Manchester United and Arsenal will face off at Old Trafford on Sunday in the Premier League.
The Gunners will look to win their penultimate game of the season to keep their championship ambitions alive until the end of the season.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils, who have three games remaining, will be hoping to cap a disappointing league season on a positive note and maybe secure a late European berth.
Manchester United will be especially anxious to recover from their 4-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace on Monday night.
In the newest episode of the Wrighty’s House podcast, Arsenal veteran Ian Wright discussed the Red Devils’ setback at Selhurst Park, as well as looking ahead to Sunday’s meeting.
What did Ian Wright have to say about Manchester United’s game against Arsenal on Sunday?
The Highbury icon believes the Gunners will win “because they have to” to keep their title ambitions alive.
Wright did, however, spare a thought for Manchester United, which he regarded as a team in free decline.
Wright said: โIโd like to think the the way we play, where we are defensively and through the midfield and upfrontโฆ
โYeah, Iโd like to think that we will win the game, because we have to.
โBut at the same time, itโs not fun watching Man Unitedโs fall. Itโs falling so fast. Itโs not fun, not fun for me.
โObviously I want my team to do well, but itโs not fun watching them,, because it was really quite humiliating.โ
Manchester United being pitied by an Arsenal icon will be a tough pill to stomach.
For many years, rival supporters despised Manchester United because of their dominance in the Premier League.
When you’re a fan of a team, being despised (and, let’s be honest, envied) by competitors is what you want since it implies you’re winning while they’re losing.
Being pitied is something you want to avoid. For a period, opposition fans may gloat and relish in your failures, and this is normal.
However, when those opponents actually begin to feel sorry for you, you’ve very well hit rock bottom as a team, generally speaking.
Man United fans will be hoping that the club’s hierarchy can begin the rebuilding process as soon as possible and transform the squad into one that inspires hatred and envy rather than pity.
Fortunately for the Red Devils, they can gain a head start in just two games in the coming weeks.
If Arsenal loses, their title chances for the season are likely to be dashed, which would delight Man United fans.
Then there’s the FA Cup final versus Manchester City, one of the most intense rivalries in years.