Will Frustrating Rooney And The Old Trafford Crowd Help Arsenal Beat Manchester United This Week? Here Are 3 Ways

 

Next up in the league, Arsenal travel to Manchester United as they look to put pressure on the league leaders.

While Manchester United have made a comparatively slow start to the season and have been slightly hit and miss, it still represents a big challenge for Arsene Wenger, as Mourinho is renowned for his tactics in these games.

We look at three ways that Arsenal can ensure a victory at Old Trafford this Saturday:

Play On The Counter Attack

As seen recently in their defeat to Fenerbahce, this Manchester United team are extremely vulnerable to the counter attack against pacey players. Perhaps it is because they’re not used to playing on the front foot, but this represents an excellent opportunity for Arsene Wenger.

With the pressure on Manchester United playing at home, this may force Mourinho to be a little bit more adventurous. It is one thing going to Anfield and setting up to defend, but if he does this at home to Arsenal it simply won’t be tolerated by the fans at Old Trafford.

On the counter attack, Arsenal are blessed with quick players capable of passing incisively, cutting opposition defences to shreds. And with space to play into, it is difficult to see the Manchester United defence living with the Arsenal attack.

Frustrate Rooney

The England striker has had a torrid season and it is likely that he will step in for the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

This alone is great news for Arsenal, as although he hasn’t hit the heights of previous seasons, Rooney is still one of United’s most dangerous attacking player.

Playing up front for United, the spotlight will really be on Rooney, and many of the fans are beginning to grow tired of his poor performances and the poor return they are seeing on the 300k per week contract he is on. Rooney also looks like he is struggling for confidence.

So if Arsenal stays tight on him, and force mistakes, it is very likely that he will struggle for the duration of the match, leaving Manchester United without an attacking focal point.

Frustrate The Old Trafford Crowd

When Mourinho went to Manchester United, it was seen as them sacrificing one cornerstone of the club’s philosophy in order to build on another.

That is, losing the attacking, exciting style that we have become used to from Manchester United teams, in order to build on their illustrious history of winning trophies. And Mourinho, as a serial winner, is supposed to do that.

However, this gives him a very short leash and if they aren’t winning and aren’t entertaining, Manchester United fans have every reason to feel aggrieved. By setting an early tempo, and stopping the Manchester United team from playing, Arsenal will start to set the murmurs of discontent ringing around Old Trafford.