This is a match that many are keen to watch as Arsenal will host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Wednesday, December 4. The home side is currently in great form, while for the visitors, this is the first major test for their new head coach, Ruben Amorim.
As we all know, over the past several years, Arsenal and Manchester United have been one of the fiercest rivalries in English football. Although the intensity of their meetings has somewhat decreased recently, encounters between these two sides are always talked about. We have some pre-match insights to get you excited for the game ahead of Father's Day.
Arsenal's Historic Opportunity
Although in past seasons, Arsenal has often had a squad as strong as or even stronger than Manchester United's at times, they have never managed to win against the Red Devils four times in a row in the league.
However, Mikel Arteta's team has won their last three league encounters against Manchester United: a 3-2 victory in January 2023, a 3-1 win in September of the same year, and a 1-0 victory last May. This means that Arteta's team now has the opportunity to achieve this historic feat for the first time in the club's history. Will they achieve it? Head to we88 and place your bets now!
Nightmare Trip
Believe it or not, in the last 9 league matches where Manchester United visited Arsenal, they have lost 7 times. The two times they earned points were a 3-1 victory in December 2017 and a 0-0 draw in January 2021.
Additionally, in their previous 20 visits to the Emirates Stadium across all competitions, Manchester United has only won 6 times. The remaining matches include 10 Arsenal wins and 4 draws. Only two teams have won more often than Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium across all competitions: Manchester City with 9 wins, and Chelsea with 7.
Hating the Capital
In the last 18 league matches where Manchester United has had to travel to London, they have lost 11 games and won only 2. Both of those wins came against Fulham, whereas in the 13 previous league matches in London, they had never lost a match and won 8 times.
Defeater of Devils
Currently, Arteta has won 6 out of 9 league matches against Manchester United as Arsenal’s manager, with only 2 losses. This means Arteta’s win percentage against Manchester United in the league is 67%. Among all managers who have faced Manchester United in at least 5 Premier League matches, Arteta has the highest win percentage.
Saka the Troublemaker
So far, Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's winger, has been involved in 5 goals in Premier League matches against Manchester United. This includes 3 goals and 2 assists. In the entire history of Arsenal, only Thierry Henry has contributed more, with 12 goals in games against Manchester United.
Do You Believe in Superstitions?
According to English time, this match will kick off at 20:15. Previously, Arsenal has only won 2 out of 17 Premier League matches against Manchester United when starting at 19:00 or later. The remaining 15 matches have seen Manchester United win 6 times, while 9 matches ended in a draw.
In contrast, Manchester United has often had good luck with midweek league games (games played on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday). In their last 7 matches played in this schedule, they have won 6 and lost only once, scoring a total of 23 goals.
It’s in the Past! Arteta Says No Revenge Against Amorim
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, said he does not see the upcoming match against Ruben Amorim as an opportunity for revenge, despite his team preparing to host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, December 4, in the Premier League.
Going back to the 2022-23 season, Arsenal faced Sporting Lisbon in the Round of 16 in the UEFA Europa League, with Amorim being the coach of Sporting at the time. Ultimately, Arteta's team was eliminated after a penalty shootout, with the aggregate score tied at 3-3.
When asked if Arsenal would approach this game with a mindset of revenge against Amorim, Arteta responded, "It’s not about revenge. In football, it’s another opportunity. It will be a very different game compared to the one we had a week ago against Sporting, and that’s very different from two years ago. The past game doesn’t have any meaning now."
The Spanish manager also commented that Amorim has already instilled his own style at Manchester United, even though he only took over recently. "You can immediately see his style of play. He is very clear about that."
"Previously, he had great success with Sporting. The championships he won there were remarkable, especially after the team had been far from winning titles for years. It’s even more impressive considering the approach he used. He brought new energy and ideas to the club and the players, which is always great, but we must focus on what we need to do."