SETTABLOID

Mikel Arteta has been preparing his Arsenal players on the London Colney training pitches for Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United. Having won their last three games and scored 13 goals in the process, the Gunners appear back to their best after a recent dip in form.

After beating Nottingham Forest 3-0, Arteta’s side put five past both Sporting CP and West Ham United. Based on that, Arsenal are entering the huge clash in great form but United have also built up momentum under new boss Ruben Amorim.

Injury issues could potentially decide the outcome of the fixture however, with Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey as doubts having both missed the weekend’s win. Gabriel Magalhaes, meanwhile, was subbed off at half time against West Ham with a recurring injury and may now not feature at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Gabriel injury update

Though hardly a surprise, there was no sign of Gabriel, Partey or Merino in the latest images captured and uploaded to the club’s official website. “We’re gonna have a meeting this afternoon,” Arteta revealed when asked for the latest on injuries. “We have done a training session.

“We monitored and kept some players away from certain activities. After that meeting I will decide which ones are fit and available and who will start.” Given his importance, the magnitude of the game and the fact he has started 41 consecutive Premier League games, Gabriel missing out appears unlikely.

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.

Arsenal have perhaps their most challenging match of December at its start as they host Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday. It is a chance to make a real statement that the club’s renewed positive form is here to stay.

It has come about much to do with the return of key players to full fitness like Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori. Mikel Arteta has seen his side in response score 13 goals in three games and not without making changes or having to deal with further fitness issues.

Against West Ham both Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino were missing due to problems suffered in training. Myles Lewis-Skelly was also lost due to an injury Arteta revealed post-match.

Yet there are changes that can be made and that Arteta might want to make as he continues to navigate the hectic schedule and manage the minutes of players who are still dealing with problems.

David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and even Gabriel Magalhaes who himself suffered a reoccurrence of the problem that saw him withdrawn in Lisbon but not thought to be too serious start. Their importance is unequivocal but at left-back Riccardo Calafiori’s own fitness after returning from a considerable knee problem does promote reason for a swap perhaps for Oleksandr Zinchenko.

In midfield, Partey and Merino’s attendance cannot be guaranteed and Jorginho while starting the last two Premier League games has still not played a considerable amount of football. It might be that Declan Rice moves into the deeper midfield role and Martin Odegaard is paired with Ethan Nwaneri in what is a very exciting midfield trio.

Up top, Leandro Trossard was brought in for Gabriel Martinelli who was fully rested. Asking Arteta after the game about the gift of being able to ready the Brazilian for midweek, he was quick to point out that rather than rest it was showcasing the need for competition of places.

Martinelli does however still come in. He starts alongside the immovable Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz who will both be looking to score once again this week.

Arsenal changed XI vs Man Utd: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli

It is just Arsenal’s luck that no sooner do Manchester City suffer a major slump in form, that Liverpool are already there taking advantage. The Gunners have been City’s closest challengers in each of the last two seasons, but find themselves off the pace this time around.

And that’s not because City are way out in front, instead because Liverpool are. The Reds won the big game at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, beating City 2-0.

It puts them well on course to win the Premier League title, even at this early stage of the season. They are now nine points clear of their closest challengers – who are Arsenal at this moment in time, with Chelsea also level on points with the Gunners.

The fact that Liverpool top the table could leave Arsenal supporters tearing their hair out. Just what do they need to do to end their Premier League title drought and claim a top-flight crown for the first time since 2004?

Well, while City’s slump may take something extraordinary from Pep Guardiola to get them out of either this season or next, Liverpool are the new problem for Arsenal to master.

But the Gunners may well have some help in that department too. If they cannot overhaul the points difference to Liverpool this season, there are reasons to be hopeful for next year. Three in fact.

Manchester United have been dealt a worrying injury concern ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Arsenal after Bruno Fernandes was pictured with an ice pack during their 4-0 win over Everton.

The 31-year-old limped off in the 65th minute for Alejandro Garnacho and trotted over to the dugout before being treated by the United medical team. Shortly after, Fernandes was then spotted with ice around his ankle, which has raised concerns over his availability going into the clash with Arsenal.

There is hope from a United point of view that this was just a precaution with Fernandes’ injury record almost exemplary since he made the move from Sporting CP in January 2020. In fact, Fernandes has missed just one game through injury during his time at Old Trafford, with that coming against Crystal Palace in May.

But he could miss his second-ever United game having picked up an injury during the trip to Arsenal. Speaking about his incredible injury record back in March, Fernandes said: “I just have to be grateful for my father and my mum because they made me the right way, the strong way.

Arsenal could leapfrog Chelsea in the race to sign Alexander Isak if Roberto Olabe replaces Edu Gaspar. The 25-year-old striker has been heavily linked with a move to both the Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge as he continues to impress for Newcastle United.

Since returning from a broken toe injury, Isak has featured six times for the Magpies in the Premier League, scoring three goals and providing one assist. Despite his best efforts, the Sweden international has struggled to drag Newcastle into the top half of the table.

With the January transfer window on the horizon and Eddie Howe’s side some way off the Champions League qualification places, Isak faces a somewhat uncertain future at St James’ Park.

Edu has been placed on gardening leave, with Jason Ayto stepping into the role on a temporary basis. According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Roberto Olabe has emerged as a ‘concrete candidate’ to replace the Brazilian.

The report states that the Real Sociedad chief has an ‘excellent relationship’ with Isak, who he signed for the Spanish club in July 2019. The Swede established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young players in La Liga before joining Newcastle three years later.

Olabe sees his contract at the Reale Arena expire at the end of the season, making him available for free in the summer. While the 57-year-old may grant Arsenal an advantage in the race to sign Isak, the forward has insisted he’s ‘fully focused’ at Newcastle.

The Brazilian netted his third goal in 13 Premier League games on Saturday with yet another header for Arsenal in the 5-2 win over West Ham.

It came after the Arsenal No.6 also nodded another goal in during Tuesday’s 5-1 victory over Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League, making it four goals across 19 appearances in all competitions for the South American.

At this rate, Gabriel Magalhaes is on track to net nine Premier League goals this season, but where would that leave the Brazil international in terms of the record books?