Arsenal preview: Kick-off time, TV info, team news

Three days on from a 1-1 draw away to Real Sociedad in the first leg of our Europa League last-16 tie, attention turns back to domestic matters, ahead of next Thursday's all-important second leg at Old Trafford.

It's a quick turnaround and with the weekend's 16:30 GMT kick-off fast approaching, we've rounded up all the pre-match information you need below, from ticket details to the latest team news and more...

HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW 

A limited number of tickets and hospitality packages remain available for Sunday's game in M16, which will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports.

If you won't be at Old Trafford or are looking for a second-screen option, you can keep across the action as always via our official channels. MUTV's Matchday Live show, starting at 15:25 GMT, will bring you exclusive pre-match build-up and post-match reaction either side of radio commentary from the Theatre of Dreams.

You can access all of that via ManUtd.com and the United App too, where our Match Centre will also have rolling updates, opinions and stats as the 90 minutes unfold. Short match highlights will be published on our platforms two hours after the final whistle, with extended versions viewable on demand from midnight.

TEAM NEWS

Harry Maguire and Manuel Ugarte missed our midweek trip to San Sebastian after picking up knocks against Fulham last weekend, with Ruben Amorim unsure if the pair will be back in the mix for Sunday's match.

“I don't know [if they will be available],” said the boss in his pre-match press conference, which was conducted in the immediate aftermath of Thursday's Europa League tie in Spain. “We need to survive Sunday. The team was so tired in the last 20 minutes.”

Young striker Chido Obi is an option to play against his former club, having not been eligible to play in our recent European outing, although wing-back Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu will be out, as he serves the second of his three-match domestic suspension.

Amorim provided a hopeful update on Amad during his latest media briefing, but will not have the Ivorian or fellow long-term absentees Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw for the 16:30 GMT kick-off. Goalkeepers Altay Bayindir and Tom Heaton have also been out injured of late, while centre-back Jonny Evans hasn't played since before Christmas.

As for Arsenal, there was no fresh team news in Mikel Arteta's press conference on Friday afternoon, although the Gunners are also set to be without several key players. Forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are working on their respective injury rehabilitations, while Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out for the season.

OPPOSITION REPORT

The Gunners go into Sunday's showdown on the back of thrashing PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, becoming the first team in the competition's history to score seven or more goals away from home in a knockout-stage match.

It's a result that proved a timely boost for the north Londoners, who had been prevented from finding the net in their two Premier League games prior to the trip to the Netherlands, although they do still retain the tag of the division's best defence, on the basis of conceding the fewest goals (23) in the top flight this term.

At the other end of the pitch, Arsenal have been without their three top scorers in the league this season - Saka, Havertz and Martinelli - over recent weeks, but remain focused on closing the gap to leaders Liverpool at the top, who have carved out a 13-point advantage ahead of this weekend's matches.

Manager Arteta has guided his men to second-placed finishes in each of the last two campaigns, and is set to take charge of his 200th Premier League encounter at Old Trafford on Sunday.

RECENT MEETINGS

United have already faced Arsenal twice in 2024/25 - three times, if you include last summer's pre-season friendly in Los Angeles.

Both competitive clashes have come at the Emirates Stadium, with the club from the capital winning December's reverse league fixture 2-0, before United avenged that defeat by coming out on top in January's dramatic Emirates FA Cup third-round tie on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.

Bruno Fernandes had put Amorim's side ahead before Diogo Dalot's 61st-minute red card was almost instantly followed by Gabriel's equaliser for the Gunners. Playing with 10 men for the remaining hour or so, the Reds battled hard and, after Altay Bayindir saved Martin Odegaard's penalty in normal time, our Turkey international goalkeeper kept out Havertz's effort in the shootout as we prevailed 5-3 on penalties.

RIVALS WATCH

Our game is one of 10 to be played between Saturday and Monday, as part of Premier League Matchweek 28. Here is the full list of fixtures...

SATURDAY 8 MARCH

Nottingham Forest v Manchester City (12:30 GMT)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Fulham
Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town
Liverpool v Southampton
Brentford v Aston Villa (17:30 GMT)
Wolves v Everton (20:00 GMT)

SUNDAY 9 MARCH

Chelsea v Leicester City (14:00 GMT)
Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth (14:00 GMT)
UNITED v Arsenal (16:30 GMT)

MONDAY 10 MARCH

West Ham United v Newcastle United (20:00 GMT)

All games kick off at 15:00 GMT unless stated otherwise.