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2025/26 Premier League MW23 Arsenal vs. Man Utd Preview:
Can the Gunners extend their win streak against the Red Devils?

January 22, 2026 by Marc Jerbs

The Manchester derby returns to Old Trafford on Saturday, January 17, with kickoff set for 12:30 PM GMT as Matchweek 22 of the 2025/26 Premier League season takes center stage. Manchester United, now under the interim guidance of Michael Carrick, welcome cross-town rivals Manchester City, who arrive knowing a win would cut Arsenal's lead at the top of the table and intensify the title race.

Arsenal welcome Manchester United to Emirates Stadium on Sunday, January 25, as the two English giants collide in a marquee Matchweek 23 fixture of the 2025–26 Premier League season. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:30 PM GMT, with exclusive live coverage available on Peacock.

Team Form & League Position

Arsenal - enter the weekend sitting top of the Premier League table with 50 points from 22 matches (15 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses), averaging an impressive 2.27 points per game. Mikel Arteta's side has been nearly flawless at home, boasting a 9-2-0 record at the Emirates and collecting 29 points on their own turf.

Their recent form underlines that dominance: four wins and two draws in their last six league outings. Arsenal's underlying numbers further reinforce their title credentials, with one of the league's best non-penalty xG differentials—approximately 1.73 xG created per match while conceding just 0.89 xG.

Over their last ten league games, the Gunners are averaging 2.5 goals scored and 0.77 conceded, while at home they score 2.50 goals per match, well above the league average. They have found the net in nine of their last ten matches and in 14 of their last 17 overall, with a strong defensive record contributing to a low BTTS rate at the Emirates.

Manchester United - Manchester United's campaign has been more uneven, defined by flashes of attacking quality and persistent defensive concerns. Their xG numbers reflect that imbalance, with attacking output hovering in the mid-1s per match while conceding significantly more than Arsenal.

United are currently projected to finish sixth, with around 56 points, which would secure a return to European competition after a turbulent prior season. Their recent form shows two wins, three draws, and one loss in their last six matches. Defensively, there has been some tightening, with BTTS landing in four of their last five games, while only two of those five went over 2.5 goals.

Michael Carrick, appointed head coach until the end of the season, began his tenure with a statement 2–0 win over Manchester City, offering renewed optimism among the United fanbase.

Head-to-Head History

Arsenal have enjoyed the upper hand in recent league meetings with Manchester United, winning the last two Premier League encounters between the sides. At the Emirates, the Gunners have been particularly strong in this fixture, regularly controlling possession and limiting United's chances.

Historically, this matchup has produced iconic moments and high drama, but recent trends suggest Arsenal have edged ahead—both in results and underlying performance metrics—heading into this latest chapter of the rivalry.

Injuries & Team News

Arsenal's first-half 2025–26 squad was officially submitted on September 12, 2025, with detailed appearance, goal, and assist data available through league channels.

For Manchester United, the 2025–26 campaign marks their 34th Premier League season and 51st consecutive year in England's top flight. Notably, this is the first season since 1992–93 in which United do not have a Premier League winner in the squad, following Jonny Evans' retirement. It also marks the first time since 1974 that no current player has worked under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Final Thought

With Arsenal's relentless home form and statistical superiority colliding with a Manchester United side still finding consistency under new leadership, this fixture feels pivotal for both clubs. For Arsenal, it's a chance to tighten their grip on the title race; for United, it's a measuring stick against the league's best. If recent trends hold, the Gunners will fancy their chances—but derbies of this magnitude rarely follow the script.

2025-26 Premier League Table

#	CLUB	W	D	L	PTS
1	Arsenal	15	5	2	50
2	Manchester City	13	4	5	43
3	Aston Villa	13	4	5	43
4	Liverpool	10	6	6	36
5	Manchester United	9	8	5	35
6	Chelsea	9	7	6	34
7	Brentford	10	3	9	33
8	Newcastle United	9	6	7	33
9	Sunderland	8	9	5	33
10	Everton	9	5	8	32
11	Fulham	9	4	9	31
12	Brighton & Hove Albion	7	9	6	30
13	Crystal Palace	7	7	8	28
14	Tottenham Hotspur	7	6	9	27
15	Bournemouth	6	9	7	27
16	Leeds United	6	7	9	25
17	Nottingham Forest	6	4	12	22
18	West Ham United	4	5	13	17
19	Burnley	3	5	14	14
20	Wolves	1	5	16	8

2025/26 Premier League MW22 Man Utd vs. Man City Preview:
Can the Red Devils' halt the Citizens' title push?

January 15, 2026 by Marc Jerbs

The Manchester derby returns to Old Trafford on Saturday, January 17, with kickoff set for 12:30 PM GMT as Matchweek 22 of the 2025/26 Premier League season takes center stage... read more »

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St. Leger Stakes

The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards (2,937 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

Established in 1776, the St. Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classics. It is the last of the five to be run each year, and it is raced over a longer distance than any of the previous four.

The St. Leger is the final leg of the English Triple Crown, preceded by the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby. It also completes the Fillies' Triple Crown, which begins with the 1,000 Guineas and continues with the Oaks. In recent decades, however, the St. Leger has rarely featured a Triple Crown contender.

The event was devised by Anthony St. Leger, an army officer and politician who lived near to Doncaster. The race did not initially bear his name - it was first referred to as "A Sweepstake of 25 Guineas". It was restricted to horses aged three, and its original distance was two miles. The rules stipulated that colts were to carry 8 st, and fillies 7 st 12 lb.

The inaugural running was held at Cantley Common on 24 September 1776. The first winner was an unnamed filly owned by the event's organizer, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. The filly was later named Allabaculia. The event was moved to its present location, Town Moor, in 1778... more St. Leger Stakes info »