Manchester United gunning for home rule over top four rivals Arsenal

Both Manchester United and Arsenal have gone through heated encounters which have decided the fate of the Premier League trophy in previous seasons but, with Chelsea having stormed to a title triumph, this time Old Trafford will be the setting for Champions League position battle.

Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils were toppled by the Gunners in their FA Cup quarter-final clash earlier in the campaign, but they rallied to a narrow league triumph at the Emirates and are 15/4 to win to nil on home soil.

As far as domestic rivalry goes, these two teams have collided in some of the most ferocious top-flight fixtures down the years, but recently tensions have eased with both sides having dropped of the domestic silverware chase. Both teams will be without key strikers and England internationals, though, as Wayne Rooney has been ruled out with a dead leg and Danny Welbeck is unfit to face his boyhood club.

Arsene Wenger’s relationship with former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson eventually mellowed before the Scot retired, and Arsenal’s French manager has been surprisingly full of praise for his new opposite number in this fixture.

“He [Van Gaal] is a top quality manager,” Wenger said. “He first had to learn to know his squad and then of course to restore belief in the team.

“To me he has done that well. He has shown he has the personality to be at a club of that size which is very important. Overall he is in a good way.”

A win for the Gunners (2/1) would solidify their position in the top three and, with a game in hand over their rivals, would almost make sure of an automatic Champions League spot. Although, United have been a dominant force at home this season and could potentially spoil Wenger’s hopes of third place.