Premier League team news and prediction: Man Utd vs Arsenal

Manchester United's tough run of fixtures continues this weekend when they host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. It has been a relentless period for the Red Devils, having already faced PSG, Chelsea and RB Leipzig in their last three outings.

Arsenal's fixture list hasn't been too kind for them either. Mikel Arteta's side had kinder European fixtures but have still faced Liverpool, Manchester City and Leicester in three of their last four Premier League games. While United have come on leaps and bounds in that time, Arsenal appear to have gone backwards.

In the build up to this meeting between two of the Premier League's greatest rivalries, we hvae all your need-to-know information in one place, including team news, predicted XIs, where you can watch the match.

When is kick off?
Sunday 1st November, 16:30 GMT
Where is the match?
Old Trafford, Manchester
Where can I watch it?
Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event

Head-to-head record

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mikel Arteta are both well aware of what this fixture means to supporters, having both played and managed this fixture several times in the past. Neither had particularly glowing records as players, wth Solskjaer managing only two goals in 12 league encounters and Arteta finishing on the winning side just twice in 17 meetings with United.

While Solskjaer's best results as United manager have come against better opposition, Arsenal is one side he is yet work out completely. He has won just one of four previous encounters against the Gunners during his short managerial career but his side have the momentum heading into Sunday's clash to change that. Arsenal, meanwhile, appear to have taken steps backwards in recent weeks and their three-game unbeaten streak against Arsenal is under threat.

Team News

Alex Telles will miss out for the third game running after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed in midweek the left-back had tested positive for COVID-19, while Anthony Martial completes a three-game ban here. As Solskjaer has chopped and changed, not just in terms of personnel but also formation, in recent weeks, United have become difficult to predict. You can bet Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford will return to the starting XI on Sunday, however, after their cameo roles in midweek. Scott McTominay should also be restored to the side, with Paul Pogba and certainly Donny van de Beek in danger of missing out here. Edinson Cavani's wait for his full United debut may continue this weekend.

Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of David Luiz, who suffered a hamstring injury last weekend and missed out in midweek. With so many other injuries at the back, Arteta may have no choice but to field Skhodran Mustafi alongside new boy Gabriel at Old Trafford. The rest of the team is relatively sound, with Willian and Dani Ceballos both back from injury and deadline day signing Thomas Partey already a first-team regular.

Probable XIs

Man Utd (4312): De Gea, Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; Fred, McTominay, Pogba; Fernandes; Rashford, Greenwood

Arsenal (433): Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey, Ceballos; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Key Battle: Marcus Rashford vs Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Marcus Rashford has been the star of the season, both on and off the pitch. The England international can do no wrong at the moment and in midweek celebrated his first Manchester United hat-trick on the eve of his 23rd birthday. Rashford scored three in the space of 16 minutes in United's 5-0 win over RB Leipzig and has now played a direct hand in seven goals in his last four matches in all competitions.

The same cannot be said about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's form. The Arsenal captain has only scored one goal in six Premier League matches this season, with the Gunners averaging the fourth fewest shots pg (8.8) in the division. Aubameyang has at least scored in three of the last four meetings between the two sides. Mikel Arteta could really do with an improved performance from his captain, as Arsenal have lost three of their last four in the Premier League.

Prediction: Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal