ARTETA: RIVALRY IS NOT AS HEATED NOW

MIKEL ARTETA says Arsenal against Manchester United is no longer the feisty fixture it once was, with players unable to get away with the antics of old.

This meeting evokes memories of hot-blooded clashes, including the 2003 Battle of Old Trafford during Arsenal’s Invincibles season — a game which would have kept VAR busy.

Arteta says players are too heavily policed to be badly behaved now, but called on his side to remember the history of the fixture and play with passion.

‘It has calmed down, but not only with Arsenal and United fixtures,’ Arteta said. ‘In general you see the way the derbies used to get played and it’s not the same right now. The game is evolving. We are educating the players in a different way and for sure now they are not allowed to do some of the things they used to do.

‘With VAR, even less. You are much more controlled and policed so you know you’re not going to get away with certain things.’

On whether Arsenal’s players need a tribal mentality to win today and push for the top four, he said: ‘You need that passion to defend your position and show how much you want to win.’

They will have to do it without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The captain has missed Arsenal’s last two games because he has been abroad supporting his sick mother. And Aubameyang’s need to quarantine is expected to keep him out this evening. Providing he produces a negative Covid-19 test result, he will be clear to face Wolves on Tuesday.

Thomas Partey is winning his race to recover from a thigh problem and Arsenal will make late calls on Kieran Tierney (calf) and Emile smith Rowe (muscular discomfort) following fitness tests.

All three were injury concerns but able to train with Arteta’s squad yesterday.