Man United have a dreadful record away at Arsenal in the Premier League – but something has to give

Arsenal and Manchester United used to be the Premier League giants that would often scrap during the closing stages of the season to decide who would lift the title. 

Arsenal’s 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ season saw them pushed all the way by Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, whereas in United’s treble-winning 99′ season it was the Gunners who went close to spoiling the party.

However, over the last 10 years this has been the clash of the underachievers with Liverpool‘s resurgence taking them to a first Premier League crown, Manchester City dominating under Pep Guardiola, and Chelsea popping up with occasional pieces of silverware.

Arsenal will look to keep their Premier League dream alive when they host Man United

United have a torrid record at the Emirates in the last 15 years, having won just four times there

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (left) will be hoping to avoid a first home defeat of the season on Sunday while Erik ten Hag (left) is aiming to do the league double over the Gunners

When the two sides meet at the Emirates on Sunday, rivalries will be reignited as the title-contending duo look to hamper each others Premier League credentials, but Man United’s glum away record Arsenal doesn’t bode well for travelling supporters.

Sportsmail delves into the permutations facing Manchester United, the reasons for their dreadful Emirates record, and why Arsenal have failed to impress against the top four at home this season.

United’s torrid trips to London

Manchester United have at times been dominant on the road. Under the previous tenure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Red Devils set a new English football league record by achieving the longest run of away games without defeat, 28.

However, over the past 15 years, their visits to the Arsenal’s Emirates stadium have been anything but comfortable, with United winning just four Premier League matches at the ground since 2008.

Along the way there have been some scalpings that will leave Erik ten Hag scratching his head prior to a second visit to the capital in the space of four days.

Arsenal won last season’s Emirates clash against United in impressive fashion with a 3-1 win

It was the same story in 2020 for Man United as they slumped to another 2-0 defeat with goals from former players Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos

Last season’s crushing 3-1 away defeat saw Arsenal blow away a lacklustre Man United that had already all but given up on finishing the season with any pride as goals from the currently in-form Bukayo Saka, Granit Xhaka, and on-loan Nuno Tavares cancelled out Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike.

It was similar circumstances in 2020 when former Arsenal stars Nicolas Pepe and Sokratis Papastathopoulos secured a clean-sheet victory over United.

The last time the travelling Red Devils found themselves on the winning side at fortress Emirates was when Jose Mourinho led his team to a 3-1 victory over the Gunners, with Jesse Lingard scoring twice and Paul Pogba being shown the first of only two career Premier League red cards.

United’s last victory at the Emirates came in the FA Cup fourth round in 2019

But United haven’t won at the Emirates in the league since a 2017 victory under Jose Mourinho

It’s alarming reading for United fans who travel to Arsenal on Sunday seeking to inflict a first home league defeat since April 2022 when Mikel Arteta’s side were outclassed against Brighton.

This season Arsenal have been unstoppable at home, but cup defeats against PSV Eindhoven and Brighton will give Ten Hag and his players confidence that they will leave London with something to hold onto. 

Arsenal’s mixed top four results

The Premier League leaders have been an unrecognisable force this season with Mikel Arteta moving smartly in the summer transfer window and managing to get the youngest team in the league firing on all cylinders.

Their surprising run to the top of the Premier League table and moreover their impressive resolve to cement their place at the peak, has seen them become many peoples favourites to lift a first league title in 20 years.

Mikel Arteta (right) has failed to secure a home win over any of the top four this season

Arsenal were frustrated in a 0-0 draw with fellow title chasers Newcastle at the start of 2023

But ahead of the weekend visit of Manchester United, Arsenal’s record against the top four this season has come under scrutiny.

So far the Gunners have failed to beat any of the current top four teams at home. Of course they haven’t yet played Manchester City either home or away in the league, but were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Newcastle at the start of the year.

Arsenal have recorded impressive results against big teams including a 3-2 win over Liverpool

Arteta will be hoping to clinch a first home of the season win over a top four side vs United

Impressive victories over Tottenham in the north London derby and a 3-2 win over Liverpool prove they can compete with the best at the Emirates, but Sunday will prove a different test for Arteta and his stars.

Arsenal have lost 11 times at home over the previous two years so managing to avoid a single home defeat in the second half of this season would be an outstanding feat.

Is there any hope for United?

Put any past Manchester United team of the last five seasons up against this Arsenal side and they get blown away. 

However, Erik ten Hag’s transformation job as the new man in charge at the club means United are no longer the embarrassment of the top teams in England, they are a new force to be reckoned with that is more formidable against top teams than you might think.

Home victories over Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, and most recently Manchester City show the attacking capabilities of an in-form United side gunning for a title charge.

An in-form Marcus Rashford has been the star of the show since returning from the World Cup scoring four goals in five Premier League matches

Antony (right) scored on his debut in Arsenal’s only defeat of the season at Old Trafford

Marcus Rashford has been in devastating form, racking up 16 goals in all competitions including four in his last five Premier League games.

While in defence, Ten Hag has managed to plug the leak and sorted solid defensive foundations that has seen United record the third most clean sheets so far this season (8) just one behind Arsenal.

However, the absence of defensive midfielder Casemiro from Sunday’s clash is a costly mistake for the Red Devils after the Brazilian was shown a fifth yellow card of the season in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka will be hoping he can continue his impressive form against United

Rashford is the key figure in a dangerous United attack that could cause Arsenal problems

Man United are in the best possible position they have been in for years to record the double over Arsenal, having last done so five years ago. 

Sunday will be a renewed clash of the titans with both side’s in realistic positions to challenge for the Premier League crown. 

Arsenal will back themselves given their mid-season successes, but Man United are capable of causing an Emirates upset and starting a new record under Ten Hag.