In six months, it might not be such an opportune time to play Manchester United.
By then, they’re likely to be a much more cohesive, more balanced and focussed squad, with a clearer idea of how to play and how to respond to the challenges in front of them. The impact of their new manager, Rubem Amorim, will be much clearer in the second half of this campaign and I feel it will be significant.
For now, however, Amorim is trying to work miracles with a squad so disjointed that it’s laughable. Even after the thick end of three years under Erik ten Hag, the squad is a patchwork, disorganised mess that was at times woefully inept. Much of that legacy remains, at least in terms of playing squad.
We have a chance to take advantage of that and it’s one we don’t want to miss out on.
For all the improvements likely to come, Amorim still has to make do with a team that includes Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans, two men who should not be in a serious Premier League squad looking to challenge for trophies.
At the moment, we’re in great form and in a great place as a squad – there stage is set for us to go and take advantage, particularly at home. We shouldn’t be looking at this as anything other than an opportunity.
It is worth bearing in mind, however, that even ten Hag found a way of saving his best performances for the Emirates. For all the embarrassment he suffered elsewhere, he found some extra reserves for Arsenal and, more often than not, managed to eke a performance from his squad. We won’t be complacent, I’m sure of that, but will we need to be watchful. That ability to produce a performance from nothing won’t have disappeared.
While United have injuries and suspensions of their own to contend with, Mikel Arteta is juggling a series of his own. Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori were withdrawn against West Ham at the weekend, while Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey were absent entirely. The manager has hinted that some of them could be back in contention for tonight but it wouldn’t surprise me if, in fact, all four were unavailable. That would leave us extremely light on options.
Obviously, I wouldn’t want to see the manager take a risk with any of those players at this stage but we are going to need to spread some of these minutes around in December as the games come thick and fast. In the near-term Jorginho remains an extremely reliable back-up but we wouldn’t want to be relying on him for six weeks or more. Fingers crossed for later.
Despite all that, I remain optimistic that a result is there for us. A strong start will be vital, however. We can’t let United find their feet. If we can make an impact on them early, I feel we could run away with it like we did at West Ham. Mentally, this United side is not quite there yet and I think (hope) won’t be able to cope with adversity.
If naught else, we have already seen them struggle against Ipswich and Bodo Glimt so we know there are frailties and there will be chances. We have to take advantage early. They’re bumping along the bottom at the minute but they won’t be there forever, let’s kick them while they’re down.
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