Will Mourinho Unleash Pogba Against Arsenal, or Shut the Man Utd Shop Up?

Following a monotonous international break, even a mundane slate of domestic football is enough to get fans of football excited. The games don’t have to be good. They just need to be contested by two club sides.

But the Premier League fixture computer has thrown us a great, juicy bone upon our latest return from FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying: Manchester United vs. Arsenal. It’s a classic matchup, a staple of the season, and this one promises to be no different—even if half the players are seemingly injured.

Arsene Wenger vs. Jose Mourinho is a storied rivalry whether either manager likes it or not. The fact the Frenchman has never beaten his opposite number in the league is a stick often used to beat him with (he’s only managed to triumph over him in the Community Shield), while Mourinho’s perceived recent demise is a topic of much chatter no matter the week.

Many will feel this is Wenger’s biggest chance ever to finally get one over Mourinho, but given Arsenal have won just three times at Old Trafford since the Premier League’s inception in 1992, there are others who will fear the bogey ground which never yields joy for the Gunners.

Manchester United Team News

Mourinho’s in a bit of a bind this week with issues plaguing almost every area of the pitch. Injuries and suspensions have conspired to give him a limited list of players to pick from.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a big miss due to the accumulation of five yellow cards. He played superbly against Swansea City just before the international break and ended his goal drought. To be without him for this one is rough. Marcus Rashford will probably deputise, though, pleasing the terraces.

Wayne Rooney has been passed fit, per Simon Johnson of The Evening Standard, and could continue on the left flank—a position he played well in against the Swans. Ander Herrera is available again after his red card against Burnley and will likely re-enter the team. Juan Mata’s fit, but Mourinho doesn’t tend to start him in “big” games.

The big issue, though, is the defence. It’s an area that has been ransacked by injuries. The back line of Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian held up surprisingly well in South Wales, but you’d expect perhaps Daley Blind to come back in on the left and Darmian to move to the right. Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Antonio Valencia are all out.

Arsenal Team News

Arsene Wenger is missing fewer players …

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