Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Manchester United and Arsenal.

We have been deprived of Premier League action for almost two weeks but what a way for the action to get back underway. We have a United side which has been relatively poor in all competitions this season and an Arsenal outfit who has not suffered defeat since the opening day of the campaign. However, this is a big game and both teams have big-game players which means that the form book can be ripped up this afternoon. Forget United's struggles and Arsenal's invincibility since the second week in August - this should be a cracker.

No-one really takes a look at the Premier League table until a batch of fixtures are completed but I'm sure that will not be the case here. Arsenal have the opportunity to move a point clear of Liverpool at the top of the standings with victory at Old Trafford, while United supporters are either going to be encouraged by a positive result against a rival or disappointed that their team have fallen further away from challenging for the league crown. It doesn't mean too much at this stage of the year but from a confidence perspective, both clubs can take so much from coming out on the right end of this contest.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the two starting lineups. Both Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger had important decisions to make...

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian; Carrick, Herrera; Mata, Pogba, Martial; Rashford

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Romero, Blind, Schneiderlin, Lingard, Young, Memphis, Rooney

ARSENAL XI: Cech; Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Elneny; Walcott, Ozil, Ramsey; Sanchez

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Ospina, Gabriel, Gibbs, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Giroud

So then, what do you make of that? Let's start off with United, who must make do without Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the first time this season after the Swede picked up his fifth yellow card against Swansea City before the international break. His absence gives Marcus Rashford a chance to impress his manager as the front-line striker, rather than out wide on the left. Antonio Valencia returns after recovering from a fractured arm while Phil Jones is selected alongside Marcos Rojo in the centre of defence. Matteo Darmian has also been given the nod over Danny Blind. Wayne Rooney only makes the bench after the controversy of the last few days and after missing England's draw with Spain with a minor injury.

The big concern for Wenger was the fitness of Alexis Sanchez, who picked up some sort of calf injury while representing Chile. It was initially feared that Sanchez would be missing for a few weeks but after completing 84 minutes for his national team on Tuesday, he is selected in attack. Hector Bellerin has been ruled out for a month so Carl Jenkinson is given his first league start of the season while Mohamed Elneny has been preferred to Granit Xhaka. Wenger has also decided to deploy Aaron Ramsey in an attacking midfield three but it's unclear whether the central midfielder will be used in a number-10 role or on the flank.

That's certainly a lot to digest on a Saturday lunchtime! The main talking points - for me, anyway - are the United defence and Arsenal's midfield two. There was a time when it was claimed that Mourinho didn't fancy either Rojo or Darmian, and he hasn't been particularly complimentary about Jones, but they all start ahead of Blind. Who would have predicted that at the start of the season?

As far as Arsenal are concerned, the non-selection of Xhaka stands out. The Gunners paid a lot of money for the Swiss international in the summer but he is left out for one of his side's most high-profile trips of the season. His disciplinary record has been a problem but he would surely relish the chance of performing in the engine room against United at Old Trafford. Wenger seems to have taken a risk.

There's also the absence of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Either the Armenian playmaker is really not pulling his way in training or he has done something extreme to annoy Mourinho. During the international break, he made comments that basically said he would not give up on his "dream" at United but yet another snub from Mourinho has left him well and truly out of the picture as far as the starting XI is concerned. His next chance is the Europa League clash with Feyenoord on Thursday night...

HEAD TO HEAD! This is the 224th(!) meeting between the two clubs in a competitive fixture, with United having emerged victorious on 96 occasions in comparison to 81 wins for the Gunners. While the reality is that United have been in decline since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, the North-West giants have actually registered the better results. United have three wins and two draws during that time, although it should be pointed out that Arsenal's only defeat in the last four meetings came in their last clash in February. We are just coming on to that...

Back at the end of February, an 18-year-old striker by the name of Marcus Rashford made his Premier League debut for United and it is remembered as one of the most outstanding opening appearances by a teenager in England's top flight over the past 10 to 15 years. The youngster scored two first-half goals to put his team in control and although Arsenal rallied, it was the home side who ran out 3-2 winners. I will leave the look down memory lane there - if you want to read our match report on that five-goal thriller, click here!

