Ruben Amorim celebrates on the touchline after a Manchester United goal at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim could deploy a fourth different front-three in as many games against Arsenal.
If Ruben Amorim's first three games in charge of Manchester United have taught us anything, it is that he is not afraid to tinker.
After his first game at the helm ended in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road, Amorim made six changes to his starting line-up for the subsequent fixture against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League. It was a decision that paid off as United came from behind to win 3-2.
The 39-year-old repeated the same approach against Everton on Sunday, making six alterations once again. Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee with among those drafted in and they each helped themselves to a brace to help United win 4-0.
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As a result of Amorim's decision to rotate his pack in an attempt to keep his players fresh amid the hectic nature of United's current schedule, it means he has deployed three different attacking combinations in his first three games.
Rashford started as the No.9 against Ipswich, supported by Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes, while Rasmus Hojlund led the line against Bodo/Glimt, supported by Mason Mount and Garnacho. It was Zirkzee's turn against Everton, with the support coming from Rashford and Fernandes.
Amorim, following the win over Bodo/Glimt, said his players would be playing walking football in preparation for the visit of Everton, highlighting the short turnaround time between the two fixtures. It is possible he may have taken a similar approach ahead of Wednesday night's trip to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal.
Already, predicting Amorim's starting XI has become an almost impossible task. You cannot second-guess him.
Despite having made six changes to his starting line-up for each of the last two games from the fixture prior, Amorim might not be so forthcoming with alterations against Arsenal. Two enforced changes to the starting XI, triggered by the losses of Lisandro Martinez and Kobbie Mainoo to suspension at the weekend, will have to be made, but beyond that it is hard to pinpoint specifically where Amorim will tinker.
However, having played no part in Sunday's victory over Everton, it is hard to envision Hojlund being left out of the starting XI for the second game running. He scored twice against Bodo/Glimt and will be determined to add to his tally in his quest to try and establish himself as Amorim's first-choice striker.
Rasmus Hojlund has only scored once in the Premier League so far this season. (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images.)
He was an unused substitute against the Toffees, watching Zirkzee operate as the No.9, but he was involved in an intensive post-match warm-down after the full-time whistle, despite not being called upon by Amorim. The latter said he was "dead" after the win over Bodo/Glimt, implying he had nothing left in the tank to offer.
Having had almost a week since his last appearance, it does feel inevitable that Hojlund will start in the capital. Amorim has made no secret of the need to rotate during this busy period, meaning it feels highly likely he will select a fresh option to lead his attack.
Yet to start a Premier League game under the former Sporting Lisbon boss, Hojlund will be keen to get back into the thick of the action. Arsenal's defence will provide a stern tester for him.
It is, of course, possible Amorim could make further tweaks to his attack, with both Mason Mount and Alejandro Garnacho pushing for starts after being benched on Sunday. However, Fernandes is available and Rashford will be hungry to add to the two goals he plundered against Sean Dyche's team.
Rashford, who has scored in each of his last three games against Arsenal, will be capable of carrying a turn of speed on the counter-attack that is likely to be useful.
Deploying Hojlund as the No.9, flanked by Fernandes and Rashford in the No.10 positions, would mark Amorim's fourth different front-three in his first four games at the helm.
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Outsiders might be forgiven for thinking that is because he has not been satisfied by what he has seen in the previous fixture, but it is part and parcel of his rotation policy. Furthermore, those who have so far started as the No.9 have each scored two goals or more over his first three games in charge.
Hojlund has only scored once in the Premier League so far this season, netting against Brentford in mid-October. Ending that drought at the Emirates would be timely.