Manchester United face off against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, with both teams struggling to pick up points and are stuck in the bottom half of the table.
It is expected to be an electric fixture with both sides expected to battle it out for all three points.
Let us take a look at the top three key clashes that could decide the fate of the game tomorrow.
Marcus Rashford vs Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal have a cause for concern as their star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has netted just one goal in his last six appearances for the Gunners. With both Lacazette and Aubameyang going through a dry patch at the moment, their results have suffered as Arsenal lost back-to-back league games against Manchester City and Leicester without scoring a goal.
The 31-year-old recently signed a new contract tying him to the club until 2024 but his performances have tanked in recent weeks and he is yet to score a league goal since then. He has managed just eight shots despite having played nearly all 90 minutes in six league fixtures. Having said that, Aubameyang still is a lethal striker who needs just half a chance to score and he will hope to bag a goal against Manchester United and end his dry run.
Despite all the attention the young forward has received in recent weeks for his actions off the field, Marcus Rashford has been in tremendous form on the pitch.
The 23-year-old came off the bench against RB Leipzig in the Champions League to bag a second-half hattrick as United thrashed the Germans 5-0 in a resounding victory for the Red Devils. Despite their impressive wins over PSG and Leipzig in Europe, United are struggling to pick up wins in the league and Rashford will be instrumental in deciding if the outcome of the game swings in Manchester United’s favour.
Fred vs Thomas Partey
Arsenal landed Thomas on a £45m transfer in the summer and could potentially prove to be one of their most important signings this summer. The 27-year-old has played just three games for his new club and is still settling in at Arsenal but there is no doubt that he will have a massive role to play in this fixture.
With Manchester United likely to start with Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood in midfield, Partey’s physical presence will be called upon to stop counter-attacks and control the tempo of the game from the middle of the field. The Ghana international is a solid defensive midfielder who can play just off the defenders which allows his midfield partners Ceballos and Xhaka to bomb forward during attacks.
Fred joined United back in 2018 on a highly anticipated £52m move from Shakhtar Donetsk. The Brazilian struggled to adapt to the fast paced nature of the league and had a difficult first season at the club. However the 27-year-old finally seems to have found his role in the team as he has put in some very impressive performances in recent weeks.
He excelled during Manchester United’s Champions League clashes against Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig and has imposed himself as a regular part of Solskjaer’s team this season.
Both midfielders will be coming up against the pace and trickery of two outstanding midfields and attacks and it remains to be seen which defensive midfielder comes out on top tomorrow.
Bruno Fernandes vs Willian
Bruno Fernandes has often been trolled on social media by rival fans accusing him of being a penalty merchant and his lack of contribution from open play. But the Portuguese midfielder has excelled in his favored diamond formation and has shown there is more to his game than just penalties in recent weeks.
He is ranked just behind Kevin De Bruyne in forward passes per 90 out of all midfielders in the league this season and has been a great addition to the attacking setup under Ole. Since his move to England in January the playmaker has quickly established himself as a regular starter at the club and one of the best in the league in his position.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted that they had missed the services of the former Chelsea man Willian who had been sidelined due to a calf injury in recent weeks.
The 32-year-old winger is yet to score a goal for his new club but there is no doubt of the quality that he possesses. Arsenal have certainly lacked creativity in their previous league fixtures against Manchester City and Leicester and Arteta will hope that the return of Willian will spark a return to form for Aubameyang.
