United manager Louis van Gaal must be wondering what he did to anger whichever cruel god has cursed his Manchester United side this season. United's defence has been shaky at the best of times since he took over, but Van Gaal will go into Saturday's game with Marcos Rojo definitely out, and major doubts hanging over Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw and Rafael. Van Gaal might be forced to play a winger in Antonio Valencia at right back, central defender Tyler Blackett at left back, and in the middle, two of Chris Smalling, Paddy McNair or Michael Carrick. Smalling has looked little short of a liability at various points this season, McNair is a teenager with a handful of games under his belt and Carrick is a midfielder, who actually might be required elsewhere in the side, given another injury has deprived United of Daley Blind for a long but unspecified period of time.
2. At what point will Van Gaal be judged?
The new Manchester United manager has been given plenty of leeway so far this season, and understandably so, to an extent. It has been apparent for quite some time that this United squad was insufficient and inadequate, held together in Sir Alex Ferguson's final days by the force of his personality, so it was hardly a surprise that the whole house of cards fell down when he departed. Thus, Van Gaal was given a mess, a lopsided collection of players of questionable quality, not exactly coursing with enthusiasm after a season under David Moyes, but the facts remain: United spent an eye-watering amount of money, more than they have ever previously spent in a single summer, on some of the finest talent in the world, and yet they have four fewer points, won two fewer games, scored fewer goals and conceded more than at the same stage last season. And it's not as if they have faced a particularly fearsome fixture list either, with games against Chelsea and Manchester City preceded by a very gentle start to the season, on paper at least.
3. Will Danny Welbeck come back to haunt Manchester United?
At the time, the sale of Danny Welbeck on transfer deadline day didn't look like a particularly bad decision for Manchester United. They had just recruited Radamel Falcao; they already had Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, while young James Wilson was showing huge potential as another young option up front for Van Gaal's side. The identity of the club they sold him to, ostensible rivals Arsenal, may well have raised a few eyebrows, but in isolation there was plenty of logic to letting Welbeck leave. "He takes all the benefit from playing every week," said Van Gaal about his former striker. "That was a question mark with Manchester United. It's good to see he's doing what I thought. He could have also played for Manchester United. But we have decided that he could go and he has taken the benefit of it."
4. Will Arsene Wenger unleash Theo Walcott?
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been understandably cautious about bringing Theo Walcott back too soon and too quickly after such a serious injury. "Is he completely ready?" said Wenger, discussing Walcott's inclusion in the recent England squad. "I think it is a bit early, but to be in the squad will be good for him. The battle is not won. After 10 months out you have ups and downs. I do not want to make a big mistake." Walcott only has 21 minutes over two substitute appearances to his name, following his return from the cruciate knee ligament injury that kept him on the sidelines for 10 months, but he has been back in full training for some weeks and available for the first-team for nearly a month.
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