"You’re never certain of what roles you might be good at or not good at. That is a life experience. You have to go through it to learn from it. I’ve certainly learnt throughout this week."
It has been a positive week for Michael Carrick in charge of the club that he has dedicated the vast majority of his life to, and he prepares to take charge for one last time before Ralf Rangnick steps up to the helm after a resolution of his visa issues. This time, the former United midfielder is set to step out at Old Trafford for the first time as a manager. It is poised to be a special night in Carrick's career, but there is a huge match to be won.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side started the season poorly, with immense pressure on the manager's job at the beginning of the campaign. Since commencing the league campaign with three defeats in August, the Gunners have only lost once - to Liverpool a couple of weeks back. In fairness, early losses did come to the other two members of the current top three - Manchester City and Chelsea - after an opening day defeat at newly-promoted Brentford. In all, seven wins in ten and a total of 23 points picked up from the last 30 available can be deemed a great success for Arteta and his side.
When they have scored this season, Arsenal have not been beaten. Victory at Old Trafford today will send them into the top four, though their scoring record on the road hasn't exactly been satisfactory. Only Norwich City have scored fewer away goals than Arsenal's three in the league this season, with the Gunners failing to score in a club record equalling four of their opening six league games on the road.
Both sides come into this encounter off the back of theoretically positive results, with Arsenal bouncing back from the Liverpool loss against Newcastle and United snatching a point from league leaders Chelsea.
The draw at Stamford Bridge ensured United avoided three successive defeats in the league, though the reds regardless winless in three matches in the competition. The last victory was that against Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to close our October, coming as the only win in eight league games. As a result of the woeful run of results, defeat today could see United fall as low as 11th in the standings. However, after five fixtures against the other members of the traditional 'big six', there is a more favourable run of matches for the Old Trafford contingent up until March. United will undoubtedly be content to see the back of November too, a month in which they recorded a league-low 17 shots and faced a league-high 60 shots.
It feels a while since United stepped foot out at Old Trafford, spanning almost a month back to the City defeat prior to the recent international break. The past two matches at the Theatre of Dreams have been utterly dismal, with United losing to their two biggest rivals with a whimper. They run the risk of losing seven home matches in a calendar year for the first time since 1986, with the threat of losing three consecutive top-flight home games without scoring for the first time since 1963. If they are to concede first tonight, United will have conceded nine times in succession at home without scoring themselves for the first time. The reds have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 14 home matches in all competitions, the second worst run in their history.
Heading into this one, Paul Pogba remains sidelined for United. Raphael Varane’s rehab is going “really well”, with the defender “out on the grass” yet still set for at least beyond another week out of the side. Edinson Cavani is also “back on the grass”, with the Uruguayan “working outside with the strength and conditioning guys”.
By way of other injury updates, Carrick detailed that there was “nothing really new”, with this seemingly applying to Luke Shaw - who was not spotted with the squad at the team hotel. There were indications from the caretaker manager that some players were undergoing assessment too, with this possibly the case for Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Nemanja Matic having not photographed with the squad either.
Harry Maguire is poised to return after serving his suspension against Chelsea.
Bukayo Saka suffered a "little injury" for Arsenal against Newcastle, with Arteta "hopeful" about his fitness but unsure due to the quick turnaround. A few others were also awaiting assessment as of yesterday.
"Granit [Xhaka] is still not ready. [Sead] Kolasinac is still not ready. We have a doubt with Bukayo and another few knocks we got against Newcastle."
United had a poor time against Arsenal last season, losing to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty at Old Trafford before being held at the Emirates. In fact, United could go seven league matches without beating Arsenal for the first time ever. On the flip side, the Gunners could win consecutive matches away to United for the first time since 1979 - their past six league away wins at the Theatre of Dreams have been by a 1-0 margin. Arsenal could also set a new club record by keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet against United.
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