Leaders Arsenal face United test as City search for spark

Arsenal are hunting their fifth straight Premier League home win against old foes Manchester United this weekend as they look to stay clear of a faltering chasing pack.

The Gunners have been held to 0-0 draws in their past two league matches, against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, but title rivals Manchester City and Aston Villa have failed to take advantage.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank remains under intense pressure despite an encouraging midweek win against Borussia Dortmund as he prepares to face lowly Burnley.

On paper, Arsenal will not be sweating too much ahead of the visit of Manchester United but they will be wary of the club’s new-manager-bounce under Michael Carrick.

United were transformed in last week’s 2-0 win against Manchester City — Carrick’s first game in his second spell in temporary charge — producing a performance full of attacking verve.

But the fifth-placed Red Devils have struggled for consistency this season — apart from a three-game winning run in October, they have failed to win consecutive games in the league.

United’s attacking numbers have been impressive since manager Ruben Amorim was sacked earlier this month, but the Gunners have not conceded a single shot on target in their past two league matches.

The rivalry between the two clubs defined the early years of the Premier League but Arsenal have not been champions since 2004 and United’s era of dominance is a fading memory.

The Gunners are red-hot favourites to win a long-awaited 14th English title but United would love to put a spanner in the works.

City’s dismal start to 2026 hit a new low in an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday in one of the greatest-ever Champions League shocks.

Pep Guardiola’s men are yet to win in the Premier League this year, with their title challenge faltering badly.

“The feeling is that everything (that could be) going wrong, is going (wrong) in many, many details. That is a fact and you have to try to change it,” said Guardiola after a humbling night in Norway.

The loss of key defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to injury has been central to City’s collapse after a strong end to 2025.

Guardiola will be hoping that the addition of Marc Guehi will add some ballast to his defence, with the former Crystal Palace captain set to make his debut against bottom side Wolves on Saturday.

Guardiola said City are tasked with chasing down the best team in the world in Premier League leaders Arsenal as he launched a defiant defence of his players after a chastening week.

Guardiola’s men are yet to win a league game in 2026, allowing Arsenal to open up a seven-point lead in the title race.

But the City boss backed his “extraordinary” group of players to respond as they remain in contention for silverware in four competitions.

“Absolutely, the best team right now in the world,” said Guardiola on the challenge of chasing down Arsenal, who have also won all seven of their Champions League matches.

“So look in the Champions League, in the Premier League, look in (the) FA Cup, in Carabao Cup - it’s the best team right now.

“Hopefully we can be close and getting better, getting better and have the chance to catch them.

“I have an extraordinary team, an extraordinary group of players. And we are all together. We are a fantastic football team, I don’t have any doubts about that.”

Wolves may be headed for relegation, but things are looking brighter for Rob Edwards’s men after a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

A 2-0 Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday eased the immediate pressure on Tottenham manager Thomas Frank.

But he knows that he must turn around his side’s Premier League form to stay in his job and that time is running out.

“We need to bring this win and this performance into momentum,” said the Dane. “We need to go to Burnley, we need to perform and we need to win.”

Frank appeared to be edging closer to the exit door after a fan revolt in the aftermath of last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at home to struggling West Ham.

Agence France-Presse