Manchester United, who have had a mixed start to the season under Erik ten Hag, can now fully concentrate on enhancing their on-field performances as the transfer window draws to an end.

Even though the Red Devils have won two of their first three Premier League games, they did only concede twice in the first four minutes of their thrilling victory over Nottingham Forest last week. Such recklessness would probably be met with harsher consequences against a top opponent.

Actually, the Old Trafford team can ill-afford another slow start in their journey to the Emirates this afternoon to play Arsenal, their rivals, with the hosts undoubtedly trying to make a statement about their own title aspirations.

United’s offensive deficiencies have been a major worry going into that match; the team’s four goals so far have come from midfield and defence (Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Raphael Varane, and Bruno Fernandes). As a result, it’s unclear whether summer signing Rasmus Hojlund will be able to play.

Is Hojlund going to play for Arsenal?

The huge Dane, who cost £72 million to sign from Atalanta, was the last striker the Premier League’s biggest clubs were looking for. However, because he arrived in Manchester with an injury, the 20-year-old will not be playing anytime soon.

But according to the most recent information, the former Sturm Graz star might make his debut later today against the Gunners, with fans perhaps wanting to see an immediate payoff for the club’s large purchase.

Nevertheless, despite Ten Hag’s latest assurances, it’s unclear if the 6′ 3″ sensation will be judged healthy enough to play from the beginning. It would be prudent to look at Jadon Sancho as an alternative to lead the line.

Who will be Man United’s starting forward vs Arsenal?

Injury-prone player Anthony Martial did return to the team after last week’s victory, but the misfiring Frenchman, who had been linked to a move earlier in the transfer window, was largely unimpressive in his 60-minute performance. Manchester Evening News writer Samuel Luckhurst gave the striker a terrible 3/10 match rating, saying he offered “zero goal threat.”

Given that there doesn’t seem to be any point in hurrying back Hojlund and that Rashford frequently expresses his desire to play off the left, it might be time for Sancho, who was given a central role throughout the preseason, to establish his value.

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The England international, dubbed a “unpredictable” gem by his former England youth coach Dan Micciche, was very outstanding in the 2-0 friendly victory over today’s opponents back in July. He really impressed me by shooting home from the angle past a hapless Aaron Ramsdale.

According to Jonathan Gorrie of the Evening Standard, that victory saw the £350k-per-week mystery exhibit “promising flashes” in his false nine berth. It appears that he has no reason not to terrorise Mikel Arteta and company once more this afternoon.

Even though the elusive forward has only scored 12 goals in 82 games at the Theatre of Dreams, it is fair to say that he hasn’t found success there yet. However, Luckhurst claims that United was ‘better with Sancho on and Martial off’ against Forest, so the former Borussia Dortmund trickster definitely deserves a chance to shine.

Ten Hag currently needs Sancho, even though Hojlund’s impending arrival may make him less of a center-forward option in the long run.