Scouting Report: Man United v Arsenal

We return to Premier League action against Manchester United at Old Trafford - and ahead of the game Michael Cox examines Saturday's opponents.

THE MANAGER

Arsenal need little introduction to Jose Mourinho, who caused the Gunners many problems across two spells at Chelsea with his counter-attacking gameplan.

The Portuguese arrived at Old Trafford in the summer and has faced some difficulties, collecting only 18 points from 11 matches. However, history suggests Mourinho’s sides often click at roughly this stage in his first season, and an imminent improvement might be on the cards.

FORMATION

Mourinho has generally deployed a 4-2-3-1 system this season, although there are two very different formats depending upon the positioning of world-record signing Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman, who is most at home in a box-to-box role in a 4-3-3, has generally been deployed in a deeper position alongside Ander Herrera, with a more creative player in the No 10 role.

However, Mourinho has used him as a No 10 in three of United’s last four league games, including against Liverpool and Chelsea, which allows him to play an extra holding midfielder. This seems to be his ‘big game’ formation, and could be used again here.

STRENGTHS

While their goalscoring return is unspectacular, United have created an extremely high number of chances this season. While Mourinho is renowned for playing defensive football and favouring functional players, he’s occasionally fielded a team featuring Pogba, Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney, offering great creativity.

When combined with the pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, United are capable of regularly penetrating opposition defences.

DANGERMAN

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, Rashford is likely to lead the line. The 19-year-old offers more speed than the Swede and will make more runs into the channels, stretching the play and creating more space behind for United’s attacking midfielders to drift into.

Although less involved in build-up play than Ibrahimovic, Rashford is an old-fashioned No 9 who comes alive when the ball is played into the box, and is particularly good at converting cutbacks from wide areas.

AREAS TO TARGET

United’s backline is very uncertain. Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling had established themselves as the first-choice centre-back pairing, but both are out through injury. Mourinho used Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind against Burnley, then Phil Jones made his first league start of the campaign alongside Rojo at Swansea.

Meanwhile, in United’s last three games, Mourinho has used three right-backs (Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian and Ashley Young) and three left-backs (Blind, Luke Shaw and Darmian). By Mourinho’s standards, this is a defence lacking cohesion.

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