Erik ten Hag noticed two details at Old Trafford that convinced him about Arsenal

Erik ten Hag admitted he knew Arsenal would be title contenders – even after beating them at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are the only side to defeat leaders Arsenal in the Premier League this season and the two giants go head-to-head again on Sunday. United boss Ten Hag insists he has already hatched a plan to beat them again at the Emirates because they will be without Brazil midfielder Casemiro.

But the Dutchman says Mikel Arteta has built foundations for long-term success and is reaping rewards for the Gunners. Ten Hag said of Arsenal: “In the moment we played them, you could already see the manager and the coaching staff were already working for a long time on the team. You see really good structures on the team.

“They have even improved during the first half of the season. There is a really good spirit in their team, so we know what to do. We have to be really good.

“We need a really good performance. But if we do, I think we have a good chance also to get out of that performance a good result. It is obvious they are in a really good run and I think they deserve the position where they are now. It is a really good structure, how they play.

“It is a really good mentality and a winning attitude in the team. That is why they are top of the list. They are in a great run. It is up to us to beat their run and we will do everything to do that.”

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Casemiro will miss the Arsenal trip through suspension after his yellow card at Crystal Palace, and the midfielder’s influence has been huge throughout United’s rise up the table.

The former Real Madrid enforcer was only a substitute back in September, having only just joined from Los Blancos, but Ten Hag insists United will be able to cope without him. The Red Devils boss said: “As I said, we beat Arsenal last time without Casemiro. We have an idea of how to deal with that.”

Meanwhile, Ten Hag has confirmed Jadon Sancho’s return to training after the United winger’s extended absence through mental and physical health issues. Ten Hag said of the England international: “He is making the next step. It is true, he has had his first day at team training but team training is the final day before the game. So we will extend that in the coming days, the coming week and go step by step.”