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A new game-week in the 2020-21 Premier League brings another top battle, as Manchester United travel to North London to face an in-form Arsenal side.
This has been one of the greatest Premier League rivalries with goals, drama and excitement right from the first whistle. With both managers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mikel Arteta requiring a win, nothing gets better than beating an old rival.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be hoping for an immediate response from his players after Manchester United dropped three crucial points in a 2-1 home defeat against bottom-placed Sheffield United.
Meanwhile, the home side have got things rolling after a shaky start to their campaign. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six games, winning five of them, which includes a win over Chelsea.
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The Gunners won at Old Trafford earlier this season, thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty.
Manchester United have struggled at home in recent times, and in fact, are unbeaten on the road in 17 league games. On that note, let us take a look at five key player battles that could decide the game's outcome:
#5 Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) vs David de Gea (Manchester United)
Alexandre Lacazette's upturn in fortunes has played a major role in Arsenal's revival.
The Frenchman has five goals and an assist in his last six league games. Lacazette is Arsenal's top scorer this season and has already bagged eight goals in the Premier League.
He is averaging one key pass per game in the Premier League this season and is getting involved in the team's build-up more than ever before. However, Lacazette will have to get the better of David de Gea, who is in recent impressive form.
At the start of the season, there was a lot of talk about who would be the number one goalkeeper for Manchester United. Solskjaer trusted the Spaniard over the very talented Dean Henderson, and the move has worked till now.
De Gea has averaged over two saves a game and has been solid for his side this season. The 30-year old also has fond memories of playing at the Emirates, especially that amazing performance back in 2017.
#4 Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) vs Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Bukayo Saka is living the dream at Arsenal. The teenager has been sensational in the Premier League this season and is most likely the front-runner for the Young Player of the Season award.
The 19-year old is a danger every time he gets on the ball. His movements are clever; he can beat his man and is also a threat in front of goal. Only Lacazette has scored more goals for Saka in the Premier League for Arsenal this campaign.
However, Saka will be up against another Englishman in this game: it will be Manchester United's Luke Shaw who could be entrusted to stop Arsenal's young prodigy.
Luke Shaw has been United's unsung hero this season. He has been a reliable player who is hitting his stride at just the right time. The competition from Alex Telles has only eked out the best of the English full-back, who has surely delivered this season.
#3 Bernd Leno (Arsenal) vs Edinson Cavani (Manchester United)
There is still a debate about who should be Manchester United's number 9 in this key game against Arsenal.
Edinson Cavani should get the nod over Anthony Martial and rightly so. His ruthless efficiency and conversion rate make him a threat every time he takes the field. With creators like Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba in their ranks, Manchester United require a deadly finisher, and Cavani is that player.
It takes something special to stop a player like Cavani from not scoring. Arsenal's Bernd Leno could be that player.
He has been absolutely solid this season. Not only is he an amazing shot-stopper, but the 28-year old is also good with his feet, which allows Arsenal to play from the back.
The German has averaged 2.4 saves per game this season and has kept seven sheets. Leno has bailed out Arsenal many times this season and will be looking to do the same against Manchester United too.
#2 Rob Holding (Arsenal) vs Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
It was against Arsenal, Marcus Rashford announced himself on the big stage.
A brace on his Premier League debut against Manchester United's arch-rivals was a dream start to what has been an exciting career so far.
At 23, Rashford is a key player for Manchester United and has played 162 league games already. However, his recent form is disconcerting, as the winger has scored only once in his last eight games in all competitions. Nevertheless, Rashford is known for scoring against the big teams, and Solskjaer will hope that is the case this weekend.
Meanwhile, Rob Holding has been a consistent performer for Arsenal this season. There has been little to no buzz about his performances, and the 25-year old has been quietly going about his business.
With Rashford cutting in from the left and making runs behind the defenders, Holding will have to be at his best to deal with his pace and trickery.
Arsenal legend Tony Adams has said that Rob Holding is Arsenal's captain in the making, and the Englishman will surely have to play like one of the Gunners want to get all 3 points against Manchester United.
#1 Thomas Partey (Arsenal) vs Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
The midfield battles win games more often than not. In this respect, the match-up between Arsenal's Thomas Partey and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes could have a massive impact on the outcome of the game.
Partey has been a revelation for Arsenal in midfield. Be it defensive solidity or moving the game forward, Partey has been at the hub of everything.
The Gunners have conceded just twice in their last six games in all competitions and have been a hard team to beat. The 27-year-old gives a new dimension to the Arsenal team.
His gigantic physical presence and relentless running will be needed especially against the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in midfield. The Ghanaian limped off during Arsenal's impressive win over Southampton but is expected to start against Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes has completed one year as a Manchester United player, and words aren't enough to describe what the Portuguese has achieved during this period.
In 52 appearances, the 26-year old has scored 28 goals and provided 18 assists, drawing similarities with Eric Cantona's talismanic turnaround in Manchester United's fortunes more than two decades ago when the Frenchman arrived at Old Trafford.
Fernandes has been the best player in the league during this period and has changed the look of Manchester United. However, he has gone without a goal or assist in his last four games and will look to put end that mini drought against Arsenal.
