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Arsene Wenger not expecting Man Utd to 'park the bus' against Arsenal

Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 19, 2016
Image: Arsene Wenger is not expecting Jose Mourinho to 'park the bus' on Saturday

Arsene Wenger is not expecting Jose Mourinho's Manchester United to 'park the bus' when they take on Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.

Both teams go into the game on the back of three successive Premier League victories, with United sitting four points and two places above Arsenal in the table.

United are looking for their first win in eight attempts against top-six opposition under Mourinho, having drawn three and lost four of their previous seven while scoring just once.

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Man United Away Results Against Top 6 Under Mourinho

Date Team Result Score
Oct 2016 Liverpool Draw 0-0
Oct 2016 Chelsea Loss 4-0
Apr 2017 Man City Draw 0-0
May 2017 Arsenal Loss 2-0
May 2017 Tottenham Loss 2-1
Oct 2017 Liverpool Draw 0-0
Nov 2017 Chelsea Loss 1-0

But Wenger is not expecting his counterpart to adopt a negative approach against the Gunners.

When asked if he expects Mourinho to 'park the bus', Wenger replied: "No, I don't expect anything special. I just expect us to be ready to recover now.

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Highlights: Arsenal 5-0 Huddersfield

"Man Utd is a strong team and I expect us just to cope with the problems they will give us. They will attack as well. They will not only defend.

"It is a game between Arsenal and Man Utd at home [the Emirates]. I just want to focus and to prepare well my team, and give my team a good chance to win the game.

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"Man Utd is doing well at the moment, we are doing well at the moment, so it looks to be a promising game."

The game comes at a good point in the season for Arsenal, following victory in the north London derby against Tottenham, a last-gasp win over Burnley and a 5-0 demolition of Huddersfield on Wednesday.

Wenger has a couple of injury concerns after the game, with striker Alexandre Lacazette substituted at half-time against Huddersfield with a groin injury, while Alexis Sanchez was also replaced late on after feeling his hamstring.

Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal into an early lead against Huddersfield
Image: Arsenal will be without Alexandre Lacazette on Saturday

Wenger expects Sanchez to be fit but he has already ruled Lacazette out, meaning Olivier Giroud is in contention to start his first league game of the season following his two goals against Huddersfield.

"Sanchez had a little hamstring problem - that's why I took him off but I think he will be alright," he said.

"Look, we have offensive weapons, you know. We have Danny Welbeck, we have Giroud, and we have Jack Wilshere who all came on. They are all offensive players.

"I will see what I do for Saturday but ideally you wanted him (Lacazette) there."

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