Still facing the prospect of their worst ever Premier League campaign, there are plenty of problems at Manchester United ahead of today’s visit from Arsenal.
Having kept faith in Mikel Arteta after finishing eighth in a row in the league, the Gunners arrive at Old Trafford today still in the title race with just a few games left in the season.
Arsenal left Europe a few years ago and used it as a reference point to reset and bounce back stronger with a team completely built in Arteta’s image.
While former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher has rejected any comparisons between Arteta’s first two seasons and those of Ten Hag, there are certainly lessons to be learned about how Arsenal managed to get back on track.
sport mail Analyze what United can learn from Arsenal after falling out of Europe’s elite…
Erik ten Hag (left) has watched Mikel Arteta (right) transform Arsenal in recent seasons.
Arsenal arrive at Old Trafford today and remain in the race for the title with two games remaining
GET A PLAN AND STICK TO IT
If Ratcliffe and Ineos end up deciding that the grass isn’t looking greener in the managerial market and put their faith in Ten Hag, they really should consider holding firm.
Ultimately, Ten Hag is not their employee, their man, as Arteta was on the Arsenal board.
But maintaining his beliefs with the coach is essential to change things at a club as big as Manchester United.
Arteta finished eighth in his first two seasons and, although Ten Hag finished third and won a trophy in his inaugural campaign at United, this one has proven to be much more complicated and full of insipid performances.
Ten Hag has been plagued by injuries – 64 separate cases of injury or illness have left a first-team player out of a game this season – and will argue that United are a totally different entity that is capable of playing in his own style. when they are in shape.
If Old Trafford’s new bosses, including incoming CEO Omar Berrada, truly believe that, keeping faith and trusting the process is of utmost importance.
Ten Hag should be given the opportunity to implement his style if the new board supports him.
If they bet on a candidate like Thomas Tuchel, it is vital that the hierarchy accepts his principles
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DEPARTURES OF BIG NAMES
This is vital, and something Arsenal did not fear under Arteta.
The Spaniard wanted to create a young and exciting team that was not paralyzed by ego or by players who did not work for the common good.
Despite earning £350,000-a-week at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta quickly isolated Mesut Ozil and soon discovered he would not be in his plans moving forward.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy before being banned from City, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alexandre Lacazette and David Luiz were other victims of Arteta’s reign.
Even the club’s £72m record signing, Nicolas Pepe, was deemed surplus to requirements.
Ten Hag has already made some ruthless decisions in terms of moving on from United legend Cristiano Ronaldo, standing his ground and running Jadon Sancho out of town after a row.
Arteta has made big decisions, namely stripping Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the captaincy
Leaving Casemiro behind and making the midfield a younger, fitter operation is essential
But if United are to continue backing Ten Hag, they will have to continue to be ruthless this summer when it comes to trimming the fat from an expensive squad.
They need to find a new home for Casemiro, while Raphael Varane will walk out the door on a free transfer.
Antony was signed by Ten Hag for £86m but must have the conviction to cut losses if the Brazilian’s form does not improve.
It says a lot that the three United players who are said to be “off limits” this summer are all under 22: Rasmus Hojlund (21), Alejandro Garnacho (19) and Kobbie Mainoo (19).
MAKE THE ADVANTAGE OF REST COUNT
This is important if the worst happens and United miss out on European football entirely, which is a distinct possibility now that Chelsea are finishing the season on a high note.
Once the initial disappointment subsides, United should see it as a real opportunity to take advantage of the extra rest and respond in turn with a much-improved league campaign in 2024-25.
Injuries have been one of the biggest flaws of United’s season – take £60million summer recruit Mason Mount.
Mount’s stop-start season has been affected by injuries as he arrived as Ten Hag’s number one midfielder.
Lisandro Martínez, arguably United’s best centre-back, has had to watch from the sidelines for months. The same goes for Luke Shaw, United’s best left-back.
When Arsenal missed out on Europe entirely in 2021, former Gunners and Man United striker Robin van Persie defended their benefit.
Ten Hag (left) has been hampered by injury, with Lisandro Martínez (right) out for months
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) and Avram Glazer (left) may see a benefit in continuity with Ten Hag
Speaking on BT Sport, Van Persie said: “From one point of view, you can say that maybe it is better to have extra training sessions to work on tactics, to work on fitness, to raise another level that is needed to compete. really”. at the highest level against the biggest teams.
“So if you ask me, I would say it’s better not to qualify for the Europa League and do those extra sessions.”
Ten Hag has failed to establish a clear playing identity this season and the extra time on the training ground, coupled with a reduced playing workload, could reap rewards.
BUY BY FIT, NOT BY NAME
When Arsenal cut out the big names and went full steam ahead on a rebuild, Arteta did a very good job buying players that fit his system.
Declan Rice has transformed the team into the number 6 position, while Arteta has had no qualms about continually recruiting goalkeepers, settling on David Raya.
Glamorous signings at United like Casemiro and Antony may have looked good from a marketing perspective, but both are producing net negative results on the pitch.
With Ineos’ ‘marginal gains’ approach, and more figures now being built to help with recruitment, it is paramount that United select players for their fit rather than the number of social media impressions their signing will get.
United bought youngster Rasmus Hojlund (right) and need to continue buying the right pieces
Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund are three pieces of the puzzle of the starting eleven from which to build, while Andre Onana will continue as the club’s number one.
Shaw and Martínez have the left side of the defense locked down, while Bruno Fernandes will continue as captain in the number 10 role of a 4-2-3-1.
But there are still plenty of question marks at the base of the midfield, as well as at centre-back and right-back.
If United can get rid of some of the top earners in the dressing room, recruit smartly and a little outside the box, the benefit for the greater good could be tenfold.