Manchester United-Arsenal: Stats You Didn't Know Ahead of Today’s Clash
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Arsenal Aiming for Historic Premier League Feat This Weekend
This weekend, Arsenal heads to Old Trafford with the chance to accomplish an unprecedented feat in Premier League history. After beating Manchester United 2-0 in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium in December, the Gunners extended their active win streak against the Red Devils to four consecutive matches - the longest such run they’ve ever recorded against this opponent in the top flight.
Since the Premier League’s inception back in 1992, only three other teams have managed four wins on the bounce against United. Liverpool were the first to do so in the early 2000s while Sir Alex Ferguson was still at the helm, Manchester City replicated the feat around a decade ago, and Brighton & Hove Albion joined the list in 2023. However, none of the aforementioned were able to secure victory in their following encounter, meaning if Arsenal take all three points this weekend, they would make history as the first team ever to defeat Manchester United five times in a row in the Premier League.
Check out our Manchester United vs. Arsenal prediction right here on SportyTrader!Gunners Look to Breach Rivals’ Old Trafford Fortress
Arsenal’s victory at Old Trafford in May last year, courtesy of Leandro Trossard’s goal, secured their first league double over Man United since the 2006-07 campaign. That triumph was followed by strikes from Jurrien Timber and William Saliba three months ago, which led to Ruben Amorim’s first defeat as manager of the Red Devils. Sunday now represents an opportunity for the Gunners to break a 46-year-old record, as they now have a chance to win back-to-back Premier League matches at the Theatre of Dreams for the first time since the 1970s.
The last time Arsenal achieved this feat was in November 1977, when Malcolm MacDonald and Frank Stapleton sealed a 2-1 win in Manchester, and that was followed up in February 1979, with Alan Sunderland scoring twice, just months before his FA Cup final winner against United. In fact, the Gunners have only ever managed consecutive league wins at Old Trafford on two occasions, in 1962 and 1963. So, if Mikel Arteta’s side can claim victory this weekend, it would mark yet another milestone in this long-standing rivalry.
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Taylor Appointed to Oversee Man United-Arsenal Showdown
Bettors have found great joy in predicting the number of cards and fouls in matches between these two English giants. While the rivalry may not be as heated now as in times past, this is still a fiercely contested battle, evidenced by the 35 fouls and nine yellow cards - including a second booking for Diogo Dalot - in their FA Cup meeting earlier this season. Thus, refereeing a clash between Manchester United and Arsenal is both a privilege and a challenge, given the fixture’s history of intensity.
Anthony Taylor, known for maintaining control without excessive intervention, has taken a relatively lenient approach in matches he has officiated this season. Across 24 Premier League games, he has averaged just three yellow cards per game and only sent off two players during that period. Sunday’s match will mark his fifth time officiating a United game and his fourth overseeing Arsenal. Sunday’s showdown could once again be filled with fireworks, but given the stats, Taylor has shown a preference for keeping his cards in his pocket - something worth considering heading into this box-office matchup.
Find more key stats and insights with our experts' football predictions.
Arteta’s Landmark and Impact at Arsenal Boss
Mikel Arteta is set to become the 14th manager to take charge of 200 Premier League matches for a single club and the 39th overall to reach this milestone. At just 42 years and 348 days old, the Spaniard will be the second-youngest to hit this landmark, only behind Roberto Martinez, who did so at 41 years and 111 days. Arteta also joins an elite group of Spanish managers to reach 200 games in the competition, following in the footsteps of Martinez (265), Pep Guardiola (331), and Rafael Benitez (359).
With 118 wins from his first 199 matches at the helm, Arteta already ranks fifth for the most victories by any manager in their first 200 Premier League games - behind only Guardiola (146), Jose Mourinho (137), Jurgen Klopp (127), and Sir Alex Ferguson (122). He also has the best win percentage (59%) of any Gunners manager in the Premier League, as well as the joint-best points per game (1.96), tied with Arsene Wenger. A victory over the Red Devils will further solidify his growing legacy in English football.
You can find the best online bookmakers for the Premier League right here on SportyTrader!Key Trends Underline Arsenal’s Dominance of Late
History shows that matches between Man United and Arsenal have been tightly contested, with the most frequent scoreline at this venue being a 1-0 victory for the hosts - this has occurred seven times in the past. However, the Gunners have developed a consistent attacking threat at Old Trafford in recent years, finding the net in each of their last 10 Premier League away games against United, scoring a total of 13 in that span.
This trend marks a significant improvement from their earlier struggles at this venue, where they only managed to score in 10 of their first 22 league visits to United’s home, tallying just 11 goals. The Gunners have become far more effective in breaking down United’s defence on their own turf, a positive sign as they look to extend their strong run of form in this fixture.
Don't forget to take a look at the latest Premier League odds ahead of kickoff!Leading Marksmen Absent For Both Sides
Across the history of this fixture, Wayne Rooney has been the most prolific goal scorer, netting 12 times, while David Herd scored 11, though seven were for Arsenal and four were for United. Jack Rowley (9), Thierry Henry (8) and Cristiano Ronaldo (7) round out the top five in the leading scorer category between these fierce rivals.
However, of the current crop of players, the two that lead the standings will not feature this weekend. Marcus Rashford has found the back of the net six times against the Gunners in the Premier League, but he was loaned out to Aston Villa in January shortly after Amorim’s arrival. Bukayo Saka has been Arsenal’s top goal contributor with three goals to his name, but the Gunners' number seven is out injured and is only expected to return to action early next month.
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