Manchester United expected XI vs Arsenal as Erik ten Hag makes two big changes

Erik ten Hag is expected to make two big changes as Manchester United face Arsenal in the first of their three pre-season fixtures in the USA.

Manchester United’s pre-season began on a disappointing note with a 1-0 loss to Rosenborg in Norway. However, five days later, Erik ten Hag’s team showed improvement with a 2-0 victory over Rangers.

On Wednesday afternoon, the United squad departed from Carrington to Los Angeles, gearing up for three pre-season friendlies against Arsenal, Real Betis, and Liverpool over the next two weeks.

Read More: What Jason Wilcox said about set-piece expert Andreas Georgson amid strong Man United links

United and Arsenal faced each other during the 2023 pre-season, where goals from Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho secured a 2-0 win for Erik ten Hag’s men. The two Premier League outfits also took part in a penalty shootout, which United won 5-3.

After not travelling to Norway, André Onana played the full 90 minutes against Rangers and is expected to continue as he faces Arsenal in pre-season. Onana did not face Arsenal during pre-season last summer after his move from Inter Milan.

The four who started against Rangers are also expected to continue in defence. Leny Yoro made his unofficial debut for the club during the 2-0, playing 45 minutes and impressing alongside Jonny Evans.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the only senior full-back who travelled to the USA, so he will almost certainly keep his place, while Sam Murray has impressed at left-back, having started both friendlies so far this summer.

In midfield, Toby Collyer enjoyed rightful plaudits following an impressive display after coming on as a second-half substitute against Rosenborg. This was then backed up by further positive minutes from the start against Rangers, and he is expected to play a further part as he starts in Los Angeles.

Casemiro will likely continue beside him, although with Scott McTominay travelling with the team, it is expected that the Scottish international will replace him in the second half in order to regain match fitness after his three-week holiday.

Mason Mount has been positive so far in pre-season after an injury-ridden season and will start as the most attacking of the midfield trio, with Fernandes yet to return to the squad.

In attack, Erik ten Hag is expected to make two changes. Following his goal against Rangers, Amad Diallo will almost certainly continue on the right flank, but Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Højlund are expected to return.

Ethan Wheatley has been playing the striker role with Højlund on holiday, but Joshua Zirkzee is not expected to join his new squad until after they return to England. The Danish international will be the club’s only fit striker once they face Manchester City on 10 August.

Therefore, Ten Hag will want him as fit as possible and will likely put him in from the start against Arsenal.

Rashford missed the Rangers tie due to what the club called a “small niggle”, but by all accounts seems fit enough to return to the team. Jadon Sancho is expected to miss out on starting but will likely come on in the second half.

Man United expected XI

Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Yoro, Evans, Murray, Casemiro, Collyer, Mount, Amad, Højlund, Rashford.

Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is released every Thursday at 6 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.