Who are the Premier League's best of the rest?

Arsenal and Manchester United go into tomorrow’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford knowing that anything but a victory will see them lose further ground in their quest to challenge for a seemingly elusive title.

United were last at the pinnacle of English club football in 2013, while Arsenal fans need to go back much further – to 2004 – for their last Premier League title. The early form and results at both clubs suggests that it’s unlikely either will be able to put in a consistent challenge this season.

With Liverpool and Manchester City both exhibiting the form that saw them finish an astonishing 26 and 25 points, respectively, ahead of the chasing pack last season, it could well be that tomorrow’s game is one between teams hoping to be the best of the rest.

Former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who won the Premier League with United in 2008, says that he can see neither United nor Arsenal challenging for the title this season.

“They’ve fallen behind Manchester City and Liverpool. I don’t see either of them finishing in the top four the way they’re currently playing,” he said.

Less than a year ago, the Red Devils gave interim coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær the job permanently after the Norwegian raked up win after win in his opening matches, but a 2-0 defeat against West Ham last weekend and a narrow penalty shoot-out victory over third-tier Rochdale AFC midweek in the League Cup has ensured that the honeymoon phase is well and truly over.

His job against Arsenal has not been made any easier by Marcus Rashford’s injury during the defeat against West Ham. The England forward had to be substituted on the hour due to a groin injury.

Solskjær is hoping that Rashford’s injury will not require a lengthy lay off.

“He is not very bad, so we hope to see him before international break,” said Solskjær.

However, the international break is only in two weeks, so it seems virtually impossible that Rashford will feature against the Gunners.

Recent results have put pressure on United’s coach and, rather bizarrely, one of the coaches waiting in the wings is Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger, who told journalists that he did not think United had what it took to win the title this season. He also said they needed to sign four players.

“[With four more players], they can be challengers. For everything. They aren’t as far away as people think. The team has no pattern of play, no pattern of pressing. There is a team there, but it needs to be coached and developed,” the 69-year-old said.

“Manchester United are a dream job for any manager. At least, any manager with courage and confidence. I have confidence, I have courage … and, you’re right, I have ideas.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, have not been playing fantastic football, but have seen some results go their way. Last weekend, they had to come from behind twice to beat Aston Villa with two late goals.

They had no problems midweek against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup, taking an emphatic 5-0 win.

Arsenal coach Unai Emery gave several fringe players a chance against the Championship side, and they did not disappoint.

Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Martinelli, who has played only seven minutes in the league so far this season, scored twice, with Rob Holding, Reiss Nelson and Joseph Willock grabbing the other goals.

One of the players who has impressed in Arsenal’s cup run – both in the Europa League and the League Cup – is Germany international defender Shkodran Mustafi, who was told before the start of this season that he had no future at the club.

Despite interest from Juventus and Roma, the 27-year-old decided to stay in the Premier League.

“My dad talked to the club,” Mustafi said.

“I am a player of Arsenal and have another two years of my contract. The coach told me that he sees me the same way as any player in the team. That’s why I played.”

Whether that is enough to see Mustafi grab his first Premier League game this season will only be seen tomorrow.

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