By Frank Kamuntu
Manchester United are set to be boosted by the return of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford against Arsenal.
Fernandes sat out Monday’s miserable 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace and Rashford has missed the last three games, but both players are back in training and available to face the Gunners.
Scott McTominay is also back in contention and Erik ten Hag faces a big decision over whether to start Casemiro at centre-back after his nightmare night against Palace.
Lisandro Martinez is not ready to return for United despite being back in training and Jonny Evans remains their only fit central defender, so Ten Hag is short of options.
Harry Maguire hopes to be fit for the FA Cup final but he misses out this weekend. Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane and Willy Kambwala remain sidelined.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot are set to continue as the full-back.
McTominay could offer some more steel in midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
Mason Mount misses out after sustaining another injury.
“Rashy, of course, he trained this morning, and we have to see how he recovered from this,” said Ten Hag on Friday.
“But I think it looks quite good and I hope he can tomorrow make the next training and then see if he is available for Sunday.”
Luke Shaw’s return has been delayed but Ten Hag still hopes the left-back can feature again this season.
Ten Hag said: “Luke Shaw had a setback in his process as well but there is still a hope and he will fight to be available for the final.”
Predicted Man Utd XI: Onana; Dalot, Casemiro, Evans, Wan-Bissaka; McTominay, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Doubts: Fernandes, McTominay, Rashford
Injuries: Malacia, Maguire, Shaw, Martial, Varane, Lindelof, Kambwala, Martinez, Mount
On Arsenal’s side, Bukayo Saka is expected to shake off injury and start for Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Saka sustained a gash to his left shin in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth and has trained with a bandage on his leg this week.
Mikel Arteta said on Friday that Saka was a doubt to face Manchester United – but the winger has demonstrated his robustness this season and is set to hand Arsenal a major boost.
Arsenal have fitness concerns over Takehiro Tomiyasu after he was absent from a session at London Colney this week and instead worked indoors, sparking fears he might not be fit.
Should Saka and Tomiyasu be available then Arteta will name the same starting XI for the fourth match in a row.
Most of the Arsenal team picks itself, with Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey starting in midfield.
Kai Havertz will continue to lead the line, while Leandro Trossard is being preferred ahead of Gabriel Martinelli on the left.
Arteta could name Jurrien Timber in the Arsenal squad for the first time since the opening weekend of the season after his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Arsenal will be looking to respond after Manchester City beat Fulham 4-0 on Saturday to move above the Gunners at the top of the Premier League.
City are now two points ahead with two games to play, but Arsenal know victory at Old Trafford would pile pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of their trip to Tottenham on Tuesday.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Doubts: Saka, Tomiyasu
Sunday 18.30pm EAT
Venue: Old Trafford
Referee: Paul Tierney
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