Man Utd vs Arsenal LIVE: Confirmed line-ups; Premier League team news and updates

Manchester United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford as Arsene Wenger continues his farewell tour ahead of leaving the club he has served for 22 years.

Already all but assured of a top-four spot, Jose Mourinho’s men are looking to tighten their grip on second place and secure their highest finish since Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out as champion in 2013.

Arsenal, who are sixth in the domestic standings, are three points ahead of Burnley with two games in-hand.

United are unbeaten in 10 home league matches against Arsenal, their longest run since 1961.

MANCHESTER UNITED vs ARSENAL

Analysis from our reporter Richard Tanner, at Old Trafford.

16:18: One look at the Arsenal team-sheet will have United fans dreaming of a repeat of their 8-2 win over the Gunners in 2011 or the 6-1 triumph in 2001.

Not entirely unexpected that for his final trip to Old Trafford as Gunners boss, Wenger has one eye on Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg with Atletico madrid.

He has made eight changes from the starting line-up from Thursday’s first leg – with a trio of youngsters, Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Konstantinos Mavropanos, all in the team.

The three survivors are keeper Opsin,a Bellerin and midfielder Xhaka, who will wear the captain’s armband.

By contrast, United have made only one change from their team that beat Spurs in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend. Victor Lindelof replaces the injured Phil Jones.

Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson have paid tribute to Wenger in the Untied programme and United fans will – hopefully – give the the Frenchman the respectful send off he deserves despite the intense rivalry between the clubs over the years.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Advil: Arsene Wenger has fielded a rookie team on purpose today to avoid the embarrassment of getting thumped with his full starting XI. Clever way of absolving himself of responsibility.

Jay: Arsene Wenger will be hoping Arsenal’s youngster’s can do to Manchester United what Marcus Rashford did to Arsenal a few seasons ago under LVG…

Matt: Mavropanos has been impressing in the Under-23 squad but I’m stunned he starts this game. He was 100 per cent a Sven Mislintat recommendation, so let’s see if he is earning his keep..

THE PROGRAMME…

16:10: There’s a touching tribute from Sir Alex Ferguson to Arsene Wenger in today’s programme.

He hails the Frenchman’s “absolutely fantastic” career Arsenal, adding that “the job he’s done in those 22 years is phenomenal in terms of the Premier League.”

Fergie also refers to him as “an exceptional person”. Sweet.

CAN’T WIN WITH KIDS…

16:05: Arsenal will be hoping Alan Hansen’s famous quote proves incorrect once again today.

The average age of Arsenal’s starting XI is 24years 67days. That is their youngest for a Premier League game since August 2011, which was also at Old Trafford against Manchester United (24y 65d) when they lost 8-2.

There’s something worryingly cyclical about that stat.

HAVE YOUR SAY

16:00: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

FOOTBALL FRIENDS

15:55: That’s quite an appropriate headline given I binged on The Inbetweeners last night. You can tell my social life is thriving…

It looks like Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger’s long-term rivalry will end on a peaceful note.

The 68-year-old has had a number of unsavoury spats with Mourinho since the Portuguese took over at Chelsea in 2004 – with the rivalry between the pair often leading to verbal – and sometimes physical – altercations.

While the two have clashed in the past, Mourinho spoke warmly about Wenger following his announcement and has since suggested they could “even be friends in the future”.

Fairytale stuff…

ALEXIS REUNION

15:50: Arsene Wenger thinks today’s reunion with Alexis Sanchez will be a “strange” sensation.

Yes Arsene, I’m sure it will feel strange as he’s unleashed against debutant Konstantinos Mavropanos…

Anyway, having been named man of the match in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham, Sanchez will now meet his former club for the first time in what will be Wenger’s last visit to United as Gunners’ boss.

Asked if it will be a little strange coming up against the former Barcelona man, Wenger said: “Of course. The only thing that has not changed is the colour, that is still red. It’s strange for me to see him in a different shirt because he had a strong bond with the club and of course he was here for a few years. He did extremely well for us.”

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Dip: Somebody please help! Arsene Wenger wants us to remember his last trip to Old Trafford! With this line-up it could easily be 6-1, if we’re lucky!

Olayinka: Another 8-2 scoreline imminent at Old Trafford with the squad Arsene Wenger is putting out today.

Tom: Arsene Wenger asking for one last Thumping at Old Trafford, that starting line-up is so weak it’s embarrassing.

So… not a lot of optimism amongst the Arsenal fans this afternoon…

TEAM NEWS – MANCHESTER UNITED

15:40: Just the one change for Jose Mourinho from the side who beat Tottenham at Wembley. Victor Lindelof comes in for Phil Jones in defence.

Elsewhere it’s business as usual with Romulu Lukaku supported by ex-Arsenal icon Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard with Paul Pogba in a more advanced role.

TEAM NEWS – ARSENAL

15:35: Right, this could take a while to explain.

It’s safe to say Arsene Wenger has rested most of his squad for Thursday’s trip to Atletico Madrid.

The Frenchman has made EIGHT changes for today’s battle with Manchester United with David Ospina, Hector Bellerin and Granit Xhaka the only survivors from the 1-1 draw with Diego Simeone’s side.

20-year-old Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos starts at the back alongside Callum Chambers with Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac at full-back.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles partners Xhaka in the middle with Reiss Nelson and Alex Iwobi on the flanks with Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the number 10 role.

MANCHESTER UNITED vs ARSENAL

15:30: And here are your line-ups folks. Mavropanos with a debut against a full-strength Manchester United? Good luck…

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Sanchez, Lukaku.

Subs: Pereira, Rojo, Mata, Martial, Rashford, Fellaini, McTominay.

Arsenal XI: Opsina, Bellerin, Chambers, Mavropanos, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Maitland-Niles, Nelson, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang.

Subs: Cech, Holding, Monreal, Welbeck, Nketiah, Oseu-Tutu, Willock.

AFTERNOON

15:20: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League.

New best friends Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger (I’ll explain that later) go head-to-head at Old Trafford.

With only the quest to secure second and sixth-placed finishes at stake, today is more about personnel.

Wenger takes his Arsenal side to Old Trafford for the FINAL time, Alexis Sanchez meets his former club for the FIRST time since leaving and the Gunners are expected to rest key players for the UMPTEENTH time ahead of the Europa League second leg with Atletico Madrid.

After that suitably low-key introduction, let’s have the team news and line-ups.

MANCHESTER UNITED vs ARSENAL

Sergio Romero remains the only absentee for Manchester United with a knee injury sustained on international duty with Argentina last month. Antonio Valencia has overcome a muscle complaint sustained in last weekend’s FA Cup semi-final win against Tottenham.

Arsene Wenger could make a raft of changes for Arsenal. The Gunners have prioritised the Europa League in recent weeks and, following a 1-1 home draw with Atletico Madrid on Thursday night, Wenger will want his first-team regulars fit and raring to go in Spain. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, cup-tied in Europe, is available while Henrikh Mkhitaryan could feature against his former club but may be one of those rested having only just recovered from a knee injury. Mohamed Elneny (ankle) and Santi Cazorla (Achilles) are missing.

Last season: Arsenal 2 Man Utd 0, Man Utd 1 Arsenal 1

Last five league matches: Man Utd W W W L W; Arsenal W W W L W

Top scorers (all competitions): Romelu Lukaku (Man Utd) 27; Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) 16

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)