Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described Manchester United's recent results and performances against the Premier League's elite as "very impressive" ahead of Sunday's FA Cup third round tie at the Emirates Stadium.

United put the brakes on a four-game losing run last time out, earning a well-deserved point in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. Amad netted a late equaliser after Lisandro Martinez's earlier goal had been wiped out by efforts from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah.

That was United's first encouraging result since they defeated Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on December 15. United, under former manager Erik ten Hag, often struggled against the Premier League's traditional 'big six' away from home, taking just three points from a possible 30 during his time in charge.

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But a haul of four points from their last two away games against fellow 'big six' rivals highlights United's improvements in such matches, meaning Arteta is anticipating a tough test.

"When you look especially at the big teams [they've played], how they perform and the results that they've got, it's very impressive," Arteta told reporters.

"I know him well, I followed him a lot when he was in Portugal and there is a big reason why he is where he is at the moment, and he deserves to be there."

United were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal in the league at the Emirates last month, marking Ruben Amorim's first defeat since replacing Ten Hag in November. Having studied their performance at Anfield last weekend, Arteta is prepared for a different type of test to the one he and his team faced in last month's meeting.

Arteta, reflecting on United's showing at Liverpool, added: "It's true they played a little bit differently, with the personnel that they used, the location of certain players.

"The characteristics of the players that they had dictate what they do, where they are, have more threat on both sides, to feet and in behind because in the end that's what determines the behaviours of a team. It is different the last few weeks to when we played them here at home so I'm expecting a few different things."