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Arsenal top six rival analysis: Man United, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester & more

By Ross Kennerley

FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1178800802,1196064545 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United (L) and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal. Arsenal FC and Manchester United meet on January 1,2020 in a Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium in London,England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 03: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League group L match between AZ Alkmaar and Manchester United at ADO Den Haag on October 03, 2019 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
FILE PHOTO (EDITORS NOTE: COMPOSITE OF IMAGES - Image numbers 1178800802,1196064545 - GRADIENT ADDED) In this composite image a comparison has been made between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United (L) and Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal. Arsenal FC and Manchester United meet on January 1,2020 in a Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium in London,England. ***LEFT IMAGE*** THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 03: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League group L match between AZ Alkmaar and Manchester United at ADO Den Haag on October 03, 2019 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) ***RIGHT IMAGE*** BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on December 26, 2019 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Ole
TOPSHOT – Manchester United’s Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Manchester United

Manchester United are fifth in the table, but have been utterly reliant on individual brilliance to get them there.

This is a team (manager) bereft of ideas. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making it up as he goes along. While their most recent outing was a 3-0 hammering of Tottenham, they weren’t especially great. Spurs were atrocious and classy moments from their key players Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes saw them through.

There is no direction, noticeable patterns of play or shape. Every time it looks like Solskjaer is finally out for the count he gets dragged back up off the canvas by a certain forward.

The man is inevitable. And at 36 years old he’s still an outstanding footballer.

How long can it go on for? The indifferent results and performances will either be salvaged by brilliance or left to fester as they are.

What is frustrating is that the squad is so rich in quality – Jadon Sancho doesn’t even get a game despite being one of the best young players on the planet over the past few seasons – and that alone will see them hover in and around the top four places.

Their manager has taken them as far as he can, but can the players take them further despite the dearth of direction? They could be leaving a gaping hole in the top four hunt.

Continued…

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