Premiership
Old Trafford
Sunday, 13 April; KO: 16:00 BST


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Premiership Table:


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Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will face Arsenal despite needing three stitches in his foot.

Patrice Evra could return after a knock while Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney are both expected to start after being on the bench against Roma.

Arsenal team news to follow later.




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BIG-MATCH FACTS


Manchester United need 13 points from the five remaining matches to retain their Premier League title.
If they beat title rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 26 April, just 10 points would be required to achieve
back-to-back titles for the fifth time in the Premier League era.

United go into this clash thrilled to have qualified for the Champions League semi-finals,
while Arsenal are smarting from Tuesday's defeat to Liverpool which ended
their Champions League dreams, and leaves the Premier League as their only remaining
hope of avoiding a third successive trophy-less season.

This is a must-win game for Arsenal, who would close the gap to three points on United at the summit with victory,
but the Londoners have only managed one win in seven league outings, while United are unbeaten in seven,
and have won the last three at Old Trafford with an aggregate of 9-0.

Sir Alex Ferguson, comes up against his Arsenal opposite number Arsene Wenger for the 36th time.
Of the 35 previous encounters United have won 12, Arsenal 13.
Eight of the 10 other games finished level and two were decided on penalty shoot-outs;
United won the 2003 Community Shield, and Arsenal the 2005 FA Cup final.

Arsenal have proved United's trickiest opponents since Sir Alex took over in November 1986.
The Londoners have won 13 games and amassed 53 points against the Red Devils, more than any other club over that period.

In the Premier League there's nothing to chose between Wenger and Ferguson at eight wins a piece, and seven draws,
but the Scot has the edge on home soil with five wins to three, and three draws.

These clubs are meeting for the first time since United totally dominated in a


4-0 win FA Cup fifth round win

at Old Trafford on 16 February.
But Arsenal go to the Theatre of Dreams in search of back-to-back victories, having won last season's corresponding fixture.
However United are hunting a 50th home league victory over the North London giants.



CLUB FORM:

Club stats
Fixtures

Quote:

Blackburn (a) Chelsea (a) West Ham (h) Wigan (a)

Club stats
Fixtures

Quote:

Reading (h) Derby (a) Everton (h) Sunderland (a)

KEY PLAYER NOTES







Cristiano RONALDO

is Manchester United's top scorer with 37 goals.

The Portuguese is also United's leading Premier League marksman with 27 from 27 starts,
and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot.

Between them,


RONALDO,


Carlos TEVEZ

and



Wayne ROONEY

have scored 71 of Manchester United's 98 goals this season in all competitions (72%),
and 50 of their 70 (71%) in the Premier League.

If selected:-

Oliveira ANDERSON will be playing on his 20th birthday.

Tom HEATON would be keeping goal on his 22nd birthday.

If on the field from the outset:-

Chris EAGLES will be making his 50th club league start (Manchester United, Watford and Sheffield Wednesday).

Long term injury, Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.

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Adebayor 86

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Fabregas 48

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Gallas 90

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Gallas 45 og

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Ronaldo 82