Manchester United captain returns for Arsenal clash, Manchester City duo could feature against Aston Villa

There’s positive early team news coming out of both sides of Manchester ahead of the midweek Premier League fixtures.
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Matchday 14 of the 2021/22 Premier League continues tonight.

Manchester City will provide new Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard with his toughest challenge to date when they make the trip to Villa Park on Wednesday night.

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The Liverpool icon has won two from two since returning to the Premier League but will face a step up in opposition tonight.

On Thursday, Manchester United are hosting Arsenal at Old Trafford. It’s fifth travelling to eighth in a fixture that usually throws up one or two talking points.

Here is the early team news and form ahead of both fixtures:

Manchester United v Arsenal team news

Harry Maguire will return from suspension for tonight’s match with Arsenal Harry Maguire will return from suspension for tonight’s match with Arsenal
Harry Maguire will return from suspension for tonight’s match with Arsenal

Manchester United will welcome back captain Harry Maguire from suspension for Thursday’s match with Arsenal.

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Maguire missed United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea after receiving two yellow cards in the previous match against Watford.

Having served his suspension, the United skipper will be back in the squad for this crucial clash.

Raphael Varane is likely to still be absent due to injury while Phil Jones was back in the matchday squad for the first time in the Premier League this season, being named on the bench for the Chelsea match, and could feature again.

Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani are still unavailable while it’s unlikely Luke Shaw will play any part as he is slowly nursed back from injury.

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Michael Carrick will also continue in the dugout with Ralf Rangnick’s work permit still being finalised.

As for Arsenal, they will be without Bukayo Sako who was injured in their 2-0 win over Newcastle.

Manchester United v Arsenal form and previous results

Arsenal are the form team going into the match, having lost just once in their past 11 matches in all competitions.

That one defeat came last month as they were humbled 4-0 by Liverpool.

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Manchester United are winless in three Premier League matches and have just one victory in five across all competitions.

United failed to beat Arsenal in both their meetings last season, picking up a point after a 0-0 draw at the Emirates in January after losing 1-0 at Old Trafford in November.

Aston Villa v Manchester City team news

Phil Foden could feature for City tonight, as could Jack Grealish, but Kevin De Bruyne is set to miss out on the trip to Aston Villa Phil Foden could feature for City tonight, as could Jack Grealish, but Kevin De Bruyne is set to miss out on the trip to Aston Villa
Phil Foden could feature for City tonight, as could Jack Grealish, but Kevin De Bruyne is set to miss out on the trip to Aston Villa

Kevin De Bruyne will miss tonight’s match with Aston Villa but Jack Grealish and Phil Foden have a chance of featuring.

The Belgian has missed City’s last three matches after a positive Covid test and, although he has now tested negative, Guardiola confirmed that he has not yet returned to training.

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Both Grealish and Foden, who have been out injured, have returned to training and will be tested today to see if they are able to play any part in tonight’s match.

Aymeric Laporte is suspended but Phil Stones is “fit and healthy” after feeling “slightly under the weather” this week according to Guardiola.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz is free to play tonight after his red card against Crystal Palace was downgraded to a yellow by VAR.

Trezeguet is close to making a come back from a long term injury but will not feature tonight while Bertrand Traore also remains unavailable and Danny Ings is expected to miss out.

Aston Villa v Manchester City form and previous results

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The home side have won their first two matches under new boss Steven Gerrard, beating Crystal Palace 2-1 and Brighton 2-0.

Manchester City are on a run of five consecutive wins in all competitions, a perfect November after ending October with a shock 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

Last season, City won both encounters with Villa starting with a 2-0 home win in January and following that up with a 2-1 at Villa Park in April.