Arsenal vs Manchester United 02/01/20

2 January 2020

Arsenal and Manchester United go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium for a massive Premier League (PL) showdown in contrasting circumstances. While the hosts try to escape the bottom half of the table, the visitors are looking to return in contention for a top-four finish.

It’s been a disastrous season for Arsenal so far, filled with many ups and downs, as they still try to break into the upper half of the table. Winless in their last four PL fixtures (D2, L2), the Gunners will be desperate to kick-start their campaign and possibly post their first PL home triumph since early October. But, Arsenal’s dip in form has seen them go from three consecutive PL home draws to three straight defeats, conceding over 1.5 match goals in five of those matches. Mikel Arteta’s men have kept a clean sheet only once in ten PL home outings this season and have racked up just three blank sheets in 20 league fixtures overall. But, such a dismal record can change now, as the Gunners have shut Manchester United out in four of their last six top-flight H2Hs held here (W3, D1, L2), though conceding over 1.5 match goals in both of their defeats in that sequence.

Meanwhile, the visitors have secured back-to-back wins over Newcastle and Burnely to reduce the gap on fourth-placed Chelsea to four points. But, the Red Devils have struggled to produce consistency away from home lately, pulling off just two wins in their last five PL road trips (W2, D1, L2), with three of those fixtures seeing the winners on the day keep a clean sheet. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be desperate to see his side break the deadlock here, as United have returned just one point from five PL away games that have witnessed them concede the opening goal. And if Solskjaer’s men win here, it will probably see them score two or more goals, given that all three of their PL road triumphs this season have witnessed them get on the scoresheet at least twice.