Last season’s second and third-placed teams in the Premier League, both big guns of English football whose starts to the new campaign haven’t been perfect, will clash in Sunday’s blockbuster battle as Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates.

After wins over Nottingham Forest (2-1) and Crystal Palace (1-0), Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal dropped points for the first time this season in a 2-2 draw with Fulham last Saturday, the same day Manchester United turned around a 0-2 deficit into a captivating 3-2 comeback victory.

Seven points after three games is decent but Arteta’s early-season experimentation has led to confusion. Against Fulham, for the second successive game, Arteta reshuffled his backline, omitting Gabriel Magalhaes from left centre-back and opting for Thomas Partey at right-back. The good news is defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is available again after suspension. Also, Gabriel and Oleksandr Zinchenko will surely return to the fold.

Also, Arteta’s side can tide over such shortcomings with attacking brilliance in the form of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, having netted at least twice in nine of their last 10 top-flight home games.

United, though, will be equal to the task. With Marcus Rashford on the left wing and Bruno Fernandes allowed to push forward, United looked a much better outfit against Forest. However, their defensive frailties remain an issue as was evident in the 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur after their 1-0 win in the first match against Wolves.

Erik ten Hag’s men don’t travel well — just three wins from their last 11 away Premier League games, scoring only once in their last four such matches.

United beat Arsenal 3-1 at Old Trafford last year, but the Gunners took revenge with a 3-2 triumph at the Emirates in January. Arsenal have in fact won four and drawn one of their last five home league games against United, including the last two. Not since Jesse Lingard stole the show in December 2017 have Manchester United prevailed in a Premier League fixture on Emirates soil.

United’s Raphael Varane is set to miss the match, and possibly a few more, after picking up an injury.

Left-back Sergio Reguillon, a transfer deadline signing on loan from Tottenham, and goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, picked up from Fenerbahce to back up Andre Onana, will both be available. Fellow new signing Rasmus Hojlund could also make his debut. United also signed Morocco anchorman Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina on a season-long loan deal.