Arsenal host arch rivals Manchester United in clutch game for duo's Premier League top-four hopes Van Persie of Manchester United has a close range header saved by Szczesny. WITH the international break done and dusted, Barclays Premier League hostilities resume this weekend, headlined by what could be a crucial fixture in the top-four race. Arsenal entertains Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday night, with a Red Devils win catapulting them above the north London side and into third, if others results go their way. If Arsene Wenger's side can buck their recent trend against United and claim three points they will push four clear of their rivals in the race to secure UEFA Champions League football next season. Not long ago, this was the match that would decide the EPL crown. But with Southampton flying and the Sergio Aguero-led Manchester City sitting in third, there's a high possibility that the remaining spot in the top four will be a two-way shootout between the two most successful sides since the inception of the EPL, though admittedly there is a long way to go this season and Liverpool will hope to lurk as well. It's almost impossible to decide who needs a big-game win more - Wenger or van Gaal. United's stuttering start to the season, after spending big in the transfer market, has seen the latter feel the heat, while the Gunners" record against Chelsea, City and United has been abysmal in recent times. The last 14 matches between these two sides make for horrible reading for Gunners fans, with United claiming 10 wins, while there have been three draws and just the single Arsenal victory. The international friendlies that have taken place over the last fortnight have taught us plenty about players on both sides of the divide. Chile's Alexis Sanchez is in red-hot goalscoring form. Alexis Sanchez is playing like a man possessed at the moment, his goal against Uruguay marked the sixth game in a row - for club and country - he has found the back of the net. The Chilean has been an instant hit since moving to north London from Barcelona, and Wenger will again be looking for him to provide a spark against what should be an inexperienced United back four. Jack Wilshere may still be drunk by the time Sunday rolls around in light of all the ceremonial champagne he has been drinking lately. The midfielder has won the man of the match award in England's last four games and is being lauded for his assist for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain mid-week against Scotland. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has played down the knee injury suffered by midfielder Daley Blind, insisting the EPL star will not be out for six months as first suggested. The 22-year-old has implored Wenger to deploy him on Sunday in the deeper midfield role he's been thriving in under Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson. United boss Van Gaal (and Fantasy Football managers) are sweating on the fitness of Angel Di Maria following farcical scenes at Old Trafford during the Portugal and Argentina's friendly, where Nani - still on the Red Devils" books, but on loan in Portugal - injured the silky winger with a rash challenge. Arsenal's Jack Wilshere will be looking to carry over his England form. Di Maria is confident he will recover in time to face Arsenal, but should he miss the game, Wayne Rooney's England form will have pleased van Gaal. Two goals against Scotland and one against Slovenia edged the striker closer to Bobby Charlton's England record, and if he can replicate that sharpness on Sunday, it could be a long afternoon for an Arsenal defence that has shown worrying fragilities of late. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal. Besides Di Maria, Daley Blind, Michael Carrick and David De Gea sustained injuries over the international break, with only goalkeeper De Gea expected to feature at the Emirates. Those injuries will put a strain on United's rear-guard, but Luke Shaw has called on the replacements to stake their claim. "We know we've picked up a lot of injuries, especially in defence, where it's always changing each time," Shaw said. I think it's time for people to step up, those who are not getting game time and who are frustrated on the bench can come in for a massive game like Arsenal that everyone will want to play in. Everyone will be working hard and focusing on this weekend and come the game, we'll be ready to go. Van Gaal himself summed up the feeling of his less-than-impressive start at United, in the context of his FIFA award nomination. Arsene Wenger's recent record against Manchester United is terrible. "When you see the results of Manchester United it is unbelievable that I'm on the Coach of the Year shortlist," he told MUTV. It's time he justifies the hype and expectation that surrounded his arrival, and those of the multi-million dollar superstars he recruited. A win means he will have collected seven points out of 12 in a testing four -game run against Chelsea, Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Arsenal. Not perfect, but a step in the right direction. Arsenal's sick ward is far busier than Wenger would like - Mathieu Debuchy, Mesut Ozil, Mikel Arteta and Serge Gnabry remain long-term casualties, Laurent Koscielny is a game-by-game case thanks to tendonitis, though Olivier Giroud is a slight chance of returning. Friends turned enemies England strikers Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck. Another subplot to this one is Danny Welbeck's first game against Manchester United since moving to Arsenal on Deadline Day. Deemed not good enough by van Gaal, the England striker - himself a goalscorer this week - has more motivation than most as he lines up against the club he spent 13 of his 23 years at. The striker - who has scored twice in 10 league games since moving - says he has no regrets. When you've been somewhere for so long and then you're going to start a new chapter in your career, you've got to think about it a lot. Over the past year or so, I started to think about what's best for me," he said this week. But it's going well. Arsenal is the place for me to advance my career and take me to the next level. Originally published as Time for Arsenal, United to make statement