Before Wednesday’s 1-1 tie with Crystal Palace, Erik ten Hag’s club had won nine games in a row across all competitions, moving them into third place in the standings, eight points behind us.
However, they haven’t had much luck playing at Emirates Stadium lately, losing five of the last seven matches there. We intend to change that as we aim to become only the fourth team in history to open a year with four straight clean sheets.
Ten Hag has quietly been improving this season after a dismal start that included humiliating losses to Brentford and Brighton. Ten Hag has won 12 of their past 17 league games to move into the top four and remain in all three cup competitions.
They defeated Bournemouth, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest since the World Cup break before eliminating Everton from the FA Cup. After a contentious triumph over Manchester City on derby day to make up for a 6-3 loss in October, they were denied six straight league victories when Michael Olise’s stoppage-time free-kick gave Palace a draw in midweek.
Marcus Rashford, who has eight goals in his previous eight games, has been the driving force behind this turn of events.
What the Managers thinks ahead of Sunday clash
Arteta on Man United: “I think [Ten Hag] turned things around pretty quickly. He has implemented a very clear way of playing. I think the players seem like they’ve bought into it, they have really good energy around the place. And a lot of things have changed in a very short period of time so credit to him and the coaching staff for what they’ve done.
“When you look at the squad that they have, it’s just incredible. The individuals and the collective organisation can beat any opponent in this league.”
Ten Hag on Arsenal: “It’s obvious they are in a really good run, I think they deserve the position where they are now. It’s a really good structure, there’s a really good mentality, winning attitude in the team, and that’s why they are now top of the league.
“You see really good structures in the team and I think that they even improved during the first half of the season. There is a really good spirit as well in that team.
“We know what to do and we have to be really good, we need a really good performance. If we do, I think we have a good chance to get a good result.”
Former Nigeria international, Seyi Olofinjana believes that Manchester United will beat Arsenal on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium to close the gap on the table-topping Gunners.
The onetime Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke City midfielder was tasked with predicting the outcome of the match while on the set of Super Picks, a Supersport production on DStv.
Olofinjana who went on to work as the Loans Pathway Manager for Wolverhampton Wanderers after his retirement from football explained why United would hold the edge in the game.
“Arsenal have made the Emirates a fortress this season. They have been playing very well. But the spoilers (Manchester United) are in town.
“Whenever Arsenal seem to be doing well, United always stand in their way.
“Arsenal are always good starters. But in the second part of the season, they always seem to falter and take cover. So I believe Man United will win away. United will win 2-1,” Olofinjana predicted.