There's a lot of talk about other areas of both teams but United fans will be waiting to see whether Rashford starts in attack this afternoon or whether he is kept on the flank. All things considered, he seems wasted when not operating as the number-nine striker. He has pace to burn but he has not scored in his last seven appearances for United after previously scoring in three successive games. With Ibrahimovic out of the side, this is his chance to show Mourinho why he deserves more responsibility in the penalty area. Regardless of his performance, his more experienced teammate is likely to earn an immediate recall next week but still, Mourinho needs options and an in-form Rashford is a decent second choice to have.

We will also have to wait and see how Mourinho uses Rooney from the bench, if he does so at all. Rightly or wrongly, the England captain has come in for a lot of stick this week but he has retained the backing of his club boss. However, he must decide whether to keep the forward in the firing line regardless of the scoreline or only use him if United are chasing the game. It's quite the conundrum for Mourinho but I would be surprised not to see Rooney on the pitch at some stage. He could do with ending a testing week out on the pitch.

PREDICTION! Don't judge me but I am going to risk a few splinters by sitting on the fence for this one. If Sanchez is fit and firing after his excursions in South America, United will have a problem but we feel that the home side will manage to get on the scoresheet at some stage. A highly-entertaining 1-1 draw.

It's almost time to get underway at Old Trafford! I don't know about you but I am very excited for this match. We are going to learn a lot about both sides ahead of what is also a hectic part of the season.

Th two teams have made their way out at Old Trafford. Strap yourself in because this will be high-intensity stuff throughout.

United get us started.

It's already high-octane stuff. Arsenal are pressing the United defence back when they have the ball while United are all over Arsenal when the ball is in the opposite final third. I hope we get 90 minutes of this.

Herrera wins the cheapest of free kicks around 25 yards from goal but United won't care. This is a chance for Pogba or Mata to get a shot on goal.

SHOT! It's Mata who takes responsibility but his curling effort towards the far post goes just wide. I think Cech had it covered.

CHANCE! It's been all United but Arsenal look extremely lively on the break and they soon win a corner when a Sanchez strike is deflected over the crossbar. The Chilean then gets a chance when the ball is fired back into the penalty area but after meeting Walcott's flick, he heads well wide from six yards. HUGE chance.

Sanchez is playing with heavy strapping on his right thigh but he's putting in a significant amount of work in these early stages. After a long-haul flight and a niggle to for stronger leg, it's not exactly ideal for the Chilean.

The pace of Valencia is causing Arsenal the most problems so far. It's a mis-match with Monreal and his cross into the area on this occasion is a good one. Unfortunately for United, Mustafi is able to get a good foot in to clear the danger.

Mourinho will be desperately disappointed with his forwards here. Pogba did superb down the right flank before drilling a low cross into the six-yard area but Mata, Martial and Rashford were all by the penalty spot. If one of them had made a run, they could have been rewarded.

BOOKING! That's the first of what I expect to be many yellow cards this afternoon as Sanchez lunges in late on Herrera. It's not as bad as the United midfielder made out but it's deserving of a booking.

What a cross from Rashford. It's not his first of the afternoon either. The ball just evades Pogba and Martial but Pogba was in an offside position anyway.

Aside from Sanchez, Arsenal's attacking quartet have barely touched the ball. Ramsey looks wasted on the left, Ozil is getting no change out of Carrick and Walcott is anonymous. The Gunners need to change something because this make-shift United backline are not having to do much.

SHOT! Coquelin has never scored for Arsenal but that doesn't stop him attempting a volley from 25 yards. In all fairness to the Frenchman, it's a decent strike but it is always going a few yards over the crossbar.

BOOKING! Darmian probably deserves a booking for his facial hair alone but his name is taken by the referee for a lunge on Walcott.

Since I criticised Arsenal's lack of attacking intent, they have been the better team. They are managing to free up space for the likes of Ozil and Sanchez to try to work their magic and although it hasn't paid off, they are now creating openings for their teammates.

SHOT! That's somewhat ambitious from Herrera. Arsenal only clear a corner to the edge of the area but the Spaniard's volley - much like Coquelin's effort six minutes ago - is always heading over the crossbar.

Matteo Darmian - what are you doing? He's just flew into a tackle with Jenkinson - studs up - and failed to win the ball. In all honesty, he should be walking off the pitch with a second yellow card but the referee decides a talking to is sufficient.

HUGE appeals for a penalty from United and it's looks clumsy from Monreal. Valencia turns the left back and runs into the box and the Spaniard puts an arm across the right-back. You can argue that there wasn't enough contact but Monreal shouldn't be putting his arm in that position. Mourinho is furious - that's an understatement.

