Talking Points: Man. United Vs Arsenal

Arsenal will provide the opposition on Saturday as Manchester United make a welcome return to action in the first of four consecutive Old Trafford matches. The Reds are hungry to bag a positive Premier League result and, here, we present five talking points ahead of the action...

A CHANCE TO MAKE A STATEMENT
Saturday’s match kicks off at 12:30 GMT and a victory over an in-form title contender would unquestionably send a strong message to the rest of the division. United are sixth in the table and a positive result against third-placed Arsenal would naturally put pressure on the other teams above the Reds, with Tottenham Hotspur (West Ham away), Manchester City (Crystal Palace away) and leaders Liverpool (Southampton away) all in action later in the day. Chelsea, who are currently second, travel to Middlesbrough on Sunday.

IBRAHIMOVIC IN THE STANDS
Top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic earned a fifth yellow card of the season in United’s 3-1 win at Swansea last time out and that means the Swede will miss Saturday’s match as he serves a one-match ban. “I'm sorry I am suspended,” the 35-year-old striker told MUTV. “I wish I wasn't as it's a game I really wanted to play in. But I have trust in my team-mates and the team. I know they can do fine without me.”

WHO WILL DEPUTISE FOR ZLATAN?
Wayne Rooney may seem like the natural choice but it remains to be seen if the captain will be fit for selection, after returning from England duty on Monday with a minor knee injury on Monday. His absence could pave the way for 19-year-old Marcus Rashford to deputise, 265 days after the teenager scored twice against Arsenal on his Premier League debut. Anthony Martial might also get the nod, with the Frenchman presumably fit and raring to go after spending the international break at the Aon Training Complex.

SANCHEZ SHOULD BE FIT
An ongoing story throughout the international break was the fitness of Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez, after the former Barcelona man suffered a muscle injury while training with Chile. Any doubts over his availability dissipated on Tuesday night, however, when the South American scored twice and won the Man of the Match award in a terrific 3-1 comeback victory over Uruguay in the World Cup qualifying competition. We can therefore expect to see the diminutive powerhouse in action at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

MOURINHO’S EXCELLENT RECORD
Here’s a fact to impress your mates with… Jose Mourinho has not lost any of his 13 league and cup matches against Arsene Wenger so far, securing seven wins and six draws. The Gunners boss has triumphed over the former Chelsea manager just once, in the 2015 Community Shield.