Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Santi Cazorla are among those to miss out, while Alexis Sanchez and Marouane Fellaini are doubtful.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended for the visit of Arsenal
Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger have both been providing updates on the fitness of some of their key players ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime, with each side missing some key players.
The hosts will be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Swansea. The Swede’s absence is a blow for United, as he played himself back into form with a brace in South Wales but must now sit out the match against the Gunners.
Ibrahimovic’s absence opens up an opportunity for United’s other attacking players to impress.
Marcus Rashford announced himself on the Premier League stage in the corresponding fixture last season, while Wayne Rooney is fit to play and has a point to prove after attracting headlines this week.
Left-back Luke Shaw is also available after missing the win over Swansea, but fellow defenders Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly are both out.
Marouane Fellaini and Antonio Valencia are doubtful for the clash at Old Trafford, in which a United defeat will see them slip nine points behind their opponents.
The visitors go into the match sweating on the fitness of Alexis Sanchez, who came through Chile’s World Cup qualifier with Uruguay on Tuesday unscathed and even scored twice in the process.
He landed back in London on Thursday and, according to the Arsenal website, texted Arsene Wenger to say he felt fine. The Frenchman will discuss matters with the player ahead of the trip to Old Trafford, with Wenger mindful that the forward is still recovering from a hamstring strain.
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez
Wenger knows he must cope without Spanish duo Hector Bellerin and Santi Cazorla this weekend.
Bellerin will be out for around a month after picking up a knock in the closing stages against Spurs, while Cazorla is yet to return to training as he recovers from a calf injury.
Long-term absentee Danny Welbeck remains unavailable for the trip to his former employers, and the England international is joined on the sidelines by Lucas Perez, Per Mertesacker and Chuba Akpom.
How big a blow is the loss of Ibrahimovic to the hosts? Should Sanchez start for Arsenal? Leave your thoughts below.
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