How Man Utd and Arsenal could line-up this weekend

11:34am on Saturday 31st October 2020
By Martin Macdonald

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may opt to utilise a diamond formation in this weekend's huge clash with Arsenal.

The Norwegian decided on the tactical alteration before the Champions League clash with RB Leipzig during the week. It paid, off, with the Red Devils running out as emphatic 5-0 winners.

Due to how successful the diamond proved to be, he may stick with it against the Gunners.

Whether he opts to include the same personnel is a different story, with Bruno Fernandes more than likely to be brought back into the starting XI.

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That could be at the expense of Donny van de Beek, who was substituted for the Portuguese on Wednesday.

Scott McTominay is pushing for a place in the starting XI, too, but the balance of Nemanja Matic, Fred, and Paul Pogba worked well against the German side, so Solskjaer may stick with that.

One definite change will be Anthony Martial not being included as he is serving the last game of a suspension. That will likely mean Edinson Cavani or Mason Greenwood partnering Marcus Rashford up top.

Rashford didn't start the game against Leipzig, but came on to score a second half-hat trick. He became the first player to score a hat-trick off the bench for United since Solskjaer himself did it back in 1999.

The hosts will be without Alex Telles after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Arsenal were predictably comfortable winners over Dundalk in the Europa League, with Mikel Arteta having made a raft of changes for the game.

Expect senior players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Thomas Partey, and Bernd Leno to be recalled for the clash versus United on Sunday.

Arteta still has some defensive issues, with David Luiz, Rob Holding, Pablo Mari, and Calum Chambers all missing.

Willian is back in contention to play after recovering from a knee injury, though.