Arsenal – Manchester United Preview: Visitors look to put Gunners’ Premier League ambitions to the sword

EPL: Patrice Evra & Alexander Song, Manchester United v Arsenal

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Johan Djourou continues to deputise for Thomas Vermaelen, who came through 90 minutes of a reserve game in midweek (coincidentally against Manchester United) following his lengthy spell on the sidelines, but is unlikely to be considered ready for a return to Premier League action just yet. In the Belgian’s continued absence, Arsene Wenger is expected to keep faith with the side that ran out losers to Bolton earlier in the week.

It seems unlikely that Sir Alex Ferguson will risk playing Rio Ferdinand three times in a week, so Chris Smalling will probably come in. Otherwise, Michael Carrick will have the opportunity to build on his accomplished midweek performance in the Champions League while Dimitar Berbatov will likely feature on the bench after returning from injury.

• Stuttering Arsenal have won only one of their last seven league games – drawing five in total.

• Flawless Manchester Unted have kept clean sheets in their last three games.

• Manchester United have won the last four encounters against Arsenal – the last time they won five on the trot was between 1983 and 1985.

• Arsenal have drawn their last three games at the Emirates, scoring only one goal – and that from the penalty spot.

• Robin van Persie is the Gunners’ top scorer with 19 goals in all competitions this season.