Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has revealed he admires Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ahead of the huge clash at Old Trafford this afternoon.
The Gunners have enjoyed a perfect start to the Premier League season, picking up five wins from five, and could extend their lead at the top of the table to four points with a win against United. Arsenal have started the season is fine form and full of confidence, but the game against United will be a huge test of their title challenge credentials.
Arteta has played down speculation that the north London outfit could challenge for the Premier League title this season, but after Manchester City dropped points for a second time this season there is a real opportunity for the Gunners to extend their advantage at the top of the table. Rooney believes his former side will need to show a similar intensity as they did to beat Liverpool earlier this season if they are to stand a chance of beating Arsenal.
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In his column for The Times, the former United and Everton star wrote: "United have a lot of quality, and if you get the basics right you give yourselves the platform for the quality to come through. That’s what we saw in victories over Liverpool, Southampton and Leicester City.
"Against this Arsenal side they’ll need the intensity they showed in those wins, especially the one against Liverpool. Their best bet may be to play like my United did in those classic games - pressing aggressively, while hitting Arsenal on the break.
"If you sit in a mid block or low block and are passive against a side who move the ball as quickly and well as Mikel Arteta’s team do, it’s a recipe for trouble.
"I expect a tense, hard game, a bit like the old days - though maybe not quite as much action in the tunnel."
Rooney highlighted the impact Arteta has had at the Emirates Stadium since replacing Unai Emery as manager back in 2019. Full of praise for the Spaniard, Rooney continued: "I really admire what Arteta is doing. He now has not just quality but energy in his side and recruited brilliantly when he signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko."
Jesus has registered six goal contributions in his first five appearances for the Gunners and has been a revelation in attack since his arrival from Manchester City in the summer transfer window. Zinchenko is unlikely to feature against United as he recovers from a knee injury, with Kieran Tierney set to continue on at left-back.
Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Odegaard are being assessed ahead of the clash at Old Trafford, whilst Albert Sambi Lokonga is set to partner Granit Xhaka in midfield once again with Thomas Partey still absent through injury. Arteta will be hoping he avoids any more injuries hampering his squad selection ahead of a busy period of fixtures, starting with United.
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