LONDON - It is not in the spirit of the competition if Jose Mourinho fields a weakened team against Arsenal. We pride ourselves that there are no easy games in the Premier League.
United are just a point outside the top four. Regardless of whether they win the Europa League, I cannot imagine United would want to throw away all their season’s work in the league.
Doing so would give Arsenal an outside chance of breaking into the top four and I cannot believe that Mourinho is willing to give Arsene Wenger a leg-up. I sympathise with United over their injuries. It must have been exasperating for Mourinho to see Ashley Young come off the bench on Thursday and do his hamstring.
But whatever team Mourinho plays, it will be a tough test for Arsenal. United have one of the league’s strongest squads.
If Marcus Rashford is rested, then Anthony Martial comes back in with a point to prove. Is he any less of a threat?
David de Gea sat out the win on Thursday and should start, and even if Mourinho has to make changes to the back four, he has Chris Smalling and Phil Jones returning from injury.
If United want to give up on fourth then that’s up to them, but this could all be smoke and mirrors from Mourinho.