Ruben Amorim might break his own Manchester United rule for the first time vs Arsenal

Very few Manchester United supporters would have arrived at Old Trafford on Sunday lunchtime anticipating seeing Joshua Zirkzee in the starting line-up.

The Netherlands international, who joined United from Bologna in July, had not started in any capacity since the 5-2 win over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup on October 30, and he had not started in the Premier League since the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur since the end of September.

Furthermore, he went into Sunday's clash with the Toffees without a goal in United colours since the opening night of the season. As a result, you would have got long odds on him scoring a brace.

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However, he repaid the faith shown in him by head coach Ruben Amorim by scoring either side of half-time to help United record their biggest Premier League win of the season. As well as notching two goals, his overall performance offered plenty of encouragement, with the Dutchman often dropping deep to find space and help build attacks.

Having scored twice, ending a 17-game goal drought in the process, the last thing any attacker wants to experience is being omitted from the starting XI for the following fixture. Zirkzee, however, might already be prepared for that reality at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

After playing no part against Everton, the expectation is that Rasmus Hojlund will be reinstated to the No.9 position against Arsenal. Amorim said the Dane was "dead" after he scored two against Bodo/Glimt last Thursday night, meaning his absence from the starting XI against Sean Dyche's side was not surprising.

However, the fact he played no part against Everton felt telling. It would be more of a surprise to see Zirkzee start over Hojlund when the team news in the capital is confirmed 75 minutes before kick-off.

A straight swap up front, however, might be the only unenforced change Amorim feels is necessary. He will, of course, be forced into making two alterations from the weekend after losing both Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo to suspension, but beyond that he might resist the temptation to maintain his rotation policy.

Of course, the Portuguese chief, who will be aiming to lead United to their first win at the Emirates in almost six years, knows the fitness and the condition of his players better than any of us, making the challenge of predicting his starting XIs difficult. He has made six changes to each of his last two starting line-ups from the previous fixture.

However, when you break down the XI that started against Everton, it is not easy to pull it apart and look at where obvious changes will be made, with the exception of withdrawing Martinez and Mainoo due to suspension.

Andre Onana is a guaranteed starter between the sticks, and Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt have soon established themselves as mainstays within the defence. The only change that is necessary to the backline is as a result of Martinez picking up his fifth yellow card of the season at the weekend.

In the wing-back roles, Amad has to start after such a fruitful display against Everton. It would be risky of Amorim, for example, to hook Diogo Dalot from left wing-back and deploy Alejandro Garnacho in his place and operate with two natural wingers as wing-backs. Tyrell Malacia has not played anywhere near enough football this season to start ahead of Dalot against a team of Arsenal's capabilities.

Casemiro started and sorted 66 minutes under his belt against Everton, being replaced by Manuel Ugarte, and they are the the most logical paring to start with in midfield against a team of Arsenal's quality with Mainoo missing. Christian Eriksen has not made it into either of the last two matchday squads and Mason Mount is better further forward.

In attack, Hojlund, having had a much-needed rest against Everton, is primed to return. Bruno Fernandes is an ever-present figure, and Amorim has confirmed he will be available for the trip to the Emirates. Marcus Rashford, who scored twice at the weekend, will offer a useful trait with his pace on the counter.

Amorim, understandably, has highlighted the need for rotation to keep the squad fresh - and the trip to Arsenal will be just United's second game of a nine-game month. He said it was "impossible" not to rotate his pack against Everton on Sunday.

However, this is the first time he is preparing for back-to-back Premier League fixtures, and Arsenal will pose the biggest test he has so far faced. His rotation policy might be parked on this occasion.