Arsenal are suddenly looking like the footballing power we have become used to watching these past couple of years following a patch of poor form. Thirteen goals in their last three games sees them sitting in second in the Premier League table and looking like the most likely challenger to leaders Liverpool after Manchester City’s slump.
Standing in their way of a fourth successive win is Manchester United. Ruben Amorim has certainly enjoyed his ‘new manager bounce’ by recording back-to-back wins in the Europa League and Premier League with Marcus Rashford standing out. He will, however, be without both Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo, who are suspended.
Arteta has some of his own fitness concerns and needs to get his own selection spot on for the visit of the Gunners’ old rivals.
Ahead of the clash with West Ham, I thought that it was a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Yet Arteta surprised me by making a tactical change on the left, bringing Leandro Trossard in and leaving Gabriel Martinelli completely rested on the bench who inevitably therefore should start, tasked with trying to break down the new United back-three formation.
The fitness of several midfielders remains in question as both Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey missed the trip to West Ham. Jorginho deputised brilliantly, however, as he has done in each game he’s played. He could be in line for a third successive Premier League start – joining Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield.
Riccardo Calafiori was the other defensive concern with Gabriel Magalhaes but it seemed a case of managing the pair’s minutes in east London. They should both start alongside the usual three of David Raya, Jurrien Timber and William Saliba.
