Super Sunday’s big game comes from Old Trafford, as two former players turned managers test their wits against one another, with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal making the trip up north to take on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United. Both sides will be coming into Sunday’s showdown on the back of European wins, With a second-rate Arsenal side breezing past Irish outfit Dundalk, and United smashing five past RB Leipzig on Wednesday. Both will be looking to use Sunday as a real momentum builder, after inconsistent starts in the Premier League.

Solskjaer’s United side will be hoping to build on some positive performances come Sunday, most recently the aforementioned midweek drubbing of Julien Nagelsmann’s Bundesliga leaders. But the nightmare of Spurs’ 6–1 victory at the theatre of dreams will still be fresh in the mind of the Red Devils, who will likely approach the game with a similar caution to the 0–0 bore-draw with Chelsea.

Team news

Deadline day signing Alex Telles is unavailable for Sunday’s clash, with the former Porto full-back self isolating after testing positive for Covid-19. United’s №9 Anthony Martial will be back in the stands for the last of his three match ban, following his red card for violent conduct in United’s defeat to Spurs. Marcus Rashford is expected to start down the middle after a sublime hat-trick topped off an incredible week or so for the Pride of Britain award winner.

The visitors currently have a close to full strength team, and with Arteta’s decision to field his reserves in Thursday night’s 3–0 win Vs Dundalk, the autumn fixture congestion won’t be causing too many problems for The Gunner’s main men. David Luiz is likely to be missing after sustaining a thigh injury against Leicester, and fellow centre-back Rob Holding is still recovering from a hamstring problem he picked up in the warm up before Man City. With Pablo Mari and Rob Holding currently working their way back to fitness after long-term injuries, numbers are short at the back.

The likelihood is that Granit Xhaka will fill in as the third centre-back, with an industrious midfield two of Thomas Partey and Dani Ceballos. Brazilian winger Willian made his return from injury in the 62nd minute of Arsenal’s midweek fixture, and will again be available for selection, likely starting on the left.

Tactical Preview

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have been struggling for goals recently, drawing two blanks in their respecitve 1–0 defeats to Manchester City and Leicester. Last season’s top-scorer and talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is currently suffering his worst league goal drought in six years, with no goals in his last 5 games.

The former Man City assistant has, however, proved his own tactical prowess with the introduction of a flexible 3–4–3 / 4–4–3 formation. Against high-pressing sides, Goalkeeper Bernd Leno and his back three, along with Arsenal’s double-pivot in midfield, effectively create triangles to allow them to play out from the back. If cornered, the two touchline hugging full-backs are usually free for a lofted chip from Leno. United seem more likely however to hold a deeper line, allowing the Gunners possession in their own defensive third; It’s this approach that Arsenal seem to struggle against. The double-pivot in midfield is at risk of becoming outnumbered and overrun by United’s midfield. In this instance, Alexander Lacazette may drop deeper to make up the numbers, however nullifying his own attacking threat. Arsenal also lack the necessary creative spark in such tight attacking areas, so chances may well be at a premium for an already sluggish forward line.

United will look to build on the positive attacking play that earned them so much praise midweek. A switch in formation from a 4–2–3–1 to a 4–1–2–1–2 with a midfield diamond, gave Donny Van De Beek and Bruno Fernandes the opportunity to drop inbetween the lines, with an energetic midfield three providing a base of stability. It also found a spot for Paul Pogba on the left of the central three, without undermining Bruno Fernandes’ influence as the main playmaker.

Against Arsenal’s back three, Fernandes’ ability to drop into pockets of space and work the ball quickly to their front two will prove pivotal. Partey and Ceballos will already be occupied by United’s midfield three, leaving Fernandes behind the midfield line. Arsenal’s spare centre-back will then have a decision to make; hold their back line and allow Fernandes time to turn and run? or push out of defence and try to get tight? If the latter decision is made, a quick reverse through ball from the Portuguese playmaker will release Rashford and Greenwood who will be 2v2 against Arsenal’s centre-backs.

A tactic that proved successful on Wednesday night, for Rashford’s first goal in the 74th minute. The ball was played up to Fernandes, and as the Leipzig centre-back rushed up to close him down, he played an inch perfect, first-time reverse pass to Rashford, who ran clear and slotted home. Played to perfection, and something to worry about for Mikel Arteta.

A coming together of two former Premier League titans on Super Sunday, both hoping to bring back the glory days in the not-so-distant future, and both hoping to start that this weekend. The formations of both sides will have a significant impact on the narrative, and outcome of the game, as Solskjaer will ponder the diamond, and Arteta will consider the back three. We will all be hoping for another classic between the two.

Likely Manchester United line-up: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindeloff, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay, Pogba, Fernandes; Rashford, Greenwood.

Likely Arsenal line-up: Leno; Mustafi, Gabriel, Xhaka; Bellerin, Ceballos, Partey, Tierney; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang

Kyle’s prediction: Unfortunately, I don’t see too many goals with this one. The Gunner’s lacklustre attack will struggle to find any space in a packed and energetic middle third, and even when they do, they lack the creativity to make it count. United’s formation will affect the game massively, and if they do go for a diamond in the middle, I’m backing them to nick it on the counter. 2–1 United.

By Kyle Newbould

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[23 Year Old Kyle Newbould is one of the best up and coming football journalists and we’ve managed to snap him up before any of the big tabloids do! This will not affect the TIPS in any way, shape, or form. Simply an excellent addition for us all, giving us that extra focus on the big games when I’m sometimes caught up in the Lower Leagues around the world!]