Arsenal vs Man United
Rashford has had 3 shots on target so far this season, so 1.03 p/90
He was United’s top scorer last season, and he was incredible.
He’s not been his best this season, but he does relish playing against Arsenal.
He scored 3 times against The Gunners in their 2 league meetings last season, having 2 shots on target in each game.
Bruno has been United’s prime creator this season, and has really stepped up to the mark following his promotion to captaincy.
He’s had 3 shots on target so far, 1.00 p/90.
He had 2 last week, and 1 against Spurs (although that should’ve been more).
He’s on penalty duty, and is an option from free kicks, especially from closer range.
Fernandes is brilliant at arriving late in to the box, but is also a threat from range with his brilliant distance shooting.
Dalot is covering at left back in the absence of Luke Shaw, and it’s safe to say he struggled in that position last week.
He made 3 fouls vs Forest.
He’s always rash in a challenge, and he comitted a foul in the win over Arsenal last season; he didn’t play at The Emirates.
Bukayo Saka is his direct opponent. Only Havertz has been fouled more times than Bukayo, who’s been felled an average of 2 times/90.
Across the 2 league meetings with United last season, Saka was fouled 6 times, 4 of those came at The Emirates.
On the whole, Rice is pretty disciplined. However, in a game like this, I can see that being a much harder line to toe.
Bruno Fernandes was fouled more times than any other Man United player last season, by a considerable distance.
If reports are correct, Partey is also absent from todays game, which leaves Rice as Arsenal’s only defensive minded midfielder.
This puts considerably more pressure on him, and will have him covering much more ground.
Although disciplined, he’s not perfect, Rice made 2 fouls against Forest.
He comitted a foul for West Ham against United last season, too.
In tougher games, he often did foul, at least once (vs City, United, Liverpool, Spurs, Fiorentina and Brighton x2).
He also made 3 against Arsenal and Newcastle.