MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: Ruben Amorim, Head Coach of Manchester United, reacts as he walks towards the tunnel at half-time during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Everton FC at Old Trafford on December 01, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Manchester United could make a "massive statement" under Ruben Amorim if they manage to defeat Arsenal on Wednesday night, according to former United striker Louis Saha. He believes that Arsenal represents a significant increase in quality compared to the first three teams Amorim has faced - Ipswich, Bodo/Glimt and Everton.
Despite having two wins and a draw under his belt, scoring eight goals in the process, Saha thinks that a victory against Mikel Arteta's Gunners, who are currently second in the Premier League, would be a huge statement for Amorim and United. "The players need to actually use this platform against Arsenal to create an improvement benchmark," Saha told The Mirror.
"Arsenal is definitely a different type of animal from the opponents that Amorim has faced so far. The quality of Arsenal going forward is just amazing and will provide way more trouble than 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's squad is still settling in, and his forwards Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, and Joshua Zirkzee have impressed. And Louis Saha, a former United, Everton and Fulham striker, has singled out Martin Odegaard as the Arsenal talent he'd love to see at Old Trafford.
Admiring Odegaard’s versatility, Saha said: "Odegaard is someone that I really like. 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."
He points out how vital Odegaard's positional sense is for the team's dynamics: "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."
Additionally, Saha highlights Odegaard's technical ability under pressure: "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."