Arsenal have named a surprisingly weak team for today's Premier League clash with Manchester United as Arsene Wenger, perhaps understandably, is clearly prioritising Thursday's Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid.
The Gunners could only draw 1-1 with an Atletico side that played much of the match with ten-men in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final last week and they will be desperately looking for a positive result in the second leg Spain as the competition is effectively keeping their season alive.
David Ospina starts in goal at Old Trafford and he is in front of a defence that includes Hector Bellerin, Callum Chambers, Sead Kolasinac and Konstatinos Mavropanos. The midfield includes Granit Xhaka, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Alex Iwobi and Reiss Nelson, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang offering some much needed quality and experience to the starting line-up.
For Manchester United, Antonio Valencia has overcome a muscular problem and is fit enough to take on the captaincy. He is on the right side of a defence that includes Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof, while Paul Pogba starts in midfield with Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Jese Lingard.
Alexis Sanchez starts against his former club and the in-form Romelu Lukaku is up front as Manchester United bid to extend a ten-match unbeaten run in home league fixtures against Arsenal since 2006 (won seven, drawn three).
United have the chance to complete the 'double' over Arsenal in a season for the first time sine the 2011/12 campaign.
