Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City – all of them were very irregular in the Champions League in the last ten years, sometimes missing the international competition completely. Instead, Manchester United and Arsenal FC were two of the clubs that kept the Premier League flag high in the premier class and had long been part of the inventory in the most important European competition for club teams.
Both have recently missed the qualification as fifth and sixth in the preseason respectively, have to make do with the Europa League at the moment and are working on their return to the Champions League via the Premier League. So far, the target is only the troupe of Unai Emery.
All the more remarkable is that Manchester United against Arsenal according to odds of bookmakers in the role of favorites, although the Red Devils could win only one of their last five league games. The Gunners meanwhile lost only the top match against Liverpool FC and would therefore return with a threesome in Old Trafford in third place of the table.
In any other result than the home win, the Solskjaer-Elf would remain in the bottom half of the table, which puts the job of the coach of these days considerably at risk. A factor that definitely plays a role in Manchester United’s prediction against Arsenal, as recent Red Devils are likely to have a hard time against well-placed Gunners to reach something countable.
Manchester United:
On December 19, 2018, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over interim coach José Mourinho, under which the Red Devils had already 19 points behind leaders Liverpool FC after 17 match days. After the coach was outstanding and could knock out the overpowering Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 of the Champions League, the interim contract was a full-time contract. Dated until 30th June 2022.
These days, the doubts are still enormous that the Norwegian will experience even the one-year anniversary on the bench of the English record champions. Finally, in the case of a home defeat by Arsenal FC after seven rounds, it would be 13 points behind arch-rivals Liverpool FC. Not only that the Red Devils have nothing to do with the championship, but also the top four, which are regarded as an absolute minimum goal, would be back in the distance.
Nevertheless, this home game on Matchday 7 is also an opportunity. With a threesome United would pull in points with the Gunners equal and join a giant of currently six teams, which stand after seven matchdays with eleven points. The connection would be restored by post.
At least among the bookmakers who write out for Manchester United against Arsenal odds, which see the hosts very thin forward, this scenario is considered not unlikely. Finally, the Red Devils had to accept only six goals in six league games so far. The third best defensive to Liverpool and Leicester City.
But: The only eight goals scored bring the offensive of the English record champions only eleventh place in the Premier League. Judging by the million-strong storm that the Red Devils have to throw with, inter alia, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in the balance, a far from good position. Exactly on, inter alia, these two personalities, but it depends as it were. Both are among the currently eight injured players that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has to do without these days.
Thus, the 17-year-old Masin Greenwood, who will be celebrating his 18th birthday on Tuesday, will once again have to take over the helm. After all: In the League Cup, the youngster against Rochdale scored the golden goal to a 1-1 lead, but ultimately not enough to victory, the United could bring only on penalties in the roof. And also in the Europa League in the lackluster 1-0 win over Astana, it was the Greenwood goal, which brought the victory. Now it depends on him, in the Premier League in the scorer list.
Arsenal:
Overall, the previous season’s performance of the Gunners can be quite impressive. Only on Matchday 3 lost the team of Unai Emery the top match against reigning runner-up and Champions League winner Liverpool FC with 1: 3. Otherwise, all competitions will have no further seasonal defeats. Instead, five wins and two draws.
Among other things, the Gunners came back in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur after a 0-2 deficit back and played in the end 2-2 draw, while in the last home game even a shovel could be added.
Home against promoted Aston Villa, the Gunners were 1-0 down when Aisley Maintland-Niles flew off the pitch, missing his team at Old Trafford. Outnumbered, the Londoners came to equalize by penalty, but caught the backlog only one minute later. Nevertheless, Arsenal also returned in this game, which ultimately won even with 3: 2.
The morale of the Gunners of these days is therefore in full swing – and even the league standings can well see themselves in a tight Premier League where defeat is unlikely for the teams that want to finish in the top four. Assuming, of course, the Emery troop scores in Old Trafford. Already with a draw, the Londoners would return to third place. In the event of a defeat, however, at least the fall threatens to ninth place. Depending on the amount of defeat, even at position ten.
However, in our eyes Manchester United beat Arsenal very little for the home win. After all, Unai Emery will only be without Alexandre Lacazette, who will return to ankle injury in October. Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney and Konstantinos Mavropanos are all ready for action again after having suffered injuries – and if they are an option after any fitness deficits, at least for a half-time.
That makes the already very well-established Londoner a lot more flexible and difficult ausrechbarbar. In addition, the Gunners bring a lot of momentum. The last three games against Eintracht Frankfurt, Aston Villa and Nottingham were all not only won, but alone in these three games stood together eleven goals of offensively powerful London to book. Accordingly, the potential to crack the well-standing defenses of the Red Devils should be considered quite large.
