In the pick of the weekend’s Premier League fixtures, Manchester United play hosts to Arsenal in a 2.05pm kick off this Sunday.
It’s a match that could have a huge effect on the seasons of both clubs. The Red Devils desperately need a win against a side above them in the table to close the six-point gap between themselves and the top four, whilst a defeat at this point in the campaign will cast serious doubts over the Gunners’ title credentials.
Of course, there’s a real historic element to this fixture as well, involving two sides who were both once the leading entities in English football and who regularly duelled for the Premier League crown.
The track record suggests Sunday’s game will be split right down the middle; Arsenal and United have claimed two draws and two wins apiece from their last six meetings with each other and also picked up eight and nine points respectively from their last five games in the Premier League.
With that in mind, the coming instalment could well be decided by which side dominates the key individual battles. Here are FIVE Football Fancast view as the most important.
MARCUS RASHFORD VS LAURENT KOSCIELNY
Marcus Rashford didn’t waste a second to take advantage of United’s injury problems on Thursday night, stepping in for Anthony Martial to net twice in a 5-1 thumping of FC Midtjylland on his senior debut.
With the Frenchman and fellow striker Wayne Rooney both sidelined for Sunday’s game, the teenage front-man looks set for another opportunity to impress against Arsenal.
But the Gunners are a completely different kettle of fish to Midtjylland and the 18-year-old will certainly struggle to produce the same kind of impact against the north London side.
Arsenal are probably still coming to terms with a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona but they’ve conceded the second-fewest goals of any Premier League side this season and that’s in no small part due to the quality of centre-back Laurent Koscienly.
Quick, strong, effective in the air, vastly experienced and dependable in possession, the France international is a very complete defender who should be able to keep Rashford quiet.
JUAN MATA VS FRANCIS COQUELIN
Amid a wholesale injury crisis, Juan Mata represents Manchester United’s only stand-out attacking talent available for Sunday and there will resultantly be huge pressure on him to perform.
The Spaniard certainly isn’t enjoying the most affluent of seasons – symptomatic of Manchester United’s struggles in general – but Arsenal will be well aware of how talented the midfield maestro truly is and how crucial he could resultantly be to a United victory.
Mata has operated as a No.10 and a winger this season but practicality could take precedence over preference on Sunday due to United’s injury problems. In other words, his position will likely depend on where Louis van Gaal can fit others into the starting line-up.
But regardless of where the 27-year-old plays, Arsenal enforcer Francis Coquelin will play a prominent role in stopping Mata gaining a foothold in the match. He’s the most defensive element in the Gunners’ midfield by quite some distance and will need to cover full-backs who like to push forward.
The Frenchman has grown with almost every start for Arsenal since that impressive showing against Manchester City last season and will be expected to put in another strong display on Sunday.
ALEXIS SANCHEZ VS GUILLERMO VARELA
Another battle that sees an established Arsenal star come up against a Manchester United novice.
That’s no disrespect to Guillermo Varela, who has probably performed beyond expectations since being thrust into the starting Xi amid injuries to fellow right-backs Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian. He’s produced some decent displays and grabbed an assist against Midtjylland in midweek.
But Alexis Sanchez is one of the most potent attacking threats in the Premier League, if not throughout European football in general, boasting 35 goals in 77 appearances for the north London outfit and famed for his mix of speed, tenacity and flair.
The Chilean hasn’t been at his best this season due to a string of injury problems and that could see Varela enjoy an easier afternoon than expected. Nonetheless, the Gunners winger possesses the quality and experience to take advantage of the Uruguayan’s youthful shortcomings.
Mesut Ozil vs Michael Carrick
Mesut Ozil and Michael Carrick may represent different kinds of midfielder who ply their trades in different positions, but their roles in their respective sides share some similarities.
Indeed, Ozil is Arsenal’s and the Premier League’s top creator, notching up 17 assists in 24 appearances so far this season, and accordingly dictates the direction and tempo of their attacks.
Carrick’s influence is a little less obvious in statistical terms. But at the heart of a United side obsessed with sideways movement of the ball, he’s the only player who insists upon passing directly to get the Red Devils into the final third.
Intriguingly, the attacking midfielder and the anchorman will be playing up against each other on Sunday. So this battle could well depend on who outfoxes the other to find space on the ball and who is prepared to put in the bigger shift off of it.
OLIVIER GIROUD VS CHRIS SMALLING
Chris Smalling faces a late fitness test for Sunday’s game and Manchester United will be desperate for their rugged centre-back to pass it, with Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo both already sidelined through injury.
The England international has emerged as one of the first names on the team sheet for club and country since Louis van Gaal took the Old Trafford hot seat at the start of last season and with the rest of the backline notably makeshift, United really need an out-and-out defender of Smalling’s description to hold it all together.
Likewise, the 6 foot 2 centre-half is a pretty good match for Arsenal frontman Olivier Giroud. He can compete with the Frenchman in terms of power and aerial ability and would beat him by quite some distance in a straight-up footrace.
The Gunners centre-forward hasn’t been in the best of form recently, failing to find the net in his last eight appearances across all competitions. But fans of the north London club will argue he’s due a goal and the 29-year-old’s ability to hold up the ball remains an important part of Arsenal’s build-up play.