Manchester United defender Eric Bailly should be available to face Arsenal on Sunday after being totally omitted from the squad to face their North London rivals Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend, according to the Manchester Evening News. 

He is United's best centre-half and will hope to dislodge either Phil Jones or Chris Smalling, despite the England pair performing impressively in that Wembley victory over Mauricio Pochettino's men.

What's the story, then?

The report states that the only reason that Bailly missed out at Wembley was through illness, with Jose Mourinho unwilling to risk the Ivorian, but he should be ready to return against the Gunners.

It goes on to say that the bug had been persisting since before the debacle against West Bromwich Albion and he was not 100 per cent well for the trip to Bournemouth, despite being named on the bench.

That news will be a relief to United fans who might have feared that he had suffered a recurrence of the injury problems that have blighted his Old Trafford career so far, having started just one of their last five games.

 

Why is it such a huge boost?

Bailly is so vital to United. He is their best centre-half and has the pace and athleticism that their other options lack.

Smalling and Jones will not be able to handle the pace of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Jose Mourinho will be desperate to get him involved in the match that could all but secure second place for United, with Liverpool occupied with Champions League commitments.

Also, getting Bailly back into contention before next month's FA Cup final, United's biggest game of the season, would be a boost for Mourinho, who has missed the Ivorian desperately this term.

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