Joe Montemurro has the opportunity to chose from 17 senior players and up to four Academy players for the key Manchester United away game in the league.

The return of many injured players comes at the right time with Chelsea at home next for the Gunners.

The manager will have some headaches for the first time in a while and it means it should be a very strong 11 that will take the pitch on Sunday.

It is definitely needed as Manchester United recruited well during the summer. They were a strong defensive unit last season but lacked a cutting edge up front.

United have recruited an England attacking midfielder in Lucy Staniforth as well as three top quality forwards. Two world champions in Tobin Heath and Christen Press as well as the up and coming England forward Alessia Russo also arrived. We struggled to beat them last season with a late Danielle van de Donk goal for a 1-0 win.

So, we should expect an even tougher game this season as they now have three pacey forwards who can hurt you on the break and run behind Arsenal’s defence. They also have two quality midfielders who can pass the ball well in Jackie Groenen, the Dutch international, and the former Arsenal Welsh midfielder, Hayley Ladd.

Joe Montemurro is spoiled for choice for the United game and you would expect him to restore Manuela Zinsberger in goal after giving a first game to Fran Stenson in midweek. With United fielding three quick forwards, I would expect to see Leonie Maier and Katie McCabe at full-back with the number one pairing of Leah Williamson and Jennifer Beattie restored in the middle.

In midfield, the double pivot of Kim Little and Lia Wälti alongside either Danielle van de Donk or Jill Roord, who had scored two hat-tricks before being sidelined with injury. Due to her physical strength that will be needed in the midfield battle, I think Roord will get the nod. 

In attack, Vivianne Miedema alongside the in-form Caitlin Foord and Beth Mead as the third forward on the right or left wing. Should she be deemed not fit enough to start, Danielle van de Donk would start on either wing.

The expected starting XI would be: Zinsberger; Maier, Williamson, Beattie, McCabe; Wälti, Little, Roord; Mead, Miedema, Foord and the subs: Williams, Stenson, Mace, Denton, Wubben-Moy, Schnaderbeck, Gut, van de Donk.

The game kicks-off at 2.30pm and will be played behind closed doors which means the Arsenal players won’t get abused by the Man United fans.