Manchester United have only won twice in their last nine matches in all competitions, with their Premier League win rate a mere 45% this term. Yet somehow, with rivals suffering similar blips in terms of failing to establish any consistency, they are only three points adrift of the final top four position.
Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal do have games in hand on United ahead in fourth and fifth respectively, but a North London Derby is in the offing before the end of the season. If United are to beat Arsenal on Saturday, the sides will draw level on points.
However, it may not be quite as close as it seems. In his Friday press conference, Ralf Rangnick was prompt to admit, "I don’t think that it makes sense to speculate about finishing fourth after a performance like that against Liverpool."
He continued, "The way that we played at Liverpool, especially in the first half, it will be difficult to get something out of the game at Arsenal."
United's record against the 'big six' has been mixed so far this season. Spurs fell foul to United on both occasions the sides met (yet remain ahead) whilst United have beaten Arsenal and drawn to Chelsea. But when you factor in defeats home and away to title protagonists Manchester City and Liverpool, the picture isn't quite so pretty.
Tuesday night's defeat to Liverpool hammered home just why Rangnick has spoken so frankly about the necessity of a rebuild, whilst Erik ten Hag has already uttered the importance of having a significant say in transfers only one day after it was announced he will be become United's next permanent manager.
United's effort levels were lamented, with it taking 19 year-old Hannibal Mejbri to come on and show guts and determination otherwise absent. Meanwhile, as Roy Keane indicated post-match, the general inferiority was saddening.
Arsenal unexpectedly lost three games on the bounce against Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton earlier this month, yet showed the fortitude to respond with a 4-2 win against third-place Chelsea on Wednesday. Meanwhile, United have hardly ever even proven themselves in victories, with wins often still error-strewn and severely imperfect.
Visiting the Emirates Stadium will be a challenge given that Arsenal have the third-best home record in the entire league, with United winless in their last three visits. United have lost their last three games on the road in the league, failing to score in the last two.
Whilst Luke Shaw, Fred and Edinson Cavani remain absent, United have been bolstered by the return of Raphael Varane, Scott McTominay and Cristiano Ronaldo to training since the Liverpool defeat. Paul Pogba, though, is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a calf injury sustained at Anfield.
"With Paul, it seems, after the scan we did yesterday or the day before yesterday, it's very unlikely that he will play until the end of the season again," Rangnick confirmed. "The doctor told me that it will take four weeks, minimum, for him to recover and, since the last game is at the end of May, I don't think it's very likely that he will be able to play again."
Reports from The Athletic have suggested that Harry Maguire will drop to the bench after police were forced to search his home on Thursday after the United captain was sent a bomb threat. Maguire has shown a willingness to travel but will likely not start 'on compassionate terms'.
Arsenal are without left-back Kieran Tierney with a knee injury, leaving heavily-criticised Nuno Tavares to deputise. Thomas Partey is also absent with a thigh issue whilst Takehiro Tomiyasu is sidelined. Otherwise, Arsenal have a clean injury bill.
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