Manchester United start Tyrell Malacia and Mason Mount against Arsenal tonight, with Marcus Rashford dropped to the bench.
United also have Bruno Fernandes fit to start, while Leny Yoro is among the substitutes.
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Amad Diallo impressed again on Sunday but that is not enough to keep his place at wing-back, as Malacia and Diogo Dalot get the nod. Mason Mount starts in an advanced midfield role, with Rasmus Hojlund leading the line.
There had been concern over the status of the Red Devils’ influential skipper Fernandes after he was seen with ice on his ankle on the bench after coming off during the second half of Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of Everton at Old Trafford.
However, head coach Ruben Amorim dismissed any injury fears over his fellow Portuguese, telling reporters on Monday: “He is fit to play, I see him already in this morning. He is fit to a play, a guy that doesn't need a lot of rest, so he is prepared to play."
Manuel Ugarte starts in midfield and partners Fernandes, who has been handed a deeper role tonight.
Fernandes’s availability is good news for United as their early resurgence under new management is put to a serious test at the Emirates Stadium by old rivals Arsenal, who have bounced back themselves since the November international break with three successive wins across all competitions in which they have amassed 13 goals - including five from all different scorers in back-to-back away games.
Supporters will also be eager to see Yoro in action, with the £52million summer signing from Lille having yet to play a competitive game for his new club after requiring surgery on a foot fracture suffered in a defeat by Arsenal during the pre-season tour of the United States. He has stepped up his recovery to make the bench.
United do not have either Lisandro Martinez or Kobbie Mainoo available against Arsenal, after both players were cautioned for the fifth time this season against Everton on Sunday, leading to an automatic one-match ban.
Martinez’s absence, Yoro not being ready to start and the recent knocks sustained by both Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans means that Harry Maguire comes into Amorim’s back three in north London alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, having returned from his own calf issue at the weekend following almost two months on the sidelines.
Manchester United XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Malacia; Mount, Garnacho; Hojlund
Subs: Bayindir, Kukonki, Yoro, Casemiro, Eriksen, Amad, Antony, Rashford, Zirkzee
Time and date: 8:15pm GMT tonight on Wednesday December 4, 2024
Venue: Emirates Stadium
How to watch: Amazon Prime Video
