Arsenal are back in Premier League action tomorrow evening just days after their memorable North London Derby win. However, the games aren’t getting any easier as they now face a trip to Old Trafford to face a struggling Manchester United side. However, they’ll be without the suspended Granit Xhaka after the Swiss midfielder received his 5th booking of the season against Spurs.
Here’s our official team news ahead of #MUNARS…
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) 3 December 2018
Last time Arsenal travelled to Old Trafford was back in April and Xhaka was given the captain’s armband for the clash as the Gunners fell to a 2-1 loss. However, this time around he’ll be watching on from the stands and hoping that his teammates can pick up another three points after they did so well to overcome Tottenham on the weekend, coming from 2-1 behind to win the game 4-2 after an incredible second 45 minutes.
It certainly won’t be easy, though. Unai Emery will likely draft Matteo Guendouzi into the starting lineup alongside Lucas Torreira to play the double pivot in Xhaka’s absence, although they will certainly miss the Swiss midfielder considering how well he’s been playing over the last few weeks. Usually, Xhaka comes in for heavy criticism from the fans so it says a lot that the Gunners are all citing how much they’ll miss him when they travel to Manchester.
You can see exactly what the Arsenal fans have been saying about Xhaka here:
https://twitter.com/Lacazettes/status/1069658064213737473
Definitely going to miss Xhaxa in the middle of the park. Been outstanding so far this season.
— George (@GMcCudden) December 3, 2018
Big big absence against United. We needed Granit for this match. He has shown true leadership. Hope Guendouzi fills his void.
— Xhoi Kallupi (@Xhoi_23official) December 3, 2018
Xhaka is very important but i reckon torreira + ramsey/guendouzi + ozil might just be enough.. we also need to find a way to rest star boy Torreira.
— Müf Lion (@mufasa_gooner) December 3, 2018
Can @FA suspend the suspension if Xhaka in order to get suspended next time
— ATG 23¹ (@superELfeezle) December 3, 2018
Hope we don't miss Granit
— Nirvik (@_nirvik_) December 3, 2018
Gonna be tough minus Granit. But I trust @UnaiEmery_ !!! I know he's analysing Man u videos/games. Strength and weaknesses. We need Lacazette & Auba individual brilliance. This is a match Ozil can be key.
— Bonny K'ochieng' (@orengbonny) December 4, 2018
Xhaka is going to be a very big miss
— Chuck Robert (@ChuckRobert2) 4 December 2018
The Gunners aren’t looking forward to playing at Old Trafford without Xhaka and will just hope they can get some sort of result away at United for the first time since March 2015.
