Manchester United is enjoying an unbeaten start under new manager Ruben Amorim, climbing into the Premier League’s top half following a dominant 4-0 victory over Everton. However, the Portuguese manager’s first major challenge looms large as United travels to face high-flying Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Sitting ninth in the table, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool, United has struggled offensively this season, netting just 13 goals in its first 12 matches. The emphatic win against Everton offered a glimmer of hope, but the prospect of taking on an Arsenal side in second place—and six points ahead of United—represents a different level of challenge.
“It’s the best team that we have faced by far,” Amorim admitted during a press conference on Monday. “But a test is every game. If you saw the last game (against Everton), it was really tough.”
Arsenal has won the last three encounters against United, and Amorim emphasized the need for tactical bravery while recognizing the difficulty of dominating a team of Arsenal’s caliber. “When I say it’s brave, it’s not pressing all the time higher. You have to understand the game, the moments of the game. We need to have the ball; that is a key point,” Amorim explained.
The United manager provided a boost by confirming that captain Bruno Fernandes, who was substituted in the 66th minute against Everton, will be fit for the clash. “I saw him already (on Monday) morning. He’s fit, and he doesn’t need a lot of rest. He’s prepared to play,” Amorim said.
The game could also mark the inclusion of teenage defender Leny Yoro in the matchday squad. The 19-year-old, signed from Lille, has yet to make a competitive appearance for United due to a foot injury sustained during preseason but has impressed Amorim in training.
“I think he’s a special talent,” Amorim said of Yoro. “He’s really fast, a modern defender, and good with the ball. That is important when you want to press high in this league where you leave strikers one-v-one. I’m really excited about him.”
Despite the growing optimism, Amorim knows the task at Arsenal will demand exceptional focus and execution. As United seeks to maintain its upward momentum, the clash will serve as a litmus test for Amorim’s early managerial impact and the team’s ability to compete against the Premier League’s elite.
