Manchester United have not had much luck at the Emirates in recent years, but Michael Carrick may be feeling optimistic about this weekend’s trip to North London.
It is a far cry from the heated battles of the early 2000s, when Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were shaping one of English football’s fiercest rivalries.
Still, it remains a fixture both sets of fans circle on the calendar, though United have not enjoyed many trips to North London lately.
In fact, United have not won away at Arsenal since 2017. So if Carrick can come away with a result, it would be notable, given how well Mikel Arteta’s side are playing.
If United are going to take something from this game and disrupt the title race, it will likely come down to whether they can replicate some of the attacking play we saw from them in Carrick’s first match in charge.
Michael Carrick talks up Manchester United’s attacking options
Coming off the back of their 2-0 win over Manchester City, the Red Devils are showing signs of a real shift in momentum, with players starting to hit form at just the right time.
Arsenal will be well aware of the threat United pose, and ahead of the game, Carrick spoke positively about the options he has at his disposal.
The recent shift in formation has opened up a range of choices, with three players now competing for the starting striker role. The English head coach mentioned Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Joshua Zirkzee as all being considered for that central position.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game against Arsenal, he outlined what each brings to the table.
“It is a variety in terms of strengths. I gave him [Mbeumo] a free role to drift. Ben [Sesko] is great on the line. Josh [Zirkzee] can do a bit of both; he is very good at bringing players into it.
“It is great to have that flexibility in terms of carrying the game to the later stages.”
This followed Sesko being left out against City, but Carrick clarified that this was more about tactical choice than any reflection on form or fitness.
“It is not losing momentum. It was a team last week to go in a certain way. We are trying to improve him as much as possible. I don’t see it as anything else than pushing on and using what he has done as a stepping stone to do well here for a long time.”
This kind of depth was not something Ruben Amorim had during his time at United – not that he seemed interested in exploring different setups or rotating his squad anyway.
Benjamin Sesko likely to miss out on starting role against Arsenal
Even though Carrick has kept Sesko in the conversation, it looks likely that the 6ft 5in forward will be on the bench again when United take on Arsenal.
The manager has been clear about his intention to rotate his strikers based on what each match demands. For a game like this one, it would not be surprising to see Mbeumo get the nod again.
Sesko seems better suited for matches where United are expected to control possession, such as upcoming home fixtures against Fulham and Spurs. In those situations, Carrick may want someone who can keep defenders occupied inside their own penalty area.
The Slovenian’s aerial presence could be crucial in breaking down defensive setups that are tough to break through – something Mbeumo may not be as effective at when facing deep-lying defences.
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