Arsenal: 4 things we’d like to see vs Manchester United

The season has had its fair share of ups and downs and Arsenal are only 13 matches in. Sitting in the top five prior to the midweek round of fixtures, what happens against Manchester United on Thursday could have major implications for the campaign.

It’s exciting. This fixture, especially at Old Trafford, has tended to lean more on the side of terrifying than exciting over the past decade and a half, even if Mikel Arteta’s side boast a remarkably strong run against the Red Devils.

Avoiding defeat in each of the past six Premier League meetings, a spell that includes three victories, would normally be a source of optimism. However, such statistics don’t tend to have much bearing on the next outcome.

Manchester United are must changed since the 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium last time out and so are Arsenal. New signings, new managers and new styles of play mean this meeting won’t be dictated by what happened in previous encounters, although form might.

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4 things we’d like to see from Arsenal and Mikel Arteta against Manchester United in the Premier League on Thursday

Arsenal boast a five point cushion over their fellow European hopefuls and the prospect of still being above them whatever may come at the full-time whistle should release the pressure valves somewhat. That, and United recording just one win in their previous eight league outings will also have more of a say in the final result.

The unique and engrossing festive period in England will cough up numerous surprises and Arsenal keeping a tentative eye on the results of those around them means they’re doing something right.

Arteta has some interesting selections to make for the Old Trafford visit. There are potential injuries to contend with as well as intriguing decisions to make as the battle between form and experience will be in his thinking at left-back, but whatever team is put out has the capability to win this match.

And winning should be all that is on the mind. Eight points above United after 14 games played where Arsenal have already been to the Etihad, Anfield, Old Trafford, King Power Stadium and hosted Chelsea? You’d have taken that. So, on the quest for three precious points, what do we want to see from the team on Thursday?

1. Guts

Going from Anfield to Newcastle at home was as kind as the fixture list could have been. Getting blown away by four goals against one of Europe’s finest and the hosting the only winless side in the entire Football League gave Arsenal a welcome platform to bounce back.

The disparity of the two fixtures can also pose a mental hurdle to overcome.

Arsenal came out to play against Liverpool. The team was the same, the approach not altered, and the confidence in the group to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side without breaking away from their philosophy demonstrated the belief within the team.

In the end, they got beaten. Comfortably.

Whatever tactical approach the Red Devils opt to use, the same level of commitment to the core principles needs to be on show and any lingering flashbacks for the likes of Nuno Tavares and Sambi Lokonga have to be quelled in the face of a historic stadium.

Some guts from the team in how they build up, press and approach the game is going to be essential in the quest for victory. Newcastle dished up an entirely different prospect and being in the right frame of mind for a game that won’t play out similarly is the first and most important step before a ball is even kicked.

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2. Using Aaron Ramsdale as the Spare Man in Build Up

How will Manchester United approach this game? Not even Arteta is sure.

"He said: “It is very difficult tactically because you don’t know how they are going to prepare the game, the options that they can play, the formation they can [have] so it’s focused more on ourselves, on what we have to do and make sure the team is prepared to go there and beat them.”"

Seeing next to none of the ball away at Chelsea, United chose their moments to press in a way not seen under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: the front two led the press and the full-backs got involved in trying to limit the time Chelsea had on the ball. It wasn’t on show all match, as the majority of the game was spent in a low block, but there was a distinct shift in approach.

At home it’s largely expected that they will attempt more of the high pressing than deep defending. The ‘Manchester United way’ will be demanded.

But this is what Arsenal want. Investing heavily in a goalkeeper who rivals Ederson for his distribution, when the opposition push their defensive line high it gives Aaron Ramsdale the freedom to be expansive and penetrative with his distribution.

He brings variation to the build-up play and against a team who haven’t fine-tuned their team pressing style he will have the openings to throw, kick, slice and chip into men in space. Ramsdale sees the passes others don’t and getting him involved as the spare man in build-up is precisely what Arsenal want.

“Let them come, there is one former Sheffield United goalkeeper yet in Manchester who still draws breath.” – Ramsdale when he auditioned for the part of Gimli in Lord of the Rings. Probably.

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3. Silence the Old Trafford Crowd

Arsenal’s fast starts this season have made for glorious viewing. The Aston Villa, Leicester and Tottenham games still sit happily in the memory.

In recent outings against Watford, Liverpool and Newcastle there has been less of that due to the quality of opposition and the systems employed by those sides, and starting with fire in the belly isn’t the only way that Arsenal can keep the home crowd silent.

With Ralf Rangnick set to be in the stands overseeing what is considered a new era in United’s history under the Old Trafford floodlights, the atmosphere is set to be fierce. The home fans and the home players will be right up for this. It will be seen as the moment their season can change.

Arsenal want that early goal just as much as they want to frustrate their opponents. Keeping the ball, forcing them to chase and, on occasion, being slightly more pragmatic with their approach can help quell the expectant supporters.

This especially applies if the Gunners do get their noses in front. Decisions on the ball and a subconscious fear within the players sees them drop too deep and invite pressure when they’re in front, something Arteta has come out and said he does not advocate. Passing sequences drop considerably after taking the lead and it encourages the opposition as much as it does the crowd.

How the game is managed both in taking the lead and in a neutral game state is high on Arteta’s agenda. Getting the United players feeling tetchy by starving them of possession – as is the best course of action against Liverpool – will see them change their approach and attempt things out of the structure of their gameplan. The fans will get on their back for not doing enough, prompting them to force the issue and make mistakes.

Manage the crowd and you can manage the game.

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4. Trust Martin Odegaard in the No. 10

This is a game where you can see Alexandre Lacazette getting the nod. Winning the physical battle in a United frail midfield can completely disrupt any fluency the hosts want to build as it’s in central areas this season where structurally the approach is to, well, hope for the best.

Having a commanding presence like Lacazette in their can break whatever link there is between front and back. He’ll get in their faces and ruffle feathers.

But he adds next to nothing in terms of goal threat. Fans are rightly concerned over Aubameyang’s lack of goals and in playing Lacazette there is little being done to aid that. Having got the nod against Newcastle, an extended run in the team in the No. 10 position is what Odegaard, and Arsenal, need.

When he’s on the ball everyone is in play. That’s his special power. He was rusty in those early exchanges against the Magpies but as soon as he started finding his feet his vision opened new doors in attack. Arsenal’s highest shot count matches come when he’s in the team.

The time has come at 22 years old to let him fly the creative flag for the rest of this season and beyond. While Lacazette will be needed plenty more before the campaign concludes, Odegaard is the man brought in to own that position for many years after the Frenchman is gone.

Let centrality build between him and Partey. Play the talent. Trust the talent.