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Arsenal predicted XI v Manchester United: ‘Phenomenal’ player returns, £110k-a-week ace drops to bench

Giuseppe Labellarte

Sat 30 January 2021 13:15, UK

Arsenal will hope to extend their unbeaten Premier League run to seven games in Saturday’s huge clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s charges host Manchester United in the latest chapter in one of English football’s greatest rivalries.

Both teams are on the up, with Arsenal looking much improved compared to the first half of the season, and the Red Devils second in the Premier League table.

The Gunners go into the crunch clash on the back of a superb 3-1 victory at Southampton, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s charges were left reeling by a defeat to Sheffield United.

Although Arsenal lost in the FA Cup last week, they have won five and drawn one of their past six games in the league.

So, who could Arteta look to name in his starting XI against the Red Devils?

Bernd Leno is a shoo-in in goal, while Rob Holding and David Luiz are likely to remain at centre-back.

Although Gabriel Magalhaes is available, Luiz has been superb and Arteta is likely to reward him with a continued presence in the starting XI.

While Cedric Soares was on top form against Southampton, Kieran Tierney’s return to training and the magnitude of the game means Arteta is likely to reinstate the £25million man on the left.

Sir Alex Ferguson Tierney “phenomenal” earlier this month and Arsenal will hope he’ll provide the energy and class to undo Fergie’s former side.

However, Cedric could well be deployed on his standard right-hand side as reward for his midweek heroics, which means ace Hector Bellerin could drop to the bench.

Thomas Partey was also back in training at Colney and as such, the midfield two picks itself, with Granit Xhaka alongside the Ghana star.

As for the attacking midfield three, we predict this won’t change either – Nicolas Pepe, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka were superb against Saints and should keep their place.

Gabriel Martinelli and newcomer Martin Odegaard would certainly be great shouts for the XI but the likelihood is Arteta will deploy one or both off the bench when United legs start tiring.

And up front, the in-form Alexandre Lacazette is all-but certain to lead the line.

Arsenal predicted XI v Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Leno; Cedric, Holding, Luiz, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Smith Rowe, Pepe; Lacazette