Manchester United travel to the Emirates to take on Arsenal on Wednesday night
The clash promises to be the biggest test of Ruben Amorim's United tenure so far
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By NATHAN SALT
Published: 12:57 EST, 2 December 2024 | Updated: 12:57 EST, 2 December 2024
Ruben Amorim has challenged his Manchester United players to ‘be brave’ and hold no fear as they travel to title-chasing Arsenal on Wednesday.
Amorim is unbeaten through his first three games as Manchester United head coach but he conceded that Arsenal is a step up in quality from all the sides he has faced so far.
‘It is important to be brave,’ he said.
‘When I say brave it is not to be pressing all the time higher up, it’s not the same. We have to understand the game, the moments of the game and we need to have the ball. That is a key point.
‘We want to have the ball and we also want to dominate some moments of the game because we know that in this match it is hard to control all the game and if I have to say something [to the players] we have to be brave and play the game.’
Mikel Arteta’s side are sitting second going into the game, the closest challengers to league leaders Liverpool and six points clear of United, who are ninth.
Ruben Amorim has urged his Man United players to ‘be brave’ and hold no fear against Arsenal
United beat Everton 4-0, but the clash with Arsenal promises to be a much tougher challenge
Amorim also admitted that Mikel Arteta's side 'are in a different moment' to United right now
‘It is the best team that we faced by far but the test is every game,’ he added.
‘The last game yesterday [against Everton] was really tough. It was a 4-0 but you saw the game like I saw it.
‘Every team now is a test, without so much minutes to train, trying to manage the number of minutes for a lot of players who cannot imagine one game.
‘You have to know some players have to be out of the pitch in 60 minutes... 70 minutes, so it is really hard. In this moment everything is a test.
‘Arsenal, for me, I know it’s hard for Manchester United to say but they are in a different point of their team. They are in a different moment.’
Amorim is expecting to welcome young centre back Leny Yoro into his matchday squad for the first time in his tenure, while captain Bruno Fernandes has shaken off an ankle complaint after seeing out the Everton game on the bench with an ice pack on his left ankle.
The United head coach will however be without Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez with both serving a suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.