Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic could affect Manchester United during Saturday's Premier League clash between the two sides.
Ibrahimovic has been ruled out of the match due to suspension as the Gunners look to avenge their 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford in February - their only away league loss of the calendar year so far.
However, Wenger also warned that United will have options in place of Ibrahimovic, including Marcus Rashford, who the Frenchman admits surprised him during his two-goal display on his Premier League debut against Arsenal last season.
"Certainly they would prefer to have [Ibrahimovic]. But we have as well players out and let's not forget, last year the guy who killed us was Rashford. So let's not speculate on any weakness of Man United. Yes of course [Rashford surprised me]. Maybe a bit less, because I watched him against a Danish team in midweek and he scored and I could see straight away that this guy could be dangerous. On crosses his movement was good, the way he moved in the box was strong. he took everyone by surprise because no one knew him in England," he told reporters.
"In 2016 we lost one away game in the whole year and that was at Old Trafford. So overall, on top of that, I think that is really the key game, it was a key game for us and that is where we did not respond with the quality of performance on the day.
"We did not only lose the game, but that's maybe one of the few away games in the whole year where the performance was not at the level. So we want to focus on that and respond with a strong performance and after we have to accept the result. But what will be very important for me is that we respond with a strong performance on Saturday morning."
Alexis Sanchez is a doubt for the match following his international exploits with Chile.
Barney Corkhill
