The Gunners have been lucky lately, as some underwhelming EPL performances haven’t punished them in the standings. A big reason for that is Manchester City’s poor run of results, which has allowed Mikel Arteta’s side to stay comfortable at the top of the table and even extend its edge over the biggest title contender.
United also played their part in this by beating City in last weekend’s Manchester Derby. But now the Red Devils head to the Emirates looking to derail another title contender. They have no pressure, yet are fired up ahead of this event, which puts them in an excellent position.
Stay tuned for the preview and picks for this event, and if you want more EPL odds, just follow this link.
Arsenal VS Manchester United Preview
Arsenal
Arsenal come into this match riding a 12-game unbeaten run across all competitions. Arteta’s unit won 10 and drew 2 during that span, with the most recent being a UCL victory in Milan over Inter, 1-3.
This season we are on a mission
Drop a ❤️if you think we’re winning a treble this season pic.twitter.com/MSxk1dRN0g— Tobbennarico of Arsenal 🔴⚪️🇳🇬 (@Tobennarico) January 21, 2026
At home, they had strung together 11 consecutive wins before being held to a scoreless draw by Liverpool a couple of weeks ago. Overall, the Gunners are playing the most convincing football in England right now, and possibly Europe, as they dominate in the Champions League as well.
Defensively, Arsenal have been outstanding, conceding just 14 goals in 22 league matches. Meanwhile, Saka, Gyökeres, and company have combined for 40 goals. The Emirates has been a fortress this season as well, with the Gunners still unbeaten at home in league play, recording 9 wins and 2 ties.
Manchester United
United finally put an end to a rough stretch that included three straight league draws and an FA Cup exit at home against Brighton. All of that faded into the background after last weekend’s 2–0 win over Manchester City in the Manchester Derby. It was a performance worth gold for this fallen giant, which hasn’t found its rhythm ever since the season began.
The victory was especially meaningful for Michael Carrick, who enjoyed a dream debut as United’s manager. With Sir Alex Ferguson and Nemanja Vidić watching from the stands, Carrick couldn’t have asked for a better first statement.
Knowing when stages come to an end.
Knowing when to say goodbye when you feel that you will be remembered and respected forever.
Four months to give my all for this badge and for our goal.
Eternal respect and affection for Manchester United and its wonderful fans.
Forever Red… pic.twitter.com/sCjgNyrimw
— Casemiro (@Casemiro) January 22, 2026
United’s away matches have been wide open lately. Both teams have scored in their last nine road games, and all but one of those contests featured over 2.5 goals. It’s a constant for this unit, and the defense appears very vulnerable away from home. Even though strikers manage to deliver, that’s all nullified by the catastrophic performance of the back line.
Arsenal VS Manchester United Head-to-Head
Arsenal won the reverse fixture earlier this season, grinding out a 1–0 victory at Old Trafford. United haven’t beaten the Gunners in a Premier League match since 2022, and recent meetings between these sides have been tight, with four straight games finishing under 2.5 goals. Therefore, it’s safe to say that Gunners dominate recent games against United.
Arsenal VS Manchester United Prediction
Arsenal enter as deserved favorites, but United arrive full of confidence and with very little pressure on their shoulders. When allowed to sit back and wait for the counter-attack, the Red Devils can be dangerous, and we’ve seen that against Sity a week ago.
That said, facing Arsenal at the Emirates is a completely different challenge from the Manchester Derby. With their form and home dominance, the pick here is Arsenal to get the win, and we really don’t have any doubts about that at all.
