Seeking revenge on the only team to have beaten them in the Premier League this season, table toppers Arsenal host third-placed Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners can open up an 11-point gap over Erik ten Hag's side with victory in front of their ardent fans, while the visitors endeavour to stay within touching distance of Manchester City.

Match preview

Receiving a kick in the back from a supporter after producing a man-of-the-match performance in the North London derby, one can expect Aaron Ramsdale to continue his wind-up merchant tactics in front of the Man United end if Arsenal continue to destroy almost any foe in their path.

Ramsdale came up with a number of crucial saves against Tottenham Hotspur before being targeted by a spectator - a 35-year-old man has since been charged with assault in connection with the incident - and at the same end of the field in the first half, Hugo Lloris's own goal and a sublime Martin Odegaard effort were just reward for a thoroughly dominant Arsenal display.

Things could have got even better for Mikel Arteta's side if Thomas Partey's sensational volley made the net ripple rather than making the woodwork rattle, but yet another win in the top flight extended Arsenal's lead at the top to eight points following Manchester City's derby defeat to Manchester United.

That gap has been cut back down to five after City recorded their own win over Spurs, but Arsenal - who now have a game in hand on the champions - are on the verge of breaking the 50-point barrier at the halfway point, which would put them on course to match Man City's centurions of 2017-18.

While rivals supporters enjoy pointing out that there is still a long way to go in the Premier League season, Arsenal are answering nearly every examination that has been put before them and are unbeaten in their last 12 top-flight games - winning 10 of them.

Newcastle United may have ended Arsenal's 10-game winning streak at the Emirates earlier this month, but the Gunners have not conceded a single goal since the turn of the year and have all the motivation they need to right the wrongs of their Old Trafford defeat.

The Red Devils faithful would have likely shown more emotion than Michael Olise did after his stunning free kick on Wednesday night, as Ten Hag's side missed the chance to temporarily rise to second in the rankings with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

A sublime Christian Eriksen-Bruno Fernandes combination saw the latter curl home to give the Red Devils the lead just before the break, but a scorcher of a free kick from Olise cannoned off the underside of the bar on its way in during second-half stoppage time, denying Man United a 10th successive win in all tournaments.

Still sitting pretty in third place as Ten Hag works his magic, Man United have an eight-point gap to make up to Arsenal and a three-point deficit to make up to Man City, whose vastly superior goal difference should keep them safe in the runners-up spot for now.

The Red Devils may drop to fourth by the time that Sunday rolls around if Newcastle can do what they could not - beat Palace away from home - but a 16-game scoring streak certainly serves as reason for optimism ahead of a trip to North London.

Not since being thumped 4-0 by Brentford in August have Man United failed to score away from home in the league, and only two of their nine road games since have ended in defeat, although they also have just one clean sheet to their name on rival turf since October.

Man United exposed the shortcomings of a youthful Arsenal side with a 3-1 win at Old Trafford in September - although it has since been reported that VAR made a mistake in disallowing Gabriel Martinelli's goal for a foul on Eriksen by Odegaard - and Arteta masterminded victory by the same scoreline over the Red Devils at the Emirates last season.

Team News

Coming through the North London derby unscathed - with Ramsdale fine despite being targeted by a disgraceful supporter attack - the Arsenal lineup will pick itself with Gabriel Jesus still facing several weeks out with a knee injury.

Reiss Nelson is also unlikely to be back from a hamstring issue in time for Sunday, while Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares will both need assessing after picking up knocks, although the duo's chances of starting this one were minimal anyway.

Another goal for Bukayo Saka would see him become only the third Arsenal player to score in three consecutive league games against Man United, following in the footsteps of the esteemed Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry.

The Gunners have now confirmed the signing of Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion, and having registered the Belgian attacker before 12pm on Friday, they are "hopeful" that he can make his debut here.

Faces were palmed across the Man United fanbase when Casemiro cynically scythed down Wilfried Zaha at Selhurst Park - picking up his fifth yellow card of the season and incurring a suspension for this crucial clash.

Fred should therefore come in to partner Eriksen in the middle, while Jadon Sancho has returned to training after following an individual programme but is unlikely to be considered for a start just yet.

Diogo Dalot and Anthony Martial's issues will also need assessing, while Axel Tuanzebe and Donny van de Beek remain out, but Jack Butland will be back on the bench after being unable to face his parent club.

Should Martial not be deemed fit enough, another start will come the way of Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst, forcing Marcus Rashford - who has four goals and four assists from 10 league starts against the Gunners - out wide.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Eriksen, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst

We say: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United

Arsenal's perfect defensive record may still be intact in 2023, but Ramsdale had to bail them out on several occasions in the North London derby, and they have often struggled to keep the back door shut at the Emirates this season.

However, it remains difficult to pick out a weak link in this scintillating young squad, and with Man United working without their chief midfield enforcer in Casemiro, we can only picture the Gunners passing yet another test of their title credentials.

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