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Preview: Arsenal vs. Manchester United

Preview: Arsenal vs. Man Utd
© PA Photos
Sports Mole looks ahead to Arsenal's Premier League meeting with Manchester United.

Arsenal will be looking to maintain their hopes of a top-four finish when they host newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

Arsene Wenger's side are the division's in-form team going into the match, having won five and drawn one of their last six games to reignite their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Last weekend's 1-0 win at Fulham moved the Gunners up to third place in the table.

United's 3-0 victory over Aston Villa on Monday evening sealed the title for the Old Trafford outfit with four games of the season remaining.

Sunday's game will see United striker Robin van Persie returning to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since leaving Arsenal last summer.

Arsenal could be without Mikel Arteta after the midfielder picked up an ankle injury against Fulham, with Jack Wilshere likely to be recalled. Olivier Giroud will sit out the first game of his three-match ban after his sending-off at Craven Cottage, with Theo Walcott or Lukas Podolski in line to replace him up front.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are expected to start for United after both were rested for the win against Villa, while Tom Cleverley could replace Michael Carrick in midfield.

Recent form

Arsenal: WWWWDW

Man Utd: WWLWDW

Possible starting lineups

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott; Podolski

Man Utd: De Gea; Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Buttner; Cleverley, Jones, Kagawa, Nani; Rooney, Van Persie

Sports Mole says: 1-1


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Written by
Steven Toplis

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger prior to his side's match against West Bromwich Albion on April 6, 2013
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