United ended a run of three top-flight matches without a victory last time out, beating struggling Swansea City by three goals to one at the Liberty Stadium. The Red Devils performed with an attacking swagger that has been absent from many of their encounters this term, with a goal from record signing Paul Pogba and a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic ultimately making the difference at the Liberty Stadium. Mourinho will be desperate to see his side to build on that victory on Saturday afternoon and ensure they do not follow their previous step forward with another two back, particularly as it is Wenger's Arsenal outfit who will be providing the opposition at Old Trafford.
The Gunners extended their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur immediately prior to the international break. Arsenal found things difficult in the opening 25 minutes but wrestled back control thereafter; in the end they were slightly unfortunate not to pick up all three points, but a draw was not a particularly bad result after their excellent recent run. Wenger's charges find themselves in fourth spot after winning seven and drawing three of their first 11 fixtures, but only two points separate them from Premier League leaders heading into the weekend's action.
The yellow card picked up by Ibrahimovic against Swansea rules him out of Saturday's game, with Wayne Rooney (a slight doubt with a knee injury), Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford the contenders to lead the line in his absence, while central defenders Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling remain sidelined with a knee ligament injury and broken toe respectively. It will be interesting to see whether or not fellow defender Luke Shaw will be included in the matchday squad after Mourinho suggested that he lacked bravery and character when he declined to play against Swansea due to the fact that he was carrying a knock.
Alexis Sanchez sustained a calf injury while on international duty with Chile but will be fit enough to start after playing in Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat of Uruguay. Lucas Perez (ankle), Per Mertesacker (knee), Hector Bellerin (ankle) Danny Welbeck (knee) and Chuba Akpom (back) remain out, meanwhile, while Santi Cazorla could also miss this crunch clash with an ongoing Achilles issue. Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi will join Sanchez in a fluid front three, with Olivier Giroud – who is taller and thus provides more of an aerial threat – providing a ready-made plan B on the substitutes’ bench.
It is probably worth backing a draw between Manchester United and Arsenal, who could cancel each other out at Old Trafford. 1-1 looks like a sensible option in the correct scoreline market, with Mesut Ozil - who has considerably improved his form in front of goal this term - a tempting proposition to find the back of the net anytime.
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