Ruben Amorim faces his biggest test as Manchester United boss at Arsenal
Manchester United can make a “massive statement” under Ruben Amorim if they can beat Arsenal on Wednesday night.
Former United striker Louis Saha says Arsenal are a huge step-up in quality from their first three opponents under Amorim - Ipswich, Bodo/Glimt and Everton. Amorim has registered two wins and a draw, scoring eight goals to get off a flying start at United.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are second in the Premier League and Saha says it would be a huge statement for Amorim if he could win at the Emirates.
“The players need to actually use this platform against Arsenal to create an improvement benchmark,” said Saha. “Arsenal is definitely a different type of animal to the opponents that Amorim has faced so far. The quality of Arsenal going forward is just amazing and will provide way more trouble that we had against Everton.
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“Definitely, it’s going to be a big test and United need to be in their top form and full of confidence. Tactically, it will maybe provide a bit more understanding because he may have chosen a certain type of plan based on the players he’s got.
“Maybe you will see something closer to the first 11 that he wants to play week in week out. It will be a huge test, but if they do win, it’s a massive statement. I’m sure the manager is looking forward to this type of fixture.”
Amorim is still finding out about his players and his strikers Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have shone so far. Saha picked out Martin Odegaard and says the Norway playmaker is the one Arsenal star he would want at Old Trafford.
Saha loves the way Odegaard is intelligent enough to take up different positions on the pitch to create chances and relieve pressure. “Odegaard is someone that I really like,” he said. “His intelligence as a provider is similar to Bruno Fernandes.
“I like his capacity to be in and out of the box. The area that he’s playing, sometimes he’s playing deep, sometimes he’s playing really high.
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“He provides the connection with the midfield and the strikers, so I really like his positioning. I would think that that’s what United needs to create chances, to create a high tempo, to create a bit of extra quality.
“Technically, when there is a bit of pressure, you can still give him the ball and it doesn’t matter to him. So I would say Odegaard, even if I think physically, we perhaps need a player like Declan Rice in midfield.”
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