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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Chris Watson

Pundits disagree on Manchester United prediction ahead of Arsenal clash

Manchester United are back in Premier League action this weekend when they take on Arsenal.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men face the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).

United will be looking to bounce back following their shock 2-1 home defeat to rock bottom Sheffield United in midweek.

That ended a run of 13 league matches unbeaten and left them second in the table, one point behind leaders Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are up to ninth following a run of five wins and a draw - 10 points behind United.

BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson is predicting a 2-1 defeat to Solskjaer's side in north London.

"I am looking forward to seeing how new signing Martin Odegaard slots into the Arsenal midfield, because he is arriving at a good moment," said the former Liverpool defender.

"They have been playing really well of late, ignoring their FA Cup defeat at Southampton last weekend when Mikel Arteta picked a weakened team.

"Manchester United were poor in their defeat against Sheffield United on Wednesday, and we have seen that sort of home performance from them too often this season.

"Away from home they have been much better, but the Gunners beat them at Old Trafford in November and I have a feeling they will take the three points at Emirates Stadium too."

Former United and Liverpool striker Michael Owen does not agree, though.

Owen is backing his former team to run out 2-1 winners against Arsenal.

"This is a fixture that always fills the column inches and that’ll be no different ahead of this weekend’s clash," said Owen in his latest BetVictor column.

"Arsenal have turned the corner after being so poor before the turn of the year and United could do no wrong until their huge slip up at home to Sheffield United.

"That said, it is away from Old Trafford where I have been most impressed with Manchester United. If they can employ similar tactics as they did home and away against Liverpool, I think they could nick this on the break.

"Marcus Rashford is so hard to pick up when United are on the counter-attack, and if he’s in the same form as he was in the FA Cup against Liverpool, I can see him getting on the scoresheet."

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