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Why Leny Yoro is unlikely to start for Manchester United but could have a role vs Arsenal

Yoro has made only two friendly appearances for United
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Manchester United play away at four of the old 'big six' within the next month, starting tonight against Arsenal.

United have not won at the Emirates Stadium in nearly six years and their last Premier League victory at Arsenal was seven years ago.

Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo are both suspended tonight while United could still be without injured centre backs Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof.

However, Leny Yoro is set to be included in the United matchday squad for the first time now that he has recovered from a fractured metatarsal.

Here are five things to look out for:

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Who replaces the suspended duo?

Lisandro Martinez is not the loss he was when he got injured against Sevilla or West Ham United. His iffy form this season continued with the cynical booking he collected against Everton and United had a ready-made replacement in Luke Shaw until he broke down again. Harry Maguire, who returned from an eight-week lay-off on Sunday, may have to be parachuted into the starting XI.

Mainoo is out again after coming back in following an eight-week lay-off. Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Manuel Ugarte is not an imposing collection of midfielders to choose from and pit against one of the best midfields in Europe.

How many more changes?

With two alterations enforced by suspension, Ruben Amorim could stray close to six more changes to his side. Fresher faces in midfield and the attack are inevitable, with Ugarte, Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund vying for recalls.

Truest test yet

Arsenal are by far the best side Amorim's United will have faced. Given some of the away fixtures over the next month - a derby, a League Cup quarter-final, Anfield and Arsenal away again in the FA Cup - we will have a good gauge of where this United side is at under the incumbent coach come mid-January.

Amorim has warned of the coming "storm" and that United will get "found out". Arsenal scored ten goals in their two wins last week and went easy on West Ham with their five-goal haul. United fans will hope the storm is not imminent.

Winless run to end?

United are winless in six at Arsenal and have only taken a point off the Gunners during that run. Their two defeats under Erik ten Hag came via 89th and 96th-minute winners.

Worse than their record at Arsenal is United's away record against the old 'big six' - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham. They failed to win all ten under Ten Hag, drawing three and losing seven.

Overall, it is 14 without a win at those grounds. The last time United did prevail at one of them was Spurs in October 2021.

Yoro to debut?

Arsenal away is not the ideal fixture to ease a teenage debutant into. Never mind one who cost nearly £60million and has never played in England before.

Leny Yoro will almost certainly not start but United have made in-game changes to their backline since the start of the campaign. With two of their back three likely to be full backs, there is every chance centre backs Yoro and Maguire will be called upon.