Erik Ten Hag confident that Manchester United are heading in right direction as Arsenal trip looms

Erik ten Hag said on Tuesday that he's confident he can steer Manchester United back into contention for the English Premier League title as he looked ahead to Sunday's trip to leaders Arsenal.

"Yes, I'm quite convinced of that process," ten Hag said, after United were held to a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, a result that denied them a tenth straight win in all competitions. "I think we are in the right direction. But it also means that we have to improve a lot, if you want to compete in the future for the top positions, because the competition will be really tough."

United currently lie third in the Premier League standings, eight points behind 'The Gunners' and have played a game more, but a win at the Emirates Stadium would cut that gap to five and confirm their pedigree, as ten Hag's men have beaten Mikel Arteta's side already this season, a 3-1 win at Old Trafford.

That result in October was Arsenal's only league defeat so far in this campaign, but United do not have a great recent record against them away from home.

Arsenal won last season's equivalent fixture 3-1 and have three wins and a draw against 'The Red Devils' in their last four meetings in London.

The last time United came away from the capital with a victory was in 2019 in the FA Cup and their last league win at Arsenal was back in December 2017.