Three things that could make the difference against Manchester United

Alexandre Lacazette

Three things to look out for as Arsenal travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday

by Adam Le Roux

This Sunday sees Arsenal’s frantic run of both Europe and the Premier League fixtures continue with a crunch clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford, as both sides look to build on big wins in midweek.

The 3-0 victory over Dundalk on Thursday was a welcome distraction for Mikel Arteta and his side, as they head back into domestic action looking to arrest a run of two consecutive defeats in the league. 


The Gunners travel to the home of their old nemesis on the back of defeats to Manchester City and Leicester in the last two domestic matches, having failed to find the net in either.


Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side looked rampant in their 5-0 defeat of RB Leipzig on Wednesday night, with Marcus Rashford bagging a hat-trick in the process.


The Gunners will have to be at their best if they are to leave the north west with all three points this weekend, and here we take a look at what could make all the difference when the two sides go head to head. 

Time to break the Old Trafford hoodoo?

Remember the day Arsenal won the title at Old Trafford? When Sylvain Wiltord slid the ball past the despairing Fabien Barthez to allow the Gunners to lift the trophy at the Theatre of Dreams? 


What a day that was, and one we will always remember, but since that balmy evening in May 2002 Arsenal have only tasted victory at United once in the league, when Emmanuel Adebayor scored a late winner in 2006. 


The recent record in this fixture makes for grim reading, with 11 losses and six draws from the past 18 visits since that momentous day, but with the hosts’ poor home record this season, this could be the perfect opportunity to get that monkey off the back.


Sylvain Wiltord


Solskjaer hasn’t guided his team to a league victory on their own patch since a 5-2 victory over Bournemouth in July, a run of five games, and the first time in 48 years they haven’t won any of their first three home matches in a season. 


If ever there was a time to head to Old Trafford and come back with all three points, this could well be it.

A quick start is crucial

And the key to success in this fixture seems to be getting an early lead, with the side going into the break ahead taking the victory more often than not. 


In fact, 13 of the last 17 Premier League fixtures between the pair that have served up a winner have seen the victor on the day leading at the interval, so both sides will be looking to fly out of the blocks on Sunday. 


One man that could hold the key to unlocking the Red Devils’ defence early doors could be Alexandre Lacazette, with the Frenchman scoring the Gunners’ last three first-half Premier League goals with strikes against Fulham, West Ham and Liverpool.


The hosts have been guilty of a slow start on numerous occasions already this campaign, with both Tottenham and Crystal Palace both breaching the United defence within the opening ten minutes at Old Trafford, with Spurs doing so twice.

Fresh legs could prove pivotal

With Mikel Arteta ringing the changes in Thursday’s Europa League victory over Dundalk, the Gunners should have no excuse of fatigue heading to Manchester, with the majority of the first team being given the night off. 


Granit Xhaka was the only survivor from last Sunday’s defeat to Leicester at the Emirates, and even he came off with 15 minutes left to play, as the boss chopped and changed for the visit of the Irish champions.


It was a much-needed rest for Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who didn’t even take to the field in the 3-0 win, and both will be much the better for it on Sunday. 


The Red Devils didn’t have the same luxury, with a close to full-strength team named for the visit of Leipzig on Wednesday, and that extra bit of rest for the Gunners could make all the difference in the closing stages. 

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