Arsenal Predicted XI: Mikel Arteta’s possible starting line-up vs Manchester United

Arsenal travel to take on Manchester United for the 233rd time on Sunday in one of the Premier League’s great matches. 

The rivalry may not be quite as fierce as the days when Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were in the dugouts, but both sides will want to secure a big three points in order to climb the table.

Mikel Arteta’s side have won three and lost three of their opening six matches – with defeats coming at Liverpool, Man City and at home to Leicester last time out.

The Gunners followed that loss with a straightforward 3-0 win over Dundalk in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

With so many matches in various competitions coming in a short space of time, Arteta has utilised his squad this term and will look at doing so once again at Old Trafford.

So which players will he task with getting Arsenal a positive result in one of matches of the weekend?

Here we predict the Spaniard’s starting XI…

Goalkeeper:

Bernd Leno is Arsenal’s undisputed number 1 and – after being given a rest against Dundalk – will come back into the side. The German will be looking to secure his first league clean sheet of the season since the opening day 3-0 win at Fulham.

Defenders:

Arteta has opted to play with a back-three in the last two matches but we think he’ll revert to a back four at Old Trafford. With David Luiz out, Shkodran Mustafi should come into make his first Premier League start of the season after recently returning from injury. Alongside the German is expected to be Gabriel with Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney in the full-back positions.

Midfielders:

The trio of Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Dani Ceballos all played in the defeat against Leicester. Xhaka was utilised as a left-sided centre-back in that fixture but should move back into midfield for this clash to play alongside the Ghanaian and Spaniard. It will be interesting to see how United line up and how the midfield battle goes.

Forwards:

After returning to the squad against Dundalk, Willian is expected to be restored to the starting XI, playing on the wide right of the front-three. Alongside the Brazilian should be the pair of Alexandre Lacazette, who is the club’s leading Premier League scorer with three goals this term, and star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Predicted Arsenal XI: Leno; Bellerin, Gabriel, Mustafi, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey, Ceballos; Aubameyang, Willian, Lacazette.