The current form of both of these teams strongly points toward a victory for the Gunners, who look poised to end Man United’s hold on this trophy. Arsenal enter the match on the back of an impressive run of form, their recent midweek defeat to Newcastle in the EFL Cup marking a rare blemish on what has otherwise been a remarkable season. Before that loss, Arsenal were unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions, securing 9 victories during that stretch. Their dominance is particularly evident at The Emirates, where they’ve transformed their home ground into a fortress. The Newcastle defeat was their first on home soil this season, with the Gunners triumphant in 11 of their 15 home fixtures across all competitions. In stark contrast, United’s struggles have been pronounced under the stewardship of Amorim, whose tenure has yet to ignite the spark the Red Devils desperately need. While their recent 2-2 draw at Anfield offered a glimmer of hope, it stands as an anomaly in an otherwise disappointing run. United are winless in their last 5 matches in all competitions, losing 4 of those encounters. Their away form is even more concerning; with just 3 wins in 14 away games, and 2 of those victories coming against weaker opposition in Southampton and Viktoria Plzeň. The Gunners emerged victorious the last time these two sides met at The Emirates earlier in the season and have won their last 4 competitive head-to-head meetings. Moreover, Arsenal’s dominance at The Emirates against United is well-documented, with 6 wins in their last 7 clashes at home, the only exception being a draw. The Gunners are well-placed to secure victory and assert their dominance here.

As Atlético Madrid prepare to kick off the new year in La Liga, they do so in exceptional form, poised to extend their dominance with another commanding performance. Hosting Osasuna at the Metropolitano, a venue that has become a fortress for Diego Simeone’s side, Atlético are clear favourites to win and continue their pursuit of a league title. Atlético sit just 2 points behind local rivals Real Madrid with a game in hand, positioning themselves as serious contenders to lift the La Liga trophy for the first time since their triumphant 2020/21 campaign. Currently on a remarkable 13-game winning streak across all competitions, Los Colchoneros are firing on all cylinders. Their league form is equally impressive, with 7 consecutive victories and ambitions to extend that to 8 - a feat last achieved during their title-winning season. The foundation of this success lies in their dominant home record. Atlético remain unbeaten in 9 La Liga home matches (W7, D2), recording 5 clean sheets and scoring at least twice in 6 of those games. In stark contrast, Osasuna’s form has been inconsistent, particularly in recent weeks. Winless in their last 6 La Liga outings, their struggles have been most pronounced on the road. With just 1 away victory all season (D4, L3), Osasuna have managed to find the net only sporadically, averaging a mere 0.63 goals per game across their 8 away trips. Their attacking frailty, coupled with Atlético’s defensive solidity, paints a challenging picture for the visitors. While Osasuna stunned Atlético in their last meeting, it’s important to note the context of that encounter. Played at the end of the previous season, with Atlético’s title hopes long extinguished and their Champions League qualification secure, the result carried little weight. In competitive circumstances, Atlético have dominated this matchup, winning the previous 11 encounters prior to that aberration. Given their red-hot form, imperious home performances, and historical dominance over Osasuna, Atlético Madrid are expected to comfortably secure another 3 points Sunday afternoon as they look to strengthen their bid for La Liga glory.