Manchester United v Arsenal: Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky ruled out for the Gunners with illness

Arsene Wenger admits a sickness bug has gone around the camp

Tomas Rosicky (left) and Per Mertesacker will not feature for Arsenal against Manchester United because of illness (GETTY IMAGES)

Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky have been ruled out for Arsenal’s crucial match against Manchester United today because of illness.

Both players have will not play because of a bug going around the Gunners' camp, Thomas Vermalen, the club captain, comes in for Mertesacker, while Mathieu Flamini returns from a groin strain to start at Old Trafford in place of Rosicky.

"We had four players that were touched by a sickness bug overnight," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed.

"Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky have had to miss out so Thomas Vermaelen and Mathieu Flamini come in to replace them and we must move players around. Mikel Arteta and Serge Gnabry are also sick but are fit enough to be available.

"We are perfectly focused and ready for the fight, it is not an excuse for us and I have complete faith in the players that have come in."

Man Utd : De Gea; Smalling, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Jones, Carrick, Kagawa; Rooney, Van Persie

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud.

Follow all of the action from Sunday's Premier League matches HERE