Manchester United might have all their eggs in the Europa League basket but a game against Arsenal, regardless of the competition, is always big.
Ruben Amorim’s side has developed a weird knack for turning up in big games so, despite all the injuries and form book, Arsenal will be wary of Man Utd.
United don’t have much to lose and neither do they have many expectations, precisely the kind of narrative Arsenal would hate to face since they’re locked in a race.
Amorim can lean into that “nothing to lose” attitude with a daring team selection, giving debut to the 17-year-old wonderkid who’s been namechecked by the Man Utd manager himself.
Photo by Zohaib Alam - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Third time lucky under Ruben Amorim
Amorim has been criticised for not giving youth a chance despite the mounting injury worries, and he’s responded by urging patience and managing expectations.
Still, taking only 18 players to Spain for the Sociedad game was unforgivably, since the traveling experience alone can be beneficial to young players.
Amorim had called up five prospects to the first-team training before that game but only two traveled and neither saw any game time.
More United News
Harry Amass was among them, namechecked as the player Amorim wanted to play vs Fulham but couldn’t because of the youngster’s FA Youth Cup commitments.
It raised expectation that he will play against Sociedad in some capacity but that always remained unlikely since Patrick Dorgu is available in Europe and suspended in the league.
As expected, Dorgu started and Amass was glued to the bench. The circumstances have changed now.
Harry Amass can make Man Utd debut vs Arsenal
Now that Dorgu is suspended for Arsenal, Amorim might not have any choice but give Amass his debut because the big picture is in Europe.
Ahead of the game, he was keen to stress that the players need to survive physically before welcoming Sociedad to Old Trafford, which hints that some rotation might be in order.
Amass will be the prime beneficiary of this rotation since he was clearly in line to make his debut vs Fulham due to Dorgu’s suspension, with the Dane’s return blocking the route vs Sociedad.
All the stars have aligned against Arsenal, a team against whom Man Utd debutants have had a famously nice time of things!