Darren Bent has tipped Gabriel Martinelli to torment Diogo Dalot on Sunday evening when Arsenal take a trip to Old Trafford to face rivals Manchester United in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s Martinelli backed to ruin Man Utd’s Dalot ‘like he’s not even there’
Darren Bent has told talkSPORT that Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli will have a field day attacking against Diogo Dalot at Manchester United. The Gunners-supporting pundit is full of confidence that the Brazilian will emerge triumphant from the match-up at Old Trafford.
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Mikel Arteta takes his north London side to the North West on Sunday, looking to maintain the Gunners’ perfect start to the season. Arsenal are the only Premier League team to take five wins from their first five fixtures this term, their first time since the 2004/05 campaign.
Bolton Wanderers ended Arsenal’s 100% start to the 2004/05 campaign with a 2-2 draw at Highbury in game six. The Gunners would remain unbeaten under Arsene Wenger until the Invincibles visited Old Trafford in game 10, with Manchester United ending a 49 game run.
Old Trafford has also been the scene of the Red Devils’ past two Premier League wins over Arsenal from nine meetings. Manchester United came from behind to win 3-2 with interim boss Michael Carrick in charge in December, ending their six game winless run in the game.
Arsenal won the reverse game for the 2021/22 season at the Emirates Stadium 3-1 in April. Nuno Tavares broke the deadlock inside the third-minute, before Bukayo Saka converted a penalty and Granit Xhaka scored either side of a 34th-minute goal from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Martinelli visiting Old Trafford in form after game-winning Aston Villa strike
Martinelli will visit Old Trafford ready to face Dalot and Manchester United in form, having hit Arsenal’s match-winning goal against Aston Villa on Wednesday night. The 21-year-old struck a left-footed volley for his third goal of the Premier League season over five outings.
Arteta has started the Brazilian in each of the Gunners’ matches to open the campaign and afforded him the full 90 minutes four times. Martinelli has proven to be undroppable from the left-flank, causing trouble throughout the three-cap international’s early appearances.
Martinelli will now likely face Dalot on Sunday when Arsenal visit Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho’s £19m signing off FC Porto in 2018 emerging as Erik ten Hag’s first-choice right-back. The 23-year-old has started all five of the Red Devils’ opening top-flight games.
Dalot has also played the full 90 minutes four times, but has received yellow cards in each of his past three outings. And Bent suspects Martinelli will be a thorn in Dalot’s side when Arsenal and Manchester United meet at Old Trafford for their sixth matches of the season.
“I can’t wait until Martinelli gets hold of him,” Bent stated. “I tell you that, runs past him like he’s not even there.”
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