Mikel vs. Michael takes centre stage in Premier League gameweek 23, when Manchester United endeavour to halt Arsenal’s title charge in Sunday afternoon’s Emirates extravaganza.
A whopping 15 points separate
the two behemoths in the Premier League table, but with Michael Carrick at the helm, the good times have already returned for the Red Devils.
The newly-reappointed Carrick witnessed Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu silence the Sky Blues in that 2-0 victory, Man Utd’s first in any competition since Ruben Amorim oversaw a 1-0 top-flight triumph over Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
Immediately back on track in the race for Champions League football, the Red Devils start the weekend just one point adrift of Liverpool in fifth place, and they have not lost their scoring touch throughout the tough times.
Indeed, the visitors have now found the back of the net in each of their last 11 games in all tournaments, as well as each of their last nine on the road, although they have failed to keep a single clean sheet on their travels in that time too.
In fact, Man Utd have conceded in all of their away matches in 2025-26, an unsightly statistic before visiting an Arsenal side whom they have lost five of their last six Premier League games against, including August’s agonising 1-0 defeat at the Theatre of Dreams.
Carrick will still be missing Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt owing to his back injury, while Joshua Zirkzee is also touch-and-go due to a knock but would have never made the first XI here.
Africa Cup of Nations runner-up Noussair Mazraoui should be back available, but Carrick will surely be loath to make any alterations to the side that took down the Citizens last weekend, meaning another start in the engine room for Kobbie Mainoo.
The Englishman will join forces with Casemiro – confirmed to be leaving the club at the end of the season – and Bruno Fernandes, who created a stellar six chances against Pep Guardiola’s men last weekend.
Premier League Schedule
It’s an afternoon kickoff in the UK, which means an early afternoon kickoff on the East Coast of the U.S.
Premier League Channel
The match is on Sky Sports Premier League in the UK. Those Stateside can watch on Peacock streaming. In Canada, it’s on DAZN and Fubo.
Everyone else, head on over to LiveSoccerTV to find your viewing options.
Predicted Lineup
Manchester United possible starting lineup: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Diallo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo
