6 hours ago
2
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
The Stone Roses are blaring, and that means the team are coming on. This Is The One, music made for a spring day. Still glorious, despite its latterday association with United’s fall.
Mikel Arteta also spoke to Sky: “Today we have a big opportunity in an incredible stadium to be ourselves and earn the right to win the game.”
“They change a little bit. They have been quite consistent in their approach. The profile of players changes everything in football. An attitude and the way we behave. Regardless of how we play, we always have the same intention.”
Ruben Amorim spoke to Sky: “It is important this game. I don’t want to put the young players in at this moment, the other guys have to step up in this moment. We know what kind of team we are going to face. Any bad result here is a problem.
“Our focus is to win the game - it is quite simple. We have to use that energy. The minimum is to give them everything and finish the game with nothing to give.”
"That energy” refers to the fan protests.
Richard Hirst: “Looking at the strength, or otherwise, of the Man Utd bench I almost, but not quite, feel sorry for them. How can the self-described ‘biggest club in the world’ have come to this? It takes almost unimaginable skill - stand up Sir Jim.”
Only Hojlund has made a PL start, the rest are teenagers. Efficiency or foolhardy?
Earlier in the battle for the top four.
Martin Crookall replies to the other Martin: “In response to Martin Lancom, Thursday night just past.”
Following this game, and Chelsea’s defeat of Leicester, here’s how the table stands. Long way down from Arsenal to United.
Karen Asad: “Been binging Dexter Original Sin over the weekend and got me thinking: if you wanna keep making money out of an old franchise, you gotta have expert people in charge like they do on Dexter. Just saying!”
Rick Harris: “I totally get why Kobbie Mainoo wants to get away not just from Old Trafford, but from the Premier League too. His skill set will be of interest to plenty of clubs in La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 and he isn’t burdened by a salary that none of them can afford to pay or better. Without a doubt he would also grow as a person if exposed to a different culture and if he chooses wisely he would not be rained on every other week.”
Martin Lancon asks: “When was the last time not a single UK player on Man United starting lineup?”
So does Mary Waltz: “John. Morning greetings from Free State California. When I first started following the PL 20 years ago I picked Everton as my team. At the time they were a mid table team who had aspirations and memories of better times. Then we tumbled down the table and relegation has become a regular threat. I never imagined that mighty MANU could ever join us at the bottom of the table. Ut won’t happen this year but United in the Championship in a year or two is a possibility. The World turned upside down.”
Colum Farrelly gets in touch: “I keep reading about Amorim’s inflexible approach to team formation but the only constant is the three at the back. Even then the personnel change all the time. The central midfield two can be any combination of six individuals and the forward line can be one, two or three strong. And poor Zirkzee can be slow any any one of many places. Today’s team is yet another combination. Whatever else about him, inflexible he isn’t.”
One Arsenal change to the starting line-up from Eindhoven in midweekiss Riccardo Calafriori preferred to tough tackling’s Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back. Mikel Merino plays the Tim Cahill role of converted midfielder.
For United, Rasmus Hojlund has been dropped after 19 games without a goal. Joshua Zirkzee will lead the line and, with Bruno Fernandes moving into the frontline, Christian Eriksen comes in to partner Casemiro in what may not be the most mobile midfield. Victor Lindelof replaces Patrick Dorgu and will play as one of the three-man defence. Manuel Ugarte and Harry Maguire are out with injury and likely to be missed.
There’s insurrection in the air at Old Trafford, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family’s names being taken in vain. To say Big Sir Jim’s honeymoon period is over is to underplay things. BSJ has been spotted, too.
The teams
Man Utd: Onana, Lindelof, de Ligt, Yoro, Mazraoui, Eriksen, Casemiro, Dalot, Garnacho, Fernandes, Zirkzee. Subs: Mee, Harrison, Hojlund, Heaven, Amass, Collyer, Obi, Fletcher, Moorhouse.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard. Subs: Neto, Tierney, White, Martinelli, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Lewis-Skelly.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
This story reflects the general state of Manchester United.
“I will not have the time Arteta had – I feel that. It’s a different club. So we just need to survive with the players [available] on Sunday. I think it’s a different club – in that aspect, the way Arteta dealt with that is an inspiration for everybody but I will not have the time like Arteta had.”
“I’m very used to people speaking about me, judging my performances and I do that myself,” said the 26-year-old. “I’m harder on myself and I know that I have not been good enough, especially in front of goal. I work hard every day to improve it and I know I have the ability and the talent to do it. PSV Eindhoven was good and hopefully now I can do more towards the end of the season.”
Pre-match reading ii) Me, John Brewin on the Manchester United pundit class. Thanks to our picture desk, unsung heroes, for that snazzy composite.
Pre-match reading i) Barney Ronay on the Gunners still being good.
Preamble
Another afternoon edition of the black comedy that is Manchester United in 2025. The visitors this time are Arsenal, for whom the chase for the Premier League may be dwindling. When Darwin Nunez is scoring vital goals in the race, the goose is probably cooked. Nevertheless, Arsenal must push on and on, and if they show anything like their form in Eindhoven – winning 7-1 – then it’s going to get ugly for United. Uglier, at least. Ruben Amorim has an idea up his sleeve, it just happens to be the same one as the last. He’s confident it will come off one day. It couldn’t be today, could it?
Kick-off at 4.30pm. Join me.
