Manchester United’s injury crisis has eased slightly with the news that captain Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Lisandro Martinez are back in training.
However, it does appear that manager Erik ten Hag will have to continue with a very makeshift back four that shipped four goals against Crystal Palace on Monday night.
Andre Onana will keep his place in goal when United face Arsenal on Sunday evening. The Cameroon international didn’t cover himself in glory at Selhurst Park, with many believing he was at fault for at least two of the four goals conceded. Even so, he is ten Hag’s undisputed no.1 and there is no chance that he will be dropped between now and the FA Cup final at the end of the month.
With Martinez not fit enough to start, and the likes of Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof still unavailable, it means the Red Devils will have to stick with Casemiro and Jonny Evans as the centre-back pairing. Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are expected to start on the two flanks.
In midfield, Mason Mount has had yet another injury setback, so he will drop out of the starting eleven with Fernandes taking his place. The Portuguese international did not feature in the Palace defeat, having picked up a hand injury.
McTominay could also be brought back into the team in order to provide the backline with more protection. Christian Eriksen would be the favourite to make way, with Kobbie Mainoo retaining his position.
Up front, Rashford’s return means that Antony will be benched for the match at Old Trafford. Alejandro Garnacho is, therefore, likely to switch to the right wing, with Rasmus Hojlund leading the line.
Manchester United’s Predicted XI to face Arsenal
Onana, Dalot, Casemiro, Evans, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Fernandes, Mainoo, Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford