Man Utd squad to face Arsenal confirmed as Marcus Rashford decision made

Man Utd players training ahead of their clash with Arsenal (Image: Getty)

Marcus Rashford's absence raised eyebrows as Manchester United players boarded the coach for their highly-anticipated FA Cup clash against Arsenal, hinting that the unsettled striker may once again be missing from the squad lineup. Manager Ruben Amorim has declared the England ace available after missing the Liverpool tie due to illness, yet Rashford was conspicuously not spotted among his teammates departing for London on Saturday, according to the MEN.

Rashford, who has seen limited action under Amorim, has publicly expressed his wish to explore new horizons, signaling an impending exit from Old Trafford. Despite heavy speculation, United set off for Arsenal with their top guns at the ready, and Amorim is anticipated to avoid any drastic changes to his side in pursuit of snapping a four-match winless streak.

Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is slated to take his position between the sticks, while youngster Toby Collyer has made the squad – nevertheless, it looks like Amorim will stick largely to his trusted lineup.

On the subject of team rotation ahead of the pivotal fixture, Amorim asserted: "I think we rotated more in that part when we were trying to find out what kind of players we have. Players have returned from injury and now we are rotating less."

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Emphasising the rationale behind his selection decisions, he added: "Now we have had time to train a little bit more, I expect my team to understand a little bit better, the game. I don't rotate because I want to rotate; I am not different from other coaches."

The United boss has made it clear that he's not in the business of resting players, especially after a week without games. "At this moment, I am living day by day. We had one week without a game. It does not make sense for me to rest players now and play both games really near. We have to win and follow the last performance."

He emphasised the importance of continuity and seizing the moment: "We are in a difficult moment. We are improving, we will put out the best team to try to win. I will choose the best team to win. We want to win the cup. Sometimes it is better to win this type of game and have less time to rest. We just to win this game and then we will think about the next."

United, who lifted the trophy last season after triumphing over Manchester City, see the competition as a beacon of hope amidst their Premier League challenges. However, they'll be missing key players Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Johnny Evans, and Victor Lindelof due to injuries.

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The confirmed squad for United includes Onana, Bayindir, Heaton, Dalot, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Malacia, Mainoo, Ugarte, Casemiro, Collyer, Fernandes, Eriksen, Antony, Garnacho, Zirkzee, Hojlund, Amad.

Man Utd squad to face Arsenal confirmed as Marcus Rashford decision made

Man Utd squad to face Arsenal confirmed as Marcus Rashford decision made

Man Utd squad to face Arsenal confirmed as Marcus Rashford decision made

Man Utd squad to face Arsenal confirmed as Marcus Rashford decision made

Man Utd squad to face Arsenal confirmed as Marcus Rashford decision made