Francis Coquelin issues blunt warning ahead of Man United v Arsenal

Francis Coquelin has told his Arsenal team-mates that they must beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday to keep their Premier League title bid on track.

The Gunners head into the game looking to return to winning ways after the disappointment of their 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Arsenal underlined their title credentials with a 2-1 win over Leicester in their last outing to leave them third in the table and two points off top spot heading into the final 12 games of the season.

And Gunners midfielder Coquelin admits that there is no margin for error as Arsene Wenger’s men prepare for the crucial title run-in.

Speaking to Arsenal Player, Coquelin said: “I think it’s been a difficult [season] for Man United but in big games like this, we know that they’re going to turn up, because everyone loves these kind of matches.

“It would be a massive win for them to beat us. But we’re going to be ready.

“We beat Leicester and I think the whole team is conscious that, if we want to win the title, we have to win against these kind of teams. Man United are always going to be a great team. Even if they had a bad spell, they still have a strong squad.

“Last year we didn’t lose to them away from home [in two matches]. We showed that we can do something against them away.

“We won there in the FA Cup and drew there in the league. We’re going to go there full of confidence after what we did last year.

“We’ve just beaten the team at the top of the league and shown that we have the desire to do well and grab silverware at the end of the season.”

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Arsenal, who have not won the Premier League since the 2003-04 season, finished third and lifted the FA Cup last season.

United head into Sunday’s game in fifth place and six points adrift of the top four.