Arsenal look to break Man United Old Trafford Jinx – Match Preview

It has been 13 years since Arsenal last won at Old Trafford. What was once the highlight of the competitive calendar each year for the league and both teams is nothing more than a side note to others challenging for the title. However, for Arsenal with the current state of their hosts, it is as good as a time to break that record.

Arsenal head into Manchester at possibly the right time. The face-off against a team shorn of confidence and wracked by injuries playing some of the worst football many can remember.

However, the Gunners aren’t exactly in peak form themselves. While they came back to win last week down with only 10 men on the pitch the performance was more notable for the abject way they played at home to a lesser opponent than the win.

The win the league cup in the midweek made people forget about the weekend form for a little bit, but as we head on the road, Arsenal are in need of a marker to define the early part of the season and begin to convince fans and pundits alike that they can mount a top 4 challenge.

A familiar issue

For all of the attacking prowess the Gunner’s possess, it is the defensive form that still plagues Arsenal long after Arsene Wenger departed. Similar issues to those attributed to their former manager plague the team.

Mainly individual errors in and around the 18 create havoc and give hope to the opposition. So far this season they’ve conceded 1.67 goals per game on average. That is slightly above the league average of 1.47. That is compounded by the fact that through the first 6 weeks of the season, the Gunners have conceded a total of 110 shots.

Arsenal shots this season

Home games 62
Away games 24

Shots against

Home games 45
Away games 65

— Orbinho (@Orbinho) September 23, 2019

Combine the defensive issues with the poor form away from the Emirates and you’d forgive the Gunner faithful if they were less than hopeful even in the current state of the Red Devils.

Set Up Is Key

 In addition to the defensive woes and our general away form, it seems that once again, Unai Emery is unsure of what the best set up is for the collection of players he has. The one positive we’ve seen is that he has abandoned the 3 at the back but that’s about it.

He has fluctuated from a 4-4-2 diamond, a 4-3-3, and on the rare occasion a 4-2-3-1. In each case, the set up hasn’t worked. The reasons vary from our own injury issues to an unbalanced midfield to players playing out of position and to generally how Emery wants Arsenal to play.

With a chance to break the Old Trafford hoo-doo, Emery has to get his set up and tactics right. Emery was signed as a coach because of his supposed tactical acumen and preparedness.

Last season, in the close to the season, he seemed lost against opponents his side had faced previously. It showed remarkable unpreparedness. That can’t happen in this match. Yes, it’s early but a statement of intent has to be given or more questions will be asked.

Team Selection

 The most favourite pastime of Arsenal devotees on social media is the prognostication of whom Emery will pick on match day. With a U23 match late last week we may have gained some insight who will at least feature in the squad.

It was interesting that in the U23 match versus Liverpool last week, Hector Bellerin featured but Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding did not. That would seem to indicate that both Tierney and Holding could at a minimum make the bench for the trip to Old Trafford while Bellerin still works to get fit.

Then there is the matter of the midfield. Next to the back 4, the selection of the 3 midfielders still seems to hamper Emery. With Xhaka and Guendouzi most-often selected, the midfield seems unbalanced as both offer very little in the way of cover for the centre-backs.

Emery has started looking at some of the youngsters to fill in at the 10 role which while progress sometimes can leave Arsenal with very little creativity in the final third.  What’s the use of having such talented players as your forwards but starve them of the ball?

Early Season-Defining Match

Emery needs this match. Seems strange to say it’s a must-win but there is a growing sentiment against his tenure as head coach. Questions arise after every match about his approach. With United in the state they are his team with the players available to him are more than capable of putting the Red Devils to the sword.

However, a loss not only keeps them out of the top four early in the season but will continue to raise questions about the man in his second season at the helm of Arsenal.

Emery has shown that he can develop a game plan for the big sides. His approaches to City last season, Tottenham and even Liverpool at home last year were spot on but he’s seemed to not trust his instincts and moved on from that kind of preparation.

That’s the guy we want. He needs to go back to his core beliefs and implement them or we’re going to be left wondering once again if he really is the man for the job.

YAMA Predicts:

Manchester United 1 – 2 Arsenal

Arsenal Record vs Manchester United (league only)

14 W 24L 16D

Last 5

Arsenal: WLDDW

Manchester United: DLWDL

Goals Scored (average per game)

Arsenal: 1.33 (away)

Manchester United: 2.00 (home)

Goals Conceded (average per game)

Arsenal: 1.67 (away)

Manchester United: 0.67 (home)

Match Officials

Referee: Kevin Friend. 

Assistants: Scott Ledger, Richard West.

Fourth official: Chris Kavanagh.

VAR: Mike Dean.

Assistant VAR: Stephen Child

Match Facts (Courtesy BBC.co.uk)

• The Gunners have kept only one clean sheet in their last 11 league matches.
• They have conceded at least twice in each of their last four league games – they’ve not let in two or more goals in five consecutive top-flight games since August 1985.
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 13 goals in his last 13 Premier League starts. However, he has failed to score or provide an assist in all eight Premier League away appearances against sides from the established top six.
• Nicolas Pepe has converted 10 penalties since the start of last season, the joint-most in Europe’s top five leagues (prior to the latest round of matches).
• Arsenal are without a win in their last 12 top-flight away games at Manchester United and have won just three of 27 Premier League matches at Old Trafford. All three of those victories were by a 1-0 scoreline and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer played for the Red Devils in all three of those defeats.
• Arsenal are aiming to win consecutive league matches against Manchester United for the first time since 2006-07.