Arsenal vs Manchester United: 5 key battles | Premier League 2020-21

Manchester United vs Arsenal - Premier League
Manchester United vs Arsenal - Premier League

#3 Bernd Leno (Arsenal) vs Edinson Cavani (Manchester United)

Manchester United's Edinson Cavani
Manchester United's Edinson Cavani

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)

Marcus Rashford will look to continue his form against the big teams
Marcus Rashford will look to continue his form against the big teams

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)

Thomas Partey ran the midfield against Manchester United earlier in the season.
Thomas Partey ran the midfield against Manchester United earlier in the season.

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.

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Edited by Bhargav
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