January 12th 2025.
Today, all eyes are on the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal prepares to take on Manchester United in the highly anticipated FA Cup third-round tie. After an impressive 13-game unbeaten streak, Mikel Arteta's team suffered a surprising loss at home against Newcastle, putting their hopes of reaching the Carabao Cup final in jeopardy. On the other hand, United ended their four-game losing streak with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Liverpool in the Premier League last week.
Despite their recent winless run of five games, Ruben Amorim, United's manager, remains optimistic about his team's performance against the current league leaders. Both teams are now shifting their focus to the FA Cup, with United being the defending champions after their stunning upset victory against Manchester City in the previous season.
In preparation for today's game, Arsenal may make some changes to their starting line-up after a lackluster performance in their midweek loss. Striker Gabriel Jesus, who has scored six goals in his last six games, could make a comeback into the starting XI after being benched against Newcastle. He is expected to be flanked by Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, as Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri continue to recover from their respective injuries.
Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling, who missed the festive period due to a knee injury, returned to the squad against Newcastle. However, he remained unused on the bench, adding to his frustrating spell at the Emirates. As for the predicted line-up for Arsenal, Arteta may opt to bring back Riccardo Calafiori in defense, replacing youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back. On the other hand, United seems to have a mostly fit squad for today's game, with manager Amorim likely to stick with a settled line-up following their impressive display against Liverpool.
Amorim did, however, confirm that there will be one change in the starting XI, with Altay Bayindir set to replace first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana. While Mason Mount is still sidelined with a thigh injury, Amorim has recently stated that Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof are close to returning to full fitness. Additionally, Marcus Rashford, who missed the Liverpool game due to illness, is available for selection today. However, it remains to be seen if he will feature in Amorim's first-team plans, as his future at Old Trafford is uncertain.
Here's a look at the predicted line-ups for both teams - Arsenal with Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Odegaard, Rice, Trossard, Jesus, and Martinelli, and Manchester United with Bayindir, Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot, Amad, Fernandes, and Hojlund.
For fans wondering where to catch the action, the Arsenal vs Manchester United game will kick off at 3pm GMT and will be broadcasted live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer for viewers in the United Kingdom. Coverage of the game will begin at 2:35pm. It's bound to be an exciting match, so make sure to tune in and show your support for your favorite team!
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