Michael Carrick challenges Man Utd to prove themse...

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick is relishing the chance for his facet to show themselves towards league leaders Arsenal after a dream begin at Previous Trafford.

Carrick, who’s in interim cost of United till the top of the season, obtained off to a profitable begin as he led his facet to a 2-0 derby day win at Previous Trafford. It was a efficiency that earned plaudits for a dominant attacking show.

The previous United midfielder is making ready his facet for one more take a look at towards an Arsenal facet which might be within the driving seat to finish a 22-year watch for a Premier League title.

United journey to the Emirates, the place the Gunners have not misplaced a single recreation on the Emirates this season, looking for a primary Premier League win at Arsenal since 2017.

Nonetheless, Carrick could take some added confidence given the truth that when he final took on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, the 44-year-old guided United to a 3-2 victory in 2021, whereas in caretaker cost.

Requested in regards to the prospect of taking over Arsenal, Carrick advised Sky Sports activities: “We perceive Arsenal are a very good crew. They seem to be a rounded crew, to be sincere.

“I feel Mikel’s executed a very good job assembling a crew that may accomplish that many issues properly. That in itself is a problem.

“The broad males are harmful one-vs-one. They fill the field and so they get a very good stability inside the crew, how they assault, how they defend.

“They’re all a crew and so they all play their half. It is not essentially one particular person who carries them. Once more, from a training perspective, credit score to Mikel for that.

“Set performs, they seem to be a risk as properly. That is why they’re sitting on the prime of the league and that is why they’re doing so properly in the mean time within the Champions League.

“The sensation we have taken over the past week or two within the recreation and the coaching, The boys really feel in a very good place and are wanting ahead to the sport.

“It is a problem, we all know that, however we will go there and we will face it head-on. We have got good gamers and we’re a very good crew as properly, so we have simply proved that. We have to hold proving it as we go.”

Recalling the win over Arteta’s Arsenal in 2021, Carrick added: “There’s not a lot to take from that shifting into this one. It is an entire new problem, an entire new recreation, an entire new group of gamers. Extra feeding off what we have executed this week, going into the sport and searching ahead to it.”

Sunday twenty fifth January 4:00pm


Kick off 4:30pm

Arteta cautious of Man Utd’s ‘deadly’ counters

Mikel Arteta expects Manchester United to convey “depth” and “new concepts” underneath Carrick as Arsenal goal to get again to profitable methods following goalless attracts towards Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

The Arsenal boss is particularly cautious of their counter-attacking risk having watched them ruthlessly punish Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis in final weekend’s Manchester derby.

“Michael coming in will convey new concepts,” he mentioned. “All the time, the depth rises up.

“You might see that within the Manchester derby, the sort of behaviours and the sport that they performed, so we’ll anticipate a very powerful match and we’ll adapt to that for certain.

“However we’re at dwelling and we all know how necessary that recreation is for us.

“They’re so good in numerous departments, however it’s clear that when that crew has an area to go in a sure place to activate or run, they change into deadly.

“You noticed that a number of days in the past in Manchester. They’ve numerous attributes to trigger you issues. However as properly, like each crew, they’ve their weaknesses as properly.

“Traditionally, there has at all times been one thing very linked to that,” he added of their counter-attacking risk. “And the profile of gamers that they at all times have and sure people which might be so good at activating these areas as properly.

“I do not know the stats precisely, however for certain, they’re the most effective.”

Arteta additionally recalled his conferences with Carrick as a participant. “Considered one of my favorite No 6s,” he mentioned. “Very clever, seemed like he may by no means break sweat, he was so accountable for the video games.”

Of their earlier assembly as coaches, Arsenal’s 3-2 loss at Previous Trafford in December 2021, Arteta added: “Not nice recollections, so we’ve got to vary them.”

Watch Arsenal vs Man Utd stay on Sky Sports activities Premier League and Fundamental Occasion from 4pm on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm