It didn’t sound realistic, but Arsenal and Manchester United turned the Premier League “upside down”. The Gunners and the Red Devils are sitting at the top of the English Premier League, which at around this time last year seemed like science fiction. Arsenal especially shine, they look unstoppable and only the company from Old Trafford has managed to bring them to their knees so far. In recent years, any excitement surrounding this clash has relied directly on its tradition, but it is finally coming to life once again.This is not a title showdown. At least not yet. Any suggestion that the race for top spot could turn into a showdown between the two old foes was soundly dismissed in midweek at Selhurst Park and the Etihad. Even if United win, they will be five points clear of Arsenal, who have played a game less. The bigger picture, however, is that the Gunners and Red Devils are finally threatening each other again in the fight for a place on the podium, not just fifth or sixth place.Arsenal vs. Manchester United is never short of drama 😅 pic.twitter.com/XJ8GZxdXXc— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 22, 2023 Arsenal are the best team in this season’s Premier League and will win it if their level does not drop and Manchester City do not rediscover the fire that Pep Guardiola feels has been lost. The London side take on a United side who have won nine of their last 10 matches on all fronts and are looking powerful under Erik Ten Hag. A return to the Champions League would be enough for most at Old Trafford, but United are third, have almost caught their local rivals and know as well as anyone that momentum is an intoxicating drug.Mikel Arteta probably knows how to appreciate the difference. His first win as Arsenal manager came against Manchester on New Year’s Day 2020. Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos scored against a poor United side and, while Arsenal played well, that fact alone is enough to highlight what has changed. It has been a painstaking process but Arteta, with the support of the club’s management who knew he had to encourage a change in both culture and quality, looks very much ready to get the job done.Arsenal finished eighth that season, United were third, but finished 15 points behind second-placed City and even 33 points behind champions Liverpool. It took Arteta three years to complete what appears to be a complete turnaround. His feat will surely fit that definition once Arsenal start winning major trophies again. Ten Hag, too, deserves credit for bringing United up to a competitive level so quickly after joining a club that had lost direction and soul.A new era of rivalry. 🤝@Arsenal | @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/cJsw3pRt2R— Premier League (@premierleague) January 22, 2023 “Really impressive. He turned things around quite quickly. He implemented a very clear way of playing. The players seem to have accepted it, there is a good energy around the team and a lot has changed in a short time,” Arteta said of his colleague’s results.The Dutch manager did not spare praise for Arteta, but at the same time added that he believes in the success of his players.”Arsenal are doing really well at the moment and they certainly deserve to be first. They have a winning mentality, a great attitude and that’s why they’re in the top. Despite that, I believe we have a great chance to win. The team is in a good mood and everyone knows very well what we need to do in order to win,” Ten Hag pointed out.Clarity and consistency are what, with the right players, have borne fruit for Arteta. The most difficult moment for many coaches is when their players do not listen despite all their warnings, and Arteta does not take his time with those. But it seems that Basque has entered the brains of his players and that he can believe that his team will be at a certain level regardless of the result. Arteta knows what he is going to get on the pitch and that reliability, more than anything else, paves the way to the title.The feeling is that United don’t have that yet, although Ten Hag has made the Red Devils into a side that can win as a team as well as through individual quality. A late goal conceded against Crystal Palace in midweek was the kind of accident that would have happened to Arsenal last season. This time, the Gunners did not allow many such mistakes and therefore they are several steps ahead of their closest followers.Your Arsenal x Manchester United combined XI based on available players, as voted by you on our Instagram story ✅Who would you change? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/tU9OteaM1y— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 22, 2023 Only Granit Xhaka remains from that Arsenal’s 2020 starting XI and Arteta’s first game against United, and five players from that 2-0 loss should feature in Ten Hag’s starting line-up, assuming Fred replaces the suspended Casemiro.Arsenal’s transformation continued on Friday with the arrival of Leandro Trossard from Brighton, and the signing of sweeper Jakub Kiwior, who plays for Serie A side Spezia, should soon follow. Trossard knows how to strike the death blow for the Red Devils, having already scored one in the Seagulls’ triumph over 4-0 United last May, four weeks after bursting through Arsenal’s defense in north London. Arsenal were hoping that Mykhailo Mudryk would be the last piece of the attacking puzzle, but they may have found a new hero for this game in the form of the Belgian. There are many candidates for that role in tonight’s clash at the Emirates. Whether it’s Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Martin Odegaard or Christian Eriksen.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Arsenal will certainly not use the services of Gabriel Jesus and Nelson. Elneny could be available again after a minor injury. United will be missing several players – Casemiro, Sancho, Dalot, Tuanzebe and Van de Beek will not play in the match. A question mark hangs over Martial’s start.It’s been a long time, but this clash is once again one of those that shouldn’t be missed…PREMIER LEAGUESaturdayLiverpool – Chelsea 0-0Bournemouth – Nottingham Forest 1-1 (1-0)/Anthony 28 – Surridge 84/Leicester City – Brighton 2-2 (1-1)/Albrighton 38, Barnes 63 – Mitoma 27, Ferguson 88/Southampton – Aston Villa 0-1 (0-0)/Watkins 77/West Ham United – Everton 2-0 (2-0)/Bowen 34, 41/Crystal Palace – Newcastle United 0-0Sunday17.00: (2.55) Leeds (3.40) Brentford (3.00)17.00: (1.22) Man.City (6.75) Wolverhampton (14.0)19.30: (1.95) Arsenal (3.60) Man.Utd. (4.20)Monday23.00: (3.35) Fulham (3.50) Tottenham (2.30)***odds are subject to change
