United head into the match on the back of an encouraging victory over Manchester City last weekend, a result that marked a successful return for Michael Carrick to the Old Trafford dugout.
Carrick’s first game back in charge ended in a comfortable win over their city rivals, a performance that lifted confidence and kept United firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish.
The challenge awaiting United is a significant one, with Arsenal arriving in the contest full of belief. Mikel Arteta’s side have not suffered defeat since the beginning of December and continue to build momentum both domestically and in Europe.
That form was underlined on Tuesday night when the Gunners claimed an impressive 3-1 victory over Inter in the Champions League, further boosting confidence ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
De Ligt’s absence is a notable blow for United. The defender has not featured since the 2-1 win away at Crystal Palace at the end of November due to a back injury. Initial assessments suggested the issue was not serious, but he remains unavailable for this weekend’s match.
“He has been carrying a bit of an issue, but hopefully, we’ll get him back in some time soon. It’s been a little bit slower than what they thought previously,” said Carrick when asked about De Ligt.
United are also monitoring the fitness of Joshua Zirkzee. The forward was absent from training on Wednesday and was not included in the squad for the Manchester City match.