CHANCE! We have our first proper save of the match and it comes from Cech, who dives to his left to deny Mata with the Spaniard's 20 yard strike on its way into the bottom corner. It's a comfortable intervention but one which was needed.

SHOT! Elneny is the latest midfielder to try his luck from distance but like with Coquelin and Herrera, it's never threatening the goal.

SAVES! United are starting to build a head of steam and a lot of their best work is coming through Valencia. He provides the impetus for his side to work the ball around on the edge of the area before Martial forces Cech to tip his shot over the crossbar. Moments later, the French attacker had another long-range effort saved by Cech but on this occasion, it was straight at the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Arsenal are ending the half with plenty of possession but they aren't doing a lot with it. I think that's it for the first period. There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and we remain goalless. United will feel aggrieved not to have won a penalty but they are also fortunate to still have 11 men on the pitch after a risky challenge from Darmian when already on a booking. You feel as though both teams will need to change something in order to win this match.

The team are making their way back out, somewhat leisurely. No changes for either side, which isn't a surprise, but they can't be far away.

Arsenal get us back underway.

It takes just 37 seconds for Arsenal to win a corner at the start of this second half. The decision is made to play it short and Elneny delivers the ball towards the back post but it's an easy claim for De Gea.

SHOT! Martial eases Jenkinson out of the way before embarking on a run directly at the Arsenal defence. However, his effort is poor, which the ball running through slowly to Cech.

Rashford hasn't had much change out of this Arsenal defence but after the ball falls to him in the penalty area, he fancies his chance of finding the far corner. Mustafi is in his way, however, and throws himself towards the ball to make an excellent block.

It's all United but frustration is building inside Old Trafford. It results in Carrick - usually so calm on the ball - shooting from 30 yards but he scuffs his attempt and it goes wide.

Walcott and Sanchez combine to win Arsenal a corner - it's their first bright spot of the second half. Koscielny is involved in a wrestling match with Jones but the United defender does well to ensure Koscielny's header goes wide.

It's not going to be long before we see Wayne Rooney. He's currently involved in a chat with Mourinho on the touchline.

This has descended into a really poor contest, truth be told. There's very little happening aside from United keeping hold of possession and doing nothing with their final ball. Can Rooney liven things up?

SUBSTITUTION! Martial is the man to make way for Rooney. I'm surprised by that - Martial has been United's best player in this half. It appears that Blind will also be coming on.

SUBSTITUTION! Blind replaces Darmian at left-back. I'm not sure if the Italian has a knock or whether Mourinho is being wary over his yellow card.

United take the lead at Old Trafford and it has to be said, it's fully deserved, They have been much better since the introduction of Rooney and they mark it with a fine goal through Mata. Pogba played in Herrera and the midfielder was able to put the ball into the path of Mata who placed the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Arsenal have offered nothing whatsoever in this second half but they are starting to probe a bit more now. They need to because United are only growing in confidence.

SUBSTITUTION! Wenger finally makes a change and it's Olivier Giroud who comes on for Elneny. That sees Ramsey go into the middle.

That was an opening for Arsenal but they haven't made the most of it. Sanchez's inswinging delivery was a good one but Giroud failed to read the pass and the ball went harmlessly out for a goal kick.

CHANCE! United should be two ahead! It's the unlikely combination of Blind and Rojo which nearly leads to a goal. Blind's excellent cross found his defensive teammate at the back post but he sent his header wide of the far post.

SUBSTITUTION! That's the end of the afternoon for Mata, who is replaced by the more defensively-minded Schneiderlin. The Spaniard's out in another shift for his side today.

Sanchez is having to drop deep to try to get his team going but so far, it's not making any difference. Arsenal are having more of the ball but United have everyone defending in their own half.

Well, well, well. After offering absolutely nothing, Arsenal equalise through Giroud. Rashford doesn't do enough to try to stop Oxlade-Chamberlian getting a cross in and the midfielder's cross to the back post finds the striker, who powers a header past De Gea from six yards.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

United win a late free kick after an handball from Xhaka. This will be their last chance, surely.

It comes to nothing. They tried to play it short but completely messed it up.

The full-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and somehow, someway, Arsenal are returning to North London with a point. United were fully deserving of three points this afternoon and Giroud's header has left United still six points behind the Gunners in the table.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match but please stick around for the rest of the action this afternoon. There's always plenty going on at SM on a Saturday afternoon! Goodbye for now.