Wenger plans for clash with ‘strong’ United

Jose Mourinho insists there is no need to make peace with long-time foe Arsene Wenger when Arsenal meet Manchester United on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger’s only win in 16 previous encounters as a manager against Jose Mourinho came in the 2015 Community Shield (D7, L8). There is still a small chance they could miss out on the top four altogether and finish fifth.

Mourinho has said he is willing to rest key players on Sunday, yet Wenger believes that United’s “massive” squad means they will pose a tough test for the home side regardless.

“I think we played a good match”. I am a big boy.

Once great champions of the Premier League, both sides are nearly unrecognisable these days – some way off the title pace, they’ve got other fish to fry.

“I am a big boy”. To get to the final we have to play just as well at Old Trafford in the second leg because they always score away.

“But on Sunday, David plays”.

But Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic remain sidelined, while Marouane Fellaini is suspended.

However Man United and PSG were also said to be circling, and now it seems Arsenal are interested too.

Wenger’s record over Mourinho doesn’t bode well.

But he stressed that he does find poor Arsenal results hard to cope with, despite pointing out top clubs like Real Madrid and Liverpool are also on long streaks without winning domestic titles, his side having not won the top-flight since 2004.

“The only advantage we can have is to focus on ourselves”.

“We have no choice”.

United’s average league position going into all 50 of their Premier League meetings with the Gunners is third – 2.98 to be precise – with Arsenal at 4.48.

Wenger, however, says he fully expects “a strong” United side to take to the field.

The Frenchman indicated holding midfielder Granit Xhaka is unlikely to feature against United, although defender Shkodran Mustafi and reserve forward Lucas Perez are nearing a return to availability.

The pressure that has closed in on Arsenal for much of a disappointing season tightened last weekend with their defeat at Tottenham Hotspur – which leaves Wenger, for the umpteenth time in recent weeks, calling upon his team to respond.

This could be the first season since 1978-79 that neither Arsenal nor United finish among the top four.