Arsenal vs. Man United
Arsenal vs. Man United

Arsenal vs Manchester United: Date, Time, Venue

One of the Premier League’s defining rivalries takes centre stage on Super Sunday as Arsenal welcome Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium in Matchday 23 — a fixture that can tilt the title race, and reshape the top-four conversation in one afternoon.

  • Match: Arsenal vs Manchester United

  • Competition: Premier League (Matchday 23)

  • Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026

  • Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

  • Kick-off: 16:30 GMT (UK) / 11:30 AM ET (USA)

Read more:

- Premier League Matchday 23 Full Schedule: TV Coverage, Big Games and Predictions

- Premier League Broadcast Rights in 2026: Full Breakdown of Global TV and Streaming Deals

The Situation Before Kick-off: What’s at Stake?

Arsenal: leaders with momentum (and depth)

Arsenal arrive as Premier League leaders and have looked increasingly like a team built to go the distance. The biggest difference this season is not just style, but control: they’ve consistently managed game states, limited opponents’ chances, and found ways through tense matches even when not at their fluent best.

They also come in off an eye-catching European result: a 3–1 UEFA Champions League win away to Inter Milan on January 20, with Gabriel Jesus scoring twice — a performance that immediately reignited debate about Arsenal’s best front line for the run-in.

Manchester United: searching for consistency, showing flashes

United’s league form has been uneven, but they’ve shown they can rise for big occasions. Most notably, Sky Sports’ form line shows a 2–0 win over Manchester City on January 17, which will give them belief they can compete with elite opponents — if they stay organised and ruthless in transition.

That’s the tension inside this match: Arsenal’s structure and control versus United’s ability to land punches on the break.

Team News: Fitness Updates and Selection Storylines

Note: Final line-ups are confirmed about an hour before kick-off. What follows reflects the latest widely reported updates.

Arsenal team news

Arsenal’s headline selection question is up top. Gabriel Jesus’ brace at Inter was his loudest statement since returning from a long ACL rehab, and Reuters reported he has not yet been a regular Premier League starter since that return — leaving Mikel Arteta with a genuine decision: reward the form, or stick with the established league formula.

In terms of availability, a betting/information listing from RotoWire notes Piero Hincapié “remains out” (thigh) and that Cristhian Mosquera was an unused substitute recently, suggesting availability.

Arsenal selection watch:

  • Does Jesus start after his Champions League impact?

  • Do Arsenal keep their usual control-heavy midfield shape to suffocate transitions?

Manchester United team news

United’s defensive stability has been a season-long storyline. A recent Sports Illustrated injury round-up (ahead of the Manchester derby) noted Matthijs de Ligt had missed multiple matches, underlining how availability and continuity at centre-back has been a challenge.

United selection watch:

  • Do they set up compact and counter, or try to press Arsenal higher?

  • How conservative are the full-backs, given Arsenal’s threat in wide areas?

Head-to-Head: Rivalry, Edge, and Recent Patterns

Arsenal vs Manchester United rarely needs extra narrative, but context matters. In the modern Premier League era, this fixture has swung with cycles: Wenger vs Ferguson defined one era; more recently, it has often been decided by small tactical margins — who controls midfield space, and who wins the duel between wide runners and full-backs.

What’s different now is the table pressure. Arsenal host this match as leaders; United arrive needing points to keep momentum in the European chase. The emotional temperature will be high — but the team that stays patient usually benefits.

Tactical Preview: How This Game Could Be Won

How Arsenal will try to win

Arsenal’s plan is likely familiar: dominate territory, keep the ball in United’s half, and create repeated decision-making stress for United’s back line. They’ll try to:

  • pin United’s wingers deep with full-back overlaps,

  • create cutback chances by getting to the byline,

  • press immediately after losing possession to stop counters before they start.

The danger for Arsenal is not possession, but turnovers. If they lose the ball in the wrong zones, United can break quickly.

How Manchester United can hurt Arsenal

United’s best route is efficiency in transition. Against a team that plays high and squeezes space, the key is:

  • one clean first pass forward,

  • runners attacking the channels,

  • and arriving numbers for the second phase.

United’s 2–0 win over City last weekend (per Sky’s form line) suggests they can execute a disciplined big-game plan when focused.

Key battle: Arsenal’s rest-defence (how they guard counters while attacking) vs United’s speed and directness on the break.

Odds and Betting Lines: Who’s Favoured?

Markets make Arsenal clear favourites.

RotoWire’s listed moneyline (example sportsbook line) implies:

  • Arsenal win: -170

  • Draw: +290

  • Man United win: +475

OddsShark’s projection also leans Arsenal, showing a similar favourite profile (Arsenal around -172 in their predicted ML line).

(Odds vary by bookmaker and can move during the week.)

Prediction: Arsenal vs Manchester United

This feels like a classic “big-six” match shaped by one or two moments. Arsenal’s advantages are clear: home crowd, strong structure, and a habit of controlling games. United’s upside is also real: they can frustrate, then strike quickly if Arsenal over-commit.

If Arsenal score first, the match could open up and suit their rhythm. If United keep it level late, pressure shifts to the leaders.

Prediction: Arsenal 2–1 Manchester United

Arsenal to control territory; United to threaten on counters; a narrow home win in a high-intensity contest.

Read more: All Ways to Watch Every Manchester United Matches (Premier League) from Anywhere

How to Watch Arsenal vs Man United (Worldwide)

United Kingdom

  • Live TV: Sky Sports

  • Streaming: Sky Go / NOW (Sky’s streaming option is referenced by Sky’s “Get a NOW Sports Membership” on the match page)

United States

  • NBC platforms: NBC / USA Network / Peacock carry Premier League matches across the season

  • This match streaming page: Peacock has a dedicated listing for Arsenal v Man United

Canada

  • Fubo Canada is the Premier League’s exclusive home in Canada for the 2025/26 season and beyond, streaming all matches

Australia

Australia’s rights shifted: Optus announced it would transfer Premier League rights to Stan from August 2025, with Stan promoting “Optus Sport on Stan” as the new home.

Europe and worldwide

For official broadcasters by territory (Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, Americas), the Premier League maintains a rights-holder directory covering the 2025/26–2027/28 cycles.