Arsenal host Manchester United in a massive Premier League clash on Saturday night and both sides have revealed their lineups for the tie at the Emirates Stadium.
The team news is in – and @LacazetteAlex starts#AFCvMUFC pic.twitter.com/6Xzh3MsRqm
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 2, 2017
The Gunners, who are the only side apart from United to boast of a perfect home record this season, have sprung a surprise as striker Alexandre Lacazette has been declared fit to play against the Red Devils despite having suffered a groin injury in mid-week.
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, two players linked to United as they are in the final year of their contracts with the North London side, line up behind Lacazette while Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka are anchoring the midfield.
Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac are the starting wing-backs in Arsenal’s 3-4-3 system with Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal playing in front of veteran custodian Petr Cech.
Here’s your #MUFC team to take on Arsenal. Our starting XI is unchanged from Tuesday night’s win at Watford. #ARSMUN pic.twitter.com/r2NcFVRH9l
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 2, 2017
United, who are seeking to trim the gap between themselves and leaders Manchester City, are trotting out in their customary 3-4-3 formation with Romelu Lukaku leading the line alongside Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard.
Nemanja Matic, an injury doubt, has been given the green signal to play and the Serbian partners Paul Pogba in midfield with Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia reprising their roles as wing-backs.
David de Gea retains his place in goal behind a three-man defence of Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo.
Arsenal, fourth in the league table, can cut the gap between themselves and United to a solitary point if they can beat their arch-rivals in Saturday’s late game.
Winning the game is imperative for United as not only are City threatening to run away with the league title but Chelsea have drawn level on points with them after beating Newcastle United earlier in the day.
Arsenal: Cech, Koscielny (c), Mustafi, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Sanchez, and Lacazette.
Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia (c), Lindelof, Smalling, Rojo, Young, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Martial and Lukaku.
Match starts at 1730 GMT/2300 IST.