is too close to Ramsdale, who parries as Arsenal concede a corner. McTominay gets to that ahead of Nuno and Smith Rowe but his header down into the ground is wide.
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GOAL — Another United disasterclass
Catastrophic defending from United, Xhaka pinging in a cross from the left that both Varane and Telles contrive to miss. Saka gets it and his curling shot is parried by De Gea, who must be getting that familiar sinking feeling. Nuno is on hand to pounce on the rebound. Arsenal lead.
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Kick off
We’re up and running and almost immediately Saka wins a free kick just inside the United half. There’s quite the racket in the stadium from the outset whilst Ronaldo’s first touch is greeted by boos.
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The teams are on their way out
A tifo of Saka and Smith Rowe is held high in the Clock End, below it a banner bearing the phrase “The Arsenal, today, tomorrow, forever.”
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Warm ups done
It really struck me how light in intensity and match relevance United’s was compared to their opponents. Where Arsenal forwards were working on shooting drills that saw them give and go, a coach teeing them up to shoot, Fernandes and Ronaldo were stood over the ball for a good 30 seconds before striking it. Arsenal’s defense isn’t perfect but I don’t think there will be many occasions in open play where they have all that time. Maybe it’s just free kick practice only but it did not feel like the visitors were busting a gut.
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One last job for Arsenal old hands
Having looked like they were slipping out of the top four race, a shock victory at Stamford Bridge has revived faltering hopes. Eddie Nketiah and Mohamed Elneny emerged from the peripheries of the squad to play crucial roles in an impressive win. Both players may well be playing their final few games at the Gunners with their contracts expiring at the end of the season, the same is also true of Alexandre Lacazette, who should be able to play a more sizeable role after struggling with COVID-19.
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Rangnick explains Maguire’s absence
As Ronaldo returns to the side club captain Maguire is dropped to the bench after a dramatic few days which saw his home subject to a bomb threat. His interim manager appeared to indicate that that was why he had changed things, with Varane having returned to fitness since the midweek loss to Liverpool. Rangnick said: “Harry has had a tough week. I decided to give him a rest and play with Rafa Varane and Victor Lindelof.”
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Will Ten Hag’s appointment change things?
The long-awaited announcement of Ten Hag arrived on Thursday, and one could not help but wonder whether it was designed to wake the players out of the slumber they have slipped into under Ralf Rangnick. Its efficacy will only become apparent over the coming weeks but at the very least it seems fair to assume that nothing could be quite as bad as the directionless mess they delivered in defeat to their great rivals in the week.
“We only trained yesterday because the day after the game was recovery,” said Rangnick. “Yesterday we trained some issues in connection with the game, but the only real training session we’re going to have is now in an hour’s time. [The players] were as disappointed as we all were, so it’s now up to the players and us to show a reaction on the pitch tomorrow.”
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Confirmed teams
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Nuno; Elneny, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Nketiah
Subs: Leno, Holding, Tomiyasu, Swanson, Lokonga, Azeez, Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette
Manchester United XI: De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Varane, Telles; Matic, McTominay; Sancho, Fernandes, Elanga; Ronaldo
Subs: Henderson, Bailly, Jones, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Garnacho, Lingard, Mata, Rashford
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Team news very soon
But in the meantime I’m told Cedric will be among the starters today. That means we can throw those predicted XIs in the bin!
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Hello and welcome to live coverage from the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal face Manchester United in a clash with a Premier League top four spot on the line. Both sides can ill afford defeat with Tottenham also in the race for Champions League qualification, certainly United would be all but out of the race if they were to be six points behind the Gunners having played a game more. Meanwhile Arsenal will be looking to prove that they have fully moved on from their wobble after the international break, building on the momentum they recovered by winning at Chelsea in midweek.
