Manchester United are still facing the possibility of their worst ever Premier League season, but there are plenty of problems at Manchester United ahead of today’s visit of Arsenal.
Having retained confidence in Mikel Arteta after consecutive eighth-place finishes 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 return stronger with a squad built entirely in Arteta’s image.
Although former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher has dismissed any comparison between Arteta’s first two seasons and that of Ten Hag, there are certainly lessons to be learned about how Arsenal managed to get themselves back on track.
Mailsport looks at what United can learn from Arsenal after falling outside Europe’s elite…
Erik ten Hag (left) has seen Mikel Arteta (right) transform Arsenal in recent seasons
Arsenal have retained their faith in Arteta and arrive at Old Trafford today still in the title race
GET A PLAN AND STICK TO IT
If Ratcliffe and Ineos ultimately decide that the grass doesn’t look greener in the management market and put their faith in Ten Hag, they should really consider sticking to their guns.
Ultimately, Ten Hag is not their asset, but their man, just like Arteta was with the Arsenal board.
But sticking to their beliefs about the manager is fundamental to turning things around at a club as big as Manchester United.
Arteta finished eighth in his first two seasons and while Ten Hag finished third and won a trophy in his first season at United, this has proven much more difficult and full of dull performances.
Ten Hag has been ravaged by injuries – 64 separate cases of injury or illness have kept a first-team player out of a game this season – and he will argue that United are a completely different entity capable of playing his style when they are suitable.
If the new leadership at Old Trafford, including incoming CEO Omar Berrada, truly believes so, maintaining trust and confidence in the process is of paramount importance.
Ten Hag must be given the opportunity to implement his style if the new board supports him
If they choose a candidate like Thomas Tuchel, it is crucial that the hierarchy endorses his principles
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DEPARTURE OF BIG NAMES
This is essential, and something Arsenal have not been afraid of under Arteta.
The Spaniard wanted to create a youthful, exciting squad that was not hampered by ego or players not working for the greater good.
Despite earning £350,000 a week at the Emirates Stadium, Mesut Ozil was quickly ostracized by Arteta and soon discovered he would not be joining his plans to progress.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy before being chased out of town, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alexandre Lacazette and David Luiz were other victims of Arteta’s reign.
Even club record signing Nicolas Pepe was deemed surplus to requirements.
Ten Hag has already made some ruthless decisions when it comes to leaving United legend Cristiano Ronaldo, standing his ground and running Jadon Sancho out of town after a falling out.
Arteta has made big decisions, namely stripping Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the captaincy
It is essential to continue with Casemiro and make the midfield fitter and younger
But if United want to continue supporting Ten Hag, he will have to remain ruthless when it comes to trimming the fat from an expensively assembled squad this summer.
They need to find a new home for Casemiro, while Raphael Varane is set to walk out the door on a free transfer.
Antony was signed for £86m from Ten Hag, but he will need the conviction to cut his losses if the Brazilian’s form does not improve.
It speaks volumes that the three players who insiders say are ‘off limits’ at United this summer are all under 22: Rasmus Hojlund (21), Alejandro Garnacho (19) and Kobbie Mainoo (19).
MAKE REST BENEFIT COUNT
This is important if the worst happens and United miss out on European football entirely – which is a distinct possibility with Chelsea finishing the season on a successful note.
Once the initial disappointment passes, United should see it as a real opportunity to take advantage of the extra rest and in turn respond with a much-improved league season in 2024/2025.
Injuries have been one of the biggest shortcomings of United’s season. Take £60m summer recruit Mason Mount as an example.
Mount’s stop-start season was blighted by injury emerging as the No. 1 recruit in Ten Hag’s midfield.
Lisandro Martinez, perhaps United’s best central defender, has had to watch from the sidelines for months. The same goes for Luke Shaw, United’s best left back.
When Arsenal completely missed out on Europe in 2021, former Gunners and Man United striker Robin van Persie made his case.
Ten Hag (left) is struggling with an injury, while Lisandro Martinez (right) has been out for months
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) and Avram Glazer (left) may see an advantage in continuity with Ten Hag
Speaking on BT Sport, Van Persie said: ‘From one point of view you can say that it might be better to have extra training to work on the tactics, to work on the fitness, to go one more level which is necessary to to actually compete. at the highest level against the bigger teams.
“So if you ask me, I’d say it’s better not to qualify for the Europa League and get those extra sessions in.”
Ten Hag has failed to establish a clear playing identity this season and extra time on the training pitch, combined with a lower workload in matches, could reap the benefits.
BUY FOR FIT, NOT FOR NAME
As Arsenal got rid of the big names and went full steam ahead with their rebuild, Arteta did a great job of buying players that suited his system.
Declan Rice has transformed the team into sixth position, while Arteta has not been shy in constantly recruiting goalkeepers and has settled on David Raya.
Glamorous signings at United like Casemiro and Antony may have looked good from a marketing perspective, but both deliver net negative results on the pitch.
With Ineos’ ‘marginal profit’ approach and now more figures in the building to help with recruitment, it is paramount that United attract players based on fitness rather than number of social media impressions that will result in their signature.
United bought Rasmus Hojlund (right) young and must continue to buy the right pieces
Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund are three pieces of the starting XI puzzle to build around, while Andre Onana will continue as the club’s No.1.
Shaw and Martinez will lock down the left side of the defence, while Bruno Fernandes will continue to captain in the number 10 role of a 4-2-3-1.
But there are still many question marks at the base of the midfield, central back and right back.
If United can get rid of some of the high earners in the dressing room and recruit smartly and outside the box, the benefit to the greater good could be multiplied tenfold.