Manchester United predicted XI vs Arsenal as Carrick confirms absentees

Manchester United head into a daunting Premier League trip to face leaders Arsenal with interim boss Michael Carrick preparing for the first away match of his caretaker spell.

United arrive in north London buoyed by last weekend’s statement 2–0 derby victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford, a result that reignited belief in their push for a top-four finish. However, Carrick will be without two senior options for Sunday’s clash.

United have confirmed that Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee will both miss the trip to the Emirates Stadium. The Dutch pair remain sidelined, leaving Carrick with limited but familiar alternatives as he shapes his side against the league’s most consistent team.

Beyond those absences, United are close to full strength — a welcome boost as they face an Arsenal side sitting seven points clear at the summit.

Carrick’s interim reign could hardly have started better. Against Manchester City, United combined discipline with ruthlessness, capitalising on key moments to secure all three points.

Bryan Mbeumo returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty in emphatic fashion, leading the line and opening the scoring. Patrick Dorgu was preferred on the left wing ahead of Matheus Cunha, a call that paid off when the Dane met Cunha’s cross to double United’s advantage in the second half.

That performance has left Carrick with selection dilemmas rather than problems ahead of Sunday.

At right-back, Noussair Mazraoui is available again following Morocco’s AFCON final defeat to Senegal. His return could allow Diogo Dalot a rest after an intense run of minutes, particularly following his fortunate escape from a red card in the derby.

In central defence, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez formed an effective partnership against City, successfully limiting Erling Haaland. Luke Shaw also returned at left-back after missing the FA Cup defeat to Brighton and is expected to retain his place.

Midfield selection appears more settled. Kobbie Mainoo impressed alongside Casemiro, whose departure at the end of the season has already been confirmed. The pair provided balance and control against City and are likely to be trusted again.

Further forward, captain Bruno Fernandes will operate in his familiar No.10 role. The main question is whether Dorgu’s impact off the left earns him another start, or whether Carrick opts for a more orthodox setup.

Mbeumo could be shifted to the right flank to accommodate Benjamin Šeško centrally if Carrick wants a physical outlet against Gabriel and William Saliba. Alternatively, Amad Diallo may retain his place after an impressive derby display.

Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo

Carrick’s early decisions suggest a preference for balance and clarity over experimentation. Maintaining continuity after a big win often brings risk, but against a well-drilled Arsenal side, familiarity and structure may be United’s best chance of staying competitive.

A positive result at the Emirates would further strengthen Carrick’s hand during his interim spell and keep United firmly in the Champions League race. For Arsenal, it represents another opportunity to assert control over the title race.

Either way, Sunday’s fixture offers a clear measure of how far United have progressed under their caretaker boss.

Should Carrick reward derby performers or freshen things up against Arsenal?