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• Arteta already sees Amorim influence on Man Utd

  Mikel Arteta feels Ruben Amorim's influence is already visible in Manchester United's play, ahead of Arsenal facing the Red Devils in a huge matchup on Wednesday. 

  United have one win and one draw from two Premier League matches under the former Sporting CP coach, drawing 1-1 at Ipswich Town before crushing Everton 4-0.

  On Wednesday, the United boss will face his toughest test yet as United visit the Emirates Stadium, where they have lost on seven of their last nine Premier League visits (one win, one draw), losing on their last three.

  Last Sunday's comprehensive victory over Everton was the biggest ever managed by a permanent United boss in their first home league match at the helm.

  They registered 59.9% possession, 630 total passes and three big chances in that match, with all of those figures bettering their per-game averages under former boss Erik ten Hag this term (52.2% possession, 494 passes and 2.9 big chances).

  Arteta has been impressed by the swift nature of Amorim's impact, saying at Tuesday's pre-match press conference: "You can see his fingerprints already in how he wants to play. 

  "You know what he wants to do straight away, I think he's been very clear. He's been very successful with Sporting.

  "It's remarkable after so many years what he achieved there, especially in the way he did it and the way his teams have been playing. 

  "He brings energy to the club, to the players, new ideas and that's always something that's positive.

  "We focus on ourselves. We're on a good run and have good momentum. It will be a big and beautiful match against United."

   

  Arsenal are currently trailing pacesetters Liverpool by nine points at the Premier League summit, with United six points further back in ninth place.

  However, Arteta still thinks plenty of teams could catch Arne Slot's Reds – including United.

  "We're still very early in the season. Any team that has the capacity to put wins in a row has a chance," the Spaniard said. "I think anything is possible."

  Arsenal thrashed West Ham 5-2 last time out, with Bukayo Saka scoring a penalty and laying on two assists. 

  Saka has now provided 10 assists in Arsenal’s 13 Premier League games this season – only Harry Kane (11 in 2020-21), Cesc Fabregas (12 in 2014-15) and Mesut Ozil (12 in 2015-16) have reached double figures fewer games into a team's Premier League campaign.

  Arteta feels the England international has made a visible step up this season, saying: "In terms of the numbers, yes. 

  "We see a shift from Bukayo every single year. He's more and more consistent. He can only improve and only get better. He wants more."

   

• Arsenal draw holders Manchester United in FA Cup third round

  Arsenal have drawn Manchester United at home in the third round of the FA Cup.

  Record 14-time winners Arsenal were paired with holders – and 13-time winners – United in the pick of the ties in Monday's draw.

  Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City will host Salford City, who are owned by Man United's famed 'Class of 92'.

  Elsewhere, Liverpool and fellow Premier League big boys Chelsea will host fourth-tier sides Accrington Stanley and Morecambe respectively.

  The draw for the #EmiratesFACup third round is complete

  — Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) December 2, 2024

  One of the pick of the third-round ties, due to be played over the weekend of 11 January, will see Tamworth welcome Tottenham.

  The only other non-league side still remaining, Dagenham & Redbridge, will go to Championship club Millwall.

  League Two strugglers Bromley have a plum away tie at Newcastle United, meanwhile, and Premier League high-flyers Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Norwich City.

  Aston Villa versus West Ham is the only other all-Premier League tie aside from Arsenal against Man United.

• Premier League MD13: Lucky winners and unlucky losers

  Liverpool are now nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, after claiming a 2-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield.

  It is fair to say the Reds, who accumulated 3.3 expected goals and had 18 shots, were more than worthy of their victory on Sunday, as City lost a fourth straight league match.

  But was that the case across the board this weekend? Which teams were unlucky, and which sides got lucky, when comparing the underlying metrics to their actual results?

  Here, we use Opta data to find out.

  Unlucky losers: Everton

  The away end at Old Trafford was mostly empty by the time full-time rolled around on Sunday, as Manchester United claimed their first league win under new boss Ruben Amorim in style, beating Everton 4-0.

  But it's fair to say that Sean Dyche's team had started brightly, albeit without offering too much in the way of a threat. United's opening two goals came via a deflection and then a mistake from Jarrad Branthwaite, who was heavily linked with a move to the Red Devils in the summer.

  While Everton cannot be considered unfortunate to lose, the metrics do suggest United were far more clinical than would have been anticipated based on the chances that came their way, as Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford both netted doubles. 

   

  United created just 1.0 xG, while having 11 shots, just three more than the Toffees. Amorim's side took all three of their big chances (defined as an opportunity from which a player would reasonably be expected to score). Everton had only 13 touches in United's box, though, as for all their bright play in the opening 30 minutes, they failed to make any real inroads.

  Lucky winners: Newcastle United

  Newcastle did not get all three points against Crystal Palace on Saturday, though they were just moments away from doing so. Daniel Munoz headed home late on after connecting with a cross from Marc Guehi, who had bundled in an own goal to give the Magpies the lead.

  Yet Newcastle should really consider themselves fortunate to come away with even a point, considering the match metrics.

  Eddie Howe claimed his team were in control, yet they failed to have a single shot on target, had only one attempt throughout the entire match and finished with 0.04 xG - by some distance the lowest of any Premier League team this weekend.

  Palace's 1.8 xG was the fifth-highest total, on the other hand. The Eagles had 16 attempts, meaning their per-shot xG of 0.11 was higher than Newcastle's entire xG across the match.

   

  Unlucky losers: Brighton

  Brighton were left to rue some missed opportunities as they drew 1-1 with Southampton in Friday's south coast derby.

  The Seagulls accumulated 1.7 xG and had 22 shots, which is at least four more than any other team in the division across the weekend's matches, while their 44 touches in the opposition box was also a league-high.

  Yet they could not build on Kaoru Mitoma's opener, and were ultimately punished when Flynn Downes netted just before the hour.

  Southampton created 1.0 xG, so it is not as though they were unworthy of at least a goal, but Fabian Hurzeler will no doubt believe his team should have been out of sight.