da betsul： Arsenal play host to Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday in what will undoubtedly be labelled the standout fixture in the Premier League this weekend, and both teams will be looking to try and keep the pace with runaway leaders Manchester City.
da pinup bet： The Gunners picked up their third successive top flight win as they thrashed Huddersfield Town 5-0 on Wednesday – stretching their winning run in the league at home to 12 games – but the victory didn’t come without its costs as club-record signing Alexandre Lacazette picked up a groin injury that will keep him out of this weekend’s clash.
The north London outfit maintained their spot in the top four with the success against the Terriers however, and they will know they could close the gap on their opponents on Saturday to just one point if they pick up all three.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho’s men were also winners in midweek as they beat surprise package Watford 4-2 at Vicarage Road, to keep them in second position and eight points behind City at the summit.
The Portuguese boss has set his side up to keep things tight away at the Red Devils’ top six rivals so far this term, and although his team picked up a goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield they were beaten 1-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month.
Both clubs know they have the individuals that can make the difference on Saturday, and they will be looking for those players to step up on the big occasion at the Emirates this weekend.
Here are four key on-pitch battles that will decide which way the points go…
Olivier Giroud vs Chris Smalling
With Lacazette confirmed as an absentee for this weekend’s clash because of a groin injury, Arsene Wenger will likely choose between Giroud and Danny Welbeck for who will replace the Frenchman in the centre-forward spot.
The fact that the former replaced him at half-time in the 5-0 win against Huddersfield – also going on to score two second-half goals – suggest that he will get the nod on Saturday.
Giroud’s height and strength could slightly change the way Arsenal look to play against the Red Devils, and he could have an interesting aerial duel with Chris Smalling.
The England international has established himself as United’s first-choice central defender in the absence of Phil Jones and Eric Bailly in recent weeks, and he will be looking to put in another big performance against the Gunners to help his team maintain their record as having the best defence in the Premier League.
Shkodran Mustafi vs Romelu Lukaku
Having scored just one goal in his last 12 United appearances in all competitions – and having missed gilt-edged chance against Watford on Tuesday night – it will be interesting to see whether Mourinho considers replacing Lukaku with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the starting XI to face Arsenal.
However, you would expect the Portuguese boss to keep faith with the Belgian considering he has 12 goals in total this season, and he certainly has the ability and strength to cause someone like Mustafi plenty of problems on Saturday evening.
The Germany international has established himself in the centre of the Gunners’ three-man defence in recent weeks, and he will know that he will be in for a tough afternoon and that he will need to be at his best against Lukaku despite the centre-forward’s goal drought.
Alexis Sanchez vs Victor Lindelof
Following a disappointing start to the campaign that was overshadowed with injury and continued doubts over his future, the 28-year-old has looked to be back to his best in recent games.
The Chile international has scored one goal in each of Arsenal’s last three Premier League matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley and Huddersfield Town respectively, and he will need to be even more of a goal threat against United on Saturday now that first-choice striker Alexandre Lacazette has been ruled out.
Meanwhile, having played a 3-4-1-2 system in the matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Watford in the last month or so, Mourinho could look to use it again in order to match up with the Gunners this weekend.
If that is the case and as expected Phil Jones and Eric Bailly miss out on the trip to north London, then Lindelof could once again be handed the right-sided centre-back spot in the three-man defence.
He will certainly face a tough task to keep Sanchez quiet, and he will be looking to potential right wing-back Antonio Valencia to give him plenty of defensive support.
Laurent Koscielny vs Anthony Martial
If Mourinho does decide to go with the 3-4-1-2 formation on Saturday, then it will likely be Anthony Martial that is named as Romelu Lukaku or Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s strike partner.
The Frenchman started the campaign mainly making an impact from the substitutes’ bench but he has started their last three Premier League matches, including alongside Lukaku in the 4-2 win against Watford on Tuesday.
Martial found the net against the Hornets and has eight goals and six assists in 20 appearances in all competitions this term, and he will certainly cause the Arsenal defence problems with his pace and goal threat this weekend.
The man tasked with dealing with the 21-year-old is likely to be his France international teammate Koscielny, who has been featuring on the right side of the Gunners’ three-man defence in recent weeks.
The 32-year-old will know that he needs to put in a strong performance to keep his compatriot quiet on Saturday evening.