Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has never defeated Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho in the league and this Saturday, he has the opportunity to defeat his ‘football enemy’.
But what should Professor Wenger do when he takes his high flying Arsenal travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Saturday afternoon and pile more misery on the ‘Special One’?
1. Play With Confidence, Not Fear
Even before the ball is kicked, Mourinho who is so adept at mind games would have ‘destablised’ the minds of Arsenal players and in the long run, they play with tremendous fear.
If the Gunners are going to get a positive result at Old Trafford, then they need to play with the confidence that has been oozing throughout the side since the beginning of the season, as this is a completely different Mourinho side at the moment.
2. Take The Game To The Red Devils. Win possession
The Red Devils are in a kind of turmoil at the moment and are yet to get their groove under title winning manager, Jose Mourinho. He is not known to play possessive football and Wenger is the direct opposite. Here, Wenger has the chance to dominate possession and put Mourinho’s men under pressure.
3. Be Cautious of Their Counter Attack
No one knows how to play a counter-attacking game better than Mourinho and this where Wenger should avoid. Gaining possession doesn’t mean all attack and leave spaces for Marcus Rashford to catch Arsenal on the break as they push forward later on in the game.
The English starlet has the pace to hurt Wenger’s side on the flanks, and with Hector Bellerin ruled out, the likes of Nacho Monreal and Carl Jenkinson will have to be on red alert should he pick up the ball out wide in their half.
4. Stay In The Game And Park The Bus
The moment Manchester United can score first and lead into half time, the game is almost certainly over for Arsenal. For that not to happen, Wenger’s boys or men as the case may be must defend stoically against Ibrahimovic and crew.
It will be recalled Arsenal’s title challenge was ultimately derailed the last time the Gunners visited Old Trafford after a slow start which saw them 2-0 down after just over half an hour. This simply can’t happen again if they want to return to London with all three points.
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