Anthony Martial
Spotlight will be on Anthony Martial when Manchester United visit the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on Sunday evening  Getty

Arsenal welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (4 October).

Where to watch live

Kick-off is set for 4 pm BST. Live coverage is on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Live Radio commentary is available on BBC Radio 5 Live. Catch the highlights of the game on Match of the Day 2 on BBC One and BBC One HD at 10.30pm BST.

Overview

Arsenal welcome the 20-times English champions to the Emirates Stadium in a crucial clash that could have repercussions on the Gunners' title challenge this season. The Red Devils are three points ahead of their opponents and could reclaim their place at the top of the Premier League table from Manchester City with a win.

Arsene Wenger is adamant that his team's home form will dictate their chances of challenging for the title. They have not beaten United at home since May 2011, and Wenger will hope to end the heartbreak on Sunday evening. The north London club are coming into this game under considerable pressure following their disappointing home loss to Olympiacos in the Champions League, and will desperately want to lift the mood at the Emirates ahead of the international break.

The Gunners' injury troubles refuse to subside, with Laurent Koscielny the latest casualty. The Frenchman is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury and will join Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosocky and Danny Welbeck on the sidelines. The latter three being long-term absentees after undergoing surgery for their respective injuries.

Meanwhile, United come into this game on the back of a successful week that saw them reach the summit in the Premier League and record their first Champions League group stage win against Wolfsburg. They have been overtaken at the top of the league table courtesy of Manchester City's 6-1 over Newcastle United on Saturday (3 October), but Louis van Gaal will be keen to get back to the top, with a win at the Emirates Stadium.

The Dutch manager is confident his team can emulate last season's result, when they took all three points despite Arsenal being the better team on the day. The Red Devils received a boost as Michael Carrick recovered from a minor injury that kept him out for their midweek Champions League clash, and Phil Jones is also in line for a return to the first-team squad.

The spotlight will be on teenage-striker Anthony Martial, who was on Arsenal's radar, but is now looking to pile on the misery and continue his blistering start in the Premier League. He arrived from Monaco in the summer, and has dispelled initial doubts about his potential with four goals in five games in all competitions for United.

Arsenal's home form has been sketchy this season, they have already lost against West Ham United in the league, while the Red Devils are unbeaten in their last four league meetings at the Emirates, but have never gone five games unbeaten in the Premier League era.

What managers say

Arsene Wenger: "You have to compare it to Leicester - we got a fantastic result as they had not lost a game. We want to continue our run in the Premier League against a big opponent. It is very tight up there and we have a good opportunity."

Louis van Gaal: "I like very much the way Arsenal play football. I think they may be the best team in the league, but they do not win so much. Why that should be the case is a question for Arsène Wenger, not me, but I think Arsenal have a lot of players who can play in the way we want to play, with a good tempo and a high ball speed."

Betting odds (888Sport.com)

  • Arsenal to win: 24/23
  • Manchester United to win: 14/5
  • Draw: 27/10

Team news

Arsenal

Probable Lineup: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Sanchez, Walcott.

Manchester United

Probable Lineup: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Mata, Rooney, Memphis, Martial.

Premier League Arsenal FC Manchester United FC Arsene Wenger