Theo Walcott has been given the nod to lead the line for Arsenal in this afternoon's crunch Premier League meeting with Manchester United.

The England international, preferred to Olivier Giroud for this one, has scored 12 goals in his last 13 starts for the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger has also opted to restore Petr Cech in goal following his costly decision to rest the experienced stopper in midweek, with David Ospina dropping to the bench.

United have made two changes from last time out, meanwhile, bringing in Michael Carrick and Ashley Young in place of Antonio Valencia and Morgan Schneiderlin for the trip to North London.

Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal will start Young at full-back, while Carrick slots in alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger in defensive midfield at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal head into today's game on the back of a poor run of form against their arch rivals, having won just one of the last 13 meetings between the pair.

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis; Walcott
Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Chambers, Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell, Giroud

Manchester United: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Blind, Darmian; Carrick, Schweinsteiger; Mata, Rooney, Memphis; Martial
Subs: Romero, Jones, McNair, Schneiderlin, Valencia, Fellaini, Wilson

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