Manchester United’s game against Arsenal at Old Trafford is crucial for both sides.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Reds have had a miserable start to the campaign, and followed up a dismal 2-0 away defeat to West Ham by scraping past League One opposition Rochdale on penalties in the Carabao Cup.
United, currently sitting in eleventh place in the league, would move up to sixth with victory tonight.
Unai Emery’s Arsenal, meanwhile, go fourth with an away win their their 5-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the league cup this week.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has given his thoughts ahead of the match.
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“Manchester United seem very pessimistic, the supporters going into the game,” Carragher said pre-match, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.
“You can understand, it was really poor last week and obviously what happened against Rochdale. But it’s still Old Trafford and it’s still a big thing for teams to go there.
“There was talk of Leicester going there a few weeks ago to beat Man United, but it’s not easy going to Old Trafford no matter what team it is, it’s still Manchester United and Arsenal’s record is really poor away from home, we know that. Going back to Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery hasn’t changed that. But I think if Man United get Pogba on the pitch and Rashford, if they’ve got a half decent side I think United will beat them.
“I’ll go 2-1 Man United.”
Carragher is right that there is a pessimism around the fan base at the moment but that is completely justifiable. Solskjaer’s side have shown little to give fans much faith, starting this season in the same way they ended last campaign in a whimper. Many would be surprised to see a home win tonight.
With Marcus Rashford’s fitness in doubt and Anthony Martial still ruled out through injury, Mason Greenwood may have to be relied upon to deliver in attack against what is one of the less assured defences in the top half of the league.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are without star striker Alex Lacazette, but have more than enough fire power up front in Pierre-Emerik Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe to cause the Reds real problems.
