MANCHESTER, Sep 13 (V7N) - Arsenal, missing key players, are set for a major test of their Premier League title hopes in a clash against rivals Tottenham, while Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag desperately seeks a response from his team as they face Southampton.

Arsenal’s Challenge Ahead

Arsenal are already two points behind Manchester City and Liverpool in the title race, following a 1-1 draw at home against Brighton. The Gunners’ challenge intensified after Declan Rice was controversially sent off in the second half of that match.

Rice’s suspension for Sunday’s North London derby adds to Arsenal's injury troubles. Captain Martin Odegaard is set to miss three weeks due to an ankle injury sustained on international duty with Norway. Additionally, new signing Mikel Merino will be unavailable, sidelined with a shoulder injury.

However, there’s a silver lining for Arsenal, as manager Mikel Arteta signed a new three-year contract on Thursday.

“Together with the players and everyone at the club, we are looking forward to the coming years, with our supporters, who have emotionally transformed the club and the team,” said Arteta.

Arteta has guided Arsenal to consecutive second-place finishes over the last two seasons, but he now faces the task of creating a strategy that will keep the Gunners in the title hunt. The derby against Tottenham begins a tough stretch of three away games in just eight days, including a Champions League fixture against Atalanta and a meeting with City.

Ten Hag Calls for Patience

Despite the Premier League being just three games into the new season, Erik ten Hag is already under pressure after back-to-back defeats for Manchester United. Following a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool and a 2-1 loss to Brighton, questions are mounting over United’s progress, considering they finished eighth last season.

Speaking on Thursday, Ten Hag urged patience, saying, “We will see where we are in May. It’s still very early in the season, and it’s about winning trophies and aiming as high as possible in the league.”

He emphasized that external pressures don’t affect him, as he understands the process of integrating young players into the team.

United travel to Southampton on Saturday, looking to avoid their first run of three consecutive league losses since December 2015. The Saints, newly promoted, are yet to secure a point from their opening three games.

Haaland Eyes Hat-Trick Record

Erling Haaland has started the season in spectacular fashion, continuing his dominance for Manchester City after their fourth consecutive Premier League title under Pep Guardiola. The Norwegian striker has scored back-to-back hat-tricks against Ipswich and West Ham, after also netting in the opening weekend win over Chelsea.

Haaland now has eight hat-tricks in just 69 Premier League appearances, becoming one of six players to score hat-tricks in two consecutive games. However, no player has ever managed three in a row, a feat Haaland will attempt to achieve when City take on Brentford at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

Fixtures (all times GMT):

Saturday
Southampton v Man Utd (1130), Brighton v Ipswich, Crystal Palace v Leicester, Fulham v West Ham, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, Man City v Brentford (all 1400), Aston Villa v Everton (1630), Bournemouth v Chelsea (1900)

Sunday
Tottenham v Arsenal (1300), Wolves v Newcastle (1530)

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