Who: Manchester United vs Arsenal
What: English Premier League
The place: Outdated Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
When: Sunday, August 16 at 4:30pm (15:30 GMT)
The way to observe: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 4:30pm (15:30 GMT) upfront of our stay textual content commentary stream.
Arsenal face an instantaneous check of their Premier League title credentials in opposition to a revamped Manchester United.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a better take a look at the sport.
How does the season form up for Arsenal?
Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to maintain digging for gold.
The Gunners have completed as Premier League runners-up for the final three seasons, sparking criticism of their failure to recover from the road within the title race.
Arsenal blew important leads when Manchester Metropolis pipped them to the trophy in 2023 and 2024, earlier than Liverpool left the injury-plagued north Londoners trailing of their wake final season.
Arsenal’s title frustrations are mounting, with followers questioning whether or not Arteta is the proper man to finish their drought after profitable solely the 2020 FA Cup since he took cost in December 2019.
However the Gunners confirmed their potential final season, with a run to the Champions League semifinals that ended with a slender defeat in opposition to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
And, buoyed by a number of recent signings value greater than 180 million kilos ($244 million) in complete, Arteta is satisfied they’ll lastly get their arms on the Premier League silverware this season.
“You retain digging, digging, digging, and you need to be digging as a result of in the future the gold goes to be there,” he informed reporters on Friday.
“For 3 seasons, we’ve had extra factors than [nearly] some other workforce on this league, which is unbelievable.
“You’ve got the consistency, however now now we have to do it in a season, to finish with extra factors than some other workforce.
“That’s the target. After I’ve been taught, once I’ve been educated, that’s it.”
Hampered by accidents to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz at numerous phases final season, Arsenal lacked a innovative and had been held to 14 attracts in contrast with Liverpool’s 9.
That was an important edge as Arsenal completed 10 factors behind the champions.
Who did Arsenal signal this summer season?
In an try and insulate Arsenal in opposition to one other fitness-related collapse, Arteta has introduced in Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, Actual Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard.
After bemoaning Arsenal’s failure to signal Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as Liverpool pulled away through the January window, the Spaniard is a much more upbeat determine on the eve of the brand new season.
“I feel now we have nice versatility, very completely different qualities in relation to the opposition, so we’re very proud of that,” he mentioned.
Arteta mentioned that “too many” groups have a authentic shot at profitable the Premier League for his liking, some he even suspects will “shock everyone”.
Whether or not that was a touch that United, who suffered their worst season since 1973-74 final time period, might emerge as contenders after their summer season spending spree stays to be seen.
Arsenal had been linked with a transfer for United’s new striker Benjamin Sesko earlier than deciding to wager on Gyokeres for a charge that would rise to 66 million kilos ($89.5m).
The Swede netted 97 occasions in 102 video games in two years at Sporting, a lot of which got here below United’s present supervisor, Ruben Amorim.
How is the season shaping up for Man Utd?
As an alternative of being reunited with Gyokeres, Amorim overhauled his assault with the signings of Leipzig’s Sesko, Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo and Wolves ahead Matheus Cunha at a mixed price of greater than 200 million kilos ($271m).
United, who haven’t received the title since 2013, needed to spend huge to erase the stench of their putrid marketing campaign.
Amorim’s workforce completed a dismal fifteenth within the top-flight, and squandered an opportunity to qualify for the Champions League with a toothless 1-0 defeat in opposition to fellow underachievers Tottenham within the Europa League remaining.
The strain is on Amorim, who changed the sacked Erik ten Hag in November, to ship main enhancements in his second season.
Amorim is aware of Sesko will likely be key to that concentrate on and believes the 22-year-old Slovenian is able to rise to the problem.
“I don’t want to inform Ben, ‘Ben, that is Manchester United, plenty of strain. Each recreation is like do or die’,” Amorim mentioned.
“He’s all the time fascinated with soccer. He’s actually obsessed about that.”
Head-to-head
That is the 244th assembly between the golf equipment, with United profitable 99 of these video games and Arsenal profitable 89.
The final two conferences resulted in 1-1 attracts, though a type of was within the FA Cup with United advancing on penalties.
The Pink Devils haven’t overwhelmed the Gunners since December 2022, a 3-1 house win lead by a Marcus Rashford double.
The Gunners have received 4 of the six following conferences.
Manchester United workforce information
Defenders Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Noussair Mazraoui (hamstring) are each damage absentees for United.
Joshua Zirkzee and Andre Onana have, nevertheless, each recovered from knocks and can be found for choice.
Arsenal workforce information
Arteta has mentioned that the brand new signings, Gyokeres and Zubimendi, are each “match to play”.
Leandro Trossard has had a groin drawback however is predicted to recuperate in time for choice. Gabriel Jesus stays a long-term absentee with an ACL damage, however in any other case, Arteta has a full squad to select from.
Manchester United predicted beginning lineup
Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko
Arsenal predicted beginning lineup
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
