Domestic football returns this weekend after a two-week break for internationals, and the Premier League kicks off with a belter as Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho’s United have struggled in the first three months of his tenure, having won just five of their first 11 Premier League games, including just two of their last eight.

A indifferent Europa League campaign, thanks to just two wins and two draws in their first four matches, has left many United fans scratching their heads as to what has gone wrong in the early stages of the season.

For Arsenal though, no such fears have been seen, as Arsene Wenger’s side are unbeaten in their last 16 matches in all competitions, and know a win at Old Trafford would take them to the top of the division.

The Gunners have won seven of their opening 11 league games, and have already booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League having won three of their four European matches.

With the build-up well underway to what should be a thrilling game at Old Trafford, many fans and pundits are speculating as to whether Arsenal can beat Manchester United away from home in the league for the first time since 2006.

Thus, here are FIVE reasons why the Gunners will pick up all three points on Saturday…

Unbeaten since opening weekend

Arsenal are one of the most in-form teams in Europe this season.

They have suffered just one defeat in all competitions, and are currently unbeaten in their last 16 games, which dates back to their opening weekend defeat at home to Liverpool.

Seven Premier League wins, three Champions League victories, and two comfortable League Cup successes have given fans and pundits alike optimism that Arsenal could end a long wait for the title.

And they will take that confidence from a stunning run of results into the match on Saturday.

United haven’t been great this season, but if Arsenal play to the level that we’ve seen in recent times, certainly like they did against Chelsea, then it could be tough afternoon for Mourinho and co.

Confidence will be high, and there will be genuine belief that they can end a ten-year wait for a league win at Old Trafford on Saturday.

In-form forwards

In Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, and Mesut Ozil, Wenger possesses some of the most in-form attacking players in the division.

Chilean international Sanchez has scored eight goals for the Gunners this season, and has laid on five assists in all competitions from a more advanced role.

As we’ve said before, Sanchez playing further forward has brought the best out of Walcott and Ozil, who between them have netted 15 times already this time around.

And, given that they scored 17 between them in the entirety of last season, Wenger seems to have stumbled upon something brilliant.

With Ozil in the number ten role, and the likes of Walcott, Sanchez, and Alex Iwobi making quick and agile runs in front of him, he is in his element.

A makeshift Manchester United defence is going to find it tough stopping that front four on Saturday.

Defensively more solid than in recent times

One of the main criticisms of Arsenal in recent years have been their defensive capabilities, and the strength of those players sitting in front of the back four.

However, 11 games into the new league season, and it looks like both of those issues have been dealt with.

Shkodran Mustafi has come in alongside Laurent Koscielny and looked assured and composed at the back, while Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal have both started the season well.

Granit Xhaka took a bit of time to adapt to the English game but he now looks like an excellent signing in the middle of the park, especially if his performance against Tottenham is anything to go by.

And, with either Francis Coquelin or Santi Cazorla alongside him, Arsenal have options in that area now, which have been lacking in recent times.

There is a defensive resilience about Arsenal this season that we haven’t always seen in the past, especially at Old Trafford, and this defence will be put to the test on Saturday.

United stuttering

Arsenal’s excellent recent run is in stark contrast to a United side that have won just two of their last eight league games.

Jose Mourinho’s men started the season with three straight wins, but have stuttered since a 2-1 loss at home to neighbours Manchester City back in September.

Since then, they have won two and lost two of their seven league games, with a 4-0 hammering at Chelsea a particularly low moment in Mourinho’s first three months in charge.

Recent form suggests that Arsenal should win at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Although they haven’t won there in the league for ten years, you sense they aren’t going to get a much better chance to end that barren run than on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney may not be fit to start

This might seem like an odd thing to include, but Wayne Rooney’s record against Arsenal is quite incredible.

Nobody in the history of this fixture has scored more goals than United’s Rooney, whose consolation goal in the FA Cup tie last year took him one clear of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry at the top with nine goals.

Of the current Arsenal squad who are available for Saturday’s game, Ozil, Sanchez, and Walcott are the highest scorers with two but, given that Marcus Rashford scored twice in three minutes against them last season, Wenger needs more from his top players.

Although Rooney has not been playing regularly this season, he clearly relishes playing against Arsenal, and Gunners fans will hope that the injury he sustained on England duty rules him out of Saturday’s game.