While his match-changing moments in front of goal have understandably generated the biggest buzz in recent weeks, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz remains a foul-market favourite and the German international could be in the thick of the action again on Sunday. Havertz committed two fouls when he faced United in September and the 24-year-old has been fouling 1.80 times per 90 in the Premier League overall this term.

Last weekend, Havertz gave away two free kicks in Arsenal’s hard-fought win over Bournemouth and that was the sixth time in eight league appearances where the versatile attacker fouled at least twice. Havertz has committed two or more fouls in 15 separate Premier League fixtures in total this season.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka hit the target with two efforts for the second Premier League fixture in a row when he lodged a couple of accurate attempts against Bournemouth last weekend and the 22-year-old – who has match-winning potential in his left foot – should have chances to test Andre Onana at Old Trafford on Sunday.

With United still unable to field a recognised left back, Saka’s task could be all the easier and the England regular should have opportunities to let fly against a Red Devils defence that has been alarmingly easy to bypass this season. Saka has been averaging 1.10 shots on target per 90 in the league since August, though we expect his usual output to climb this weekend.

Casemiro’s reputation has taken a battering in recent weeks and despite his vast experience, the 32-year-old has looked like a fish out of water while filling in at centre-half for an injury-decimated United. Casemiro, who has committed fouls in 15 of his 22 Premier League appearances this season, tends to lunge into tackles and he could be dragged into more uncomfortable positions on Sunday.

The former Real Madrid star has already accumulated seven yellow cards in all competitions for United this term and Casemiro’s chances of adding an eighth booking to his pile against Arsenal feel high. Both United centre-backs (Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof) were shown yellow cards when the Mancunians lost at Arsenal in September and Casemiro could be the latest Red Devils defender to feel the squeeze.

Ghana international Thomas Partey has pushed his way back into the first team reckoning at Arsenal in recent weeks and his more defensive skillset has released midfield counterpart Declan Rice to investigate spaces further up the pitch. 30-year-old Partey has taken on the role of destroyer with typical gusto and he committed two fouls in each of his last three Premier League starts for the Gunners.

In that trio of fixtures against Chelsea, Tottenham and Bournemouth, Partey made a combined five tackles and six fouls from his position as Arsenal’s screening midfielder. Partey could showcase his “in your face” approach to his work out of possession again on Sunday and the ex-Atletico Madrid anchorman is taken to commit over 1.5 fouls again.

Belgian forward Leandro Trossard has emerged as a talismanic figure for Arsenal and the 29-year-old’s performances have pushed him from the periphery into the centre of the first team plan for Mikel Arteta. The former Brighton winger has been a reliable source of goals for the Gunners and Trossard’s strike against Bournemouth last week was his 11th Premier League goal of the campaign.

Trossard has been scoring at a rate of a goal every 136.6 minutes in the top-flight this season – a strike rate that is a match for any other forward in the division. Trossard managed to find the net in three of Arsenal’s last four Premier League fixtures and in four of their last six league matches overall and his reliability in the final third makes him an excellent anytime goalscorer option again on Sunday.

Whether it’s through fast counter-attacks, patient build-up play or set-piece scenarios, Man Utd cough up numerous chances to their opponents in virtually every way, and Arsenal centre-half Gabriel Magalhaes could profit from the Red Devils’ poor marking during dead ball routines on Sunday.

The Brazilian is adept at making first contact on deliveries into the penalty area and Gabriel has had at least one attempt in 11 of his last 20 Premier League appearances, which is a more-than-solid record for a player in his position and the 26-year-old also registered a shot on his last visit to Old Trafford (in September 2022). In each of United’s last three league games, an opposing centre-half had at least one shot, while Palace’s Chris Richards lodging a strike on target from two attempts at Selhurst Park on Monday.