Manchester United will be hoping to keep their momentum from Saturday’s emphatic win over Manchester City by getting one over on Arsenal this weekend.
The 198th instalment of the Manchester derby could not have panned out any better for the Red Devils, Michael Carrick, and every supporter watching on from the stands or at home.
United overturn arch-rivals City in Carrick’s first game
A truly scintillating display from start to finish culminated with United securing a 2-0 win on home turf, which could’ve been 5-0 had VAR not intervened and chalked off goals from Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount.
Even though City dominated possession, United took their chances as and when they got them, with clinical finishes from both Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu proving enough to claim all three points on home soil.
Mbeumo and Amad had only just returned to the fold following their respective African Cup of Nations involvements with Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, yet instantly revived their outstanding form when called upon by Carrick.
United’s attacks were as free-flowing and as easy on the eye as they’d been in a long time. If it’s a sign of what’s to come in Carrick’s short-term reign, fans have every right to be optimistic for the second half of the campaign.
The tests don’t stop there, though, and the boss will now switch his full focus onto Sunday’s Emirates clash.
Up next for United: An Emirates encounter
United travel to North London to lock horns with the league leaders, who boast a seven-point lead atop the table after 22 matches. In the United Kingdom, the contest will be broadcast on Sky Sports around an hour before the 4.30pm kick-off. Those watching from abroad can use a VPN to access the coverage and keep tabs on the panel’s analysis, as well as pre and post-match interviews.
The reverse fixture came on opening day for both sides, and the Gunners oversaw a narrow 1-0 win in M16 – unsurprisingly via a set-piece header from Riccardo Calafiori.
In their recent outings, they kickstarted the year by defeating Bournemouth 3-2 away from home but were then held to goalless draws against Liverpool and, over the weekend, Nottingham Forest.
They failed to capitalise on City’s dropped points, yet Aston Villa’s 1-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday night meant that Mikel Arteta’s men retained their healthy lead.
Arsenal are also in midweek action in the build-up to facing United, as they will be in Italy on Tuesday night to take on Inter Milan in a Champions League encounter at 8pm, so it’ll be worth keeping tabs on the XI Arteta deploys and whether the Gunners sustain any injury setbacks.