Arsenal beat Man United 2-0 at the Emirates and hand Ruben Amorim his first loss as United manager.
Image credit: ESPN FC
One of English football’s fiercest rivalries reignites this Sunday as Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford. While United struggle for form, Arsenal remain firmly in the title race.
Fresh from their European fixtures, both sides will look to assert dominance—but for Arsenal, this game is about more than just points; it’s about revenge.
The Gunners were knocked out of the FA Cup in January by United, and now they have the chance to respond.
Manchester United: A Need for Momentum
That unforgettable 8-2 night at Old Trafford🤯#MUNARS | @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/IQld6upHev
— Premier League India (@PLforIndia) March 4, 2025
Times have changed. Once a fixture they dominated, Manchester United now enter this match as underdogs—and it’s hard to argue against it.
Ruben Amorim’s side showed signs of improvement in their recent 1-1 Europa League draw against Real Sociedad.
However, their FA Cup exit on penalties to Fulham highlights their inconsistency. Sitting in the bottom half of the table, United need a strong finish to salvage their season.
Despite some decent recent home form (three wins in six), two of those victories came against struggling Ipswich Town and Leicester City, with refereeing controversy aiding their win over the Foxes.
Team News
- Out: Bayindir, Evans, Martinez, Mainoo, Mount, Diallo (injuries), Dorgu (suspension)
- Doubtful: Maguire, Ugarte
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Lindelof; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Garnacho, Hojlund, Zirkzee
Arsenal: Chasing the Title
Arsenal enter the match in fine form after thrashing PSV 7-1 in the Champions League. Despite a 13-point gap behind Liverpool, Mikel Arteta’s side remains hopeful of closing the gap.
While that scoreline suggests an attacking resurgence, expected goals (xG) tells a different story—the Gunners massively overperformed, scoring seven from an xG of just 2.0.
Will Arsenal replicate that finishing masterclass, or was it just an outlier?
Recent league games against West Ham and Nottingham Forest suggest the latter, with zero goals and just three shots on target across both matches.
Team News
- Out: Tomiyasu, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus (injuries)
- Available: Myles Lewis-Skelly (returned from suspension)
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
Can United Even Finish in the Top Half?
"Arsenal will forever be our dogs" https://t.co/9t36QACxv6 pic.twitter.com/A5XoqcOwY7
— 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐦⁷ (@KeymAfc) March 7, 2025
While Arsenal’s title challenge is fading, their top-four spot looks safe. United, however, find themselves in a much more concerning position.
- 9 points behind Aston Villa in 10th
- 7 points short of 40-point “safety” mark
- 3/1 odds to finish in the top half
Prediction
Manchester United have performed better against stronger teams, taking four points from away games at Manchester City and Liverpool.
However, Arsenal’s attacking fluidity makes them favorites at Old Trafford.
For a club of United’s stature, scraping into the top 10 isn’t the ambition. But with their inconsistent form, even that looks challenging.
A win over Arsenal could change the narrative, but as things stand, it’s hard to bet against another frustrating night for the Red Devils.
Predicted Score: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United