Mikel Arteta hopes Arsenal to continue momentum in the Premier League title race as they host Manchester United on Sunday (January 25) at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have been unbeaten in their last 12 matches across all competitions, including a solid run in the Champions League, where they've won all seven group games. This fixture carries immense historical weight, pitting two of English football's giants against each other in a rivalry that has defined the Premier League era.
Arsenal, currently challenging for the top spot, will look to capitalize on home advantage against a United team showing signs of revival under interim boss Michael Carrick. With a packed schedule ahead, Arteta emphasized the need for squad depth and tactical adaptability
to overcome United's threats.
Arsenal Team News vs Man United: Calafiori, Hincapie Return
In terms of team news, Arsenal received a significant boost with defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie returning to training after muscular and thigh issues, respectively. However, their inclusion remains uncertain, as Arteta revealed a final call will be made post-training.
"We still have another training session, so we'll see tomorrow, after that, to assess everybody and make a decision, first of all, in the squad," Arteta stated during his pre-match press conference. He confirmed no fresh injuries emerged from their recent Champions League victory over Inter, adding, "No, after Inter we had no issues reported. "
Up front, Arteta has a wealth of options with Gabriel Jesus, Viktor Gyokeres, and Kai Havertz all vying for spots. Jesus impressed with a brace in midweek, while Gyokeres has shouldered much of the goalscoring burden without a full pre-season.
Arteta highlighted the positive impact of this competition: "He started without a pre-season and a lot of minutes and a lot of responsibility on him. Now the fact that we have other options as well, I think it's something really positive, especially for the squad, and you could see the other day, Gabi [Jesus] scoring two goals, Viktor coming on and making an impact to win the game. "
Havertz, sidelined for nearly a year due to hamstring and knee problems, is nearing a return, with Arteta stressing careful management of the German player. The versatile German can feature in multiple attacking roles, providing flexibility.
Arteta also warned of United's dangers, particularly on transitions, "They are so good in a lot of departments. It is clear that when that team has a space to run in a certain place to activate or run, they become lethal. You saw that a few days ago in Manchester. They have a lot of attributes to cause you problems. "
With Arsenal's squad largely fit and firing, this match could hinge on exploiting United's vulnerabilities while containing their counter-attacks. The Gunners will aim to deliver a performance befitting their ambitions, setting the tone for the remainder of the campaign.
