Online Reporter
IT took Ruben Amorim a whole year to win back-to-back games at Manchester United, but Michael Carrick managed it in just two weeks.
Carrick‘s red revolution has seen the Red Devils win back-to-back games firstly against Manchester City and now against Arsenal.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha saw United earn a first league win at the Emirates since 2017 as they won a thrilling rollercoaster contest 3-2.
But what did Carrick change against Arsenal to see United clinch three vital points? SunSport’s tactics guru Dean Scoggins has taken a look at the action in the latest episode of SunSport’s hit Tactics Exposed show.
Carrick’s rope-a-dope
Carrick perfectly set up United to sit inside the Arsenal shape. The Gunners are both predictable and unquestionably very good at what they do, after all they are top of the Premier League for a reason.
However, Carrick set-up the United team to be virtually identical to how they looked against City.
Against Arsenal, United – and particularly Amad Diallo and Dorgu – needed to be incredibly disciplined in not allowing the Gunners to stretch the game.
There was also the screening pair of Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro once again cutting out anything Arsenal attempted centrally, but curiously they never made a single interception or tackle throughout the game.
A note should also be made for Steve Holland’s impact, who has joined Carrick at United as his assistant manager, when considering the formation used which was set up “inside” the Arsenal shape.
The strategy used Arsenal’s formation against them, with Mikel Arteta‘s side being forced into a horseshoe shape.
United were very brave with their full-backs going down the outside meaning a tracking winger was pinned back and creating an extra man in midfield.
Not to dwell on Amorim, but the new formation feels like United are playing with two extra players.
Ballon Dorgu
Dorgu has had quite the turnaround in the last few weeks, going from a frustrating wing-back to comparisons with Gareth Bale.
The 21-year-old appears to have flourished since moving into a more attacking role.
There is a clear emphasis on clear plans and combinations from Carrick, Holland and Jonathan Woodgate, both offensively and defensively.
The old switcheroo
Mbeumo, Fernandes and Amad are all working as a superb trio on the right-hand side and it has been incredibly effective against City and Arsenal.
With Shaw tucking in on one side it has almost turned the system into a 3-4-3, with Mbeumo dropping in before Amad moved into that position.
Fernandes was followed around by William Saliba in an effort to deny him space, but with Amad and Mbeumo also buzzing around the same area it created an overload for United to collect the ball in dangerous areas.
This caused a real sense of confusion in the Arsenal defence when the ball went into the United attacking line.
Coolhand Luke
Shaw is one of the players to have most benefitted from the change of shape under Carrick.
Early on Jurrien Timber was seen going up the inside a lot, it meant Shaw had to tuck in which left Dorgu one-v-one against Bukayo Saka.
Flop Gunns
Arsenal should still go on to win the Premier League this year, even though the defeat to United – a first home defeat of the season – was damaging. They dominated in the opening half an hour, and but for Zubimendi’s mistake, they likely would go on to win the game.
However, with the likes of Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus feeling so disconnected, it was a stark contrast to the fluid way United played.
Arteta made a number of subs to chase the game. These were safe, but that safety means there was no freedom to them.
The real surprise was moving Saka to the left to accommodate the introduction of Noni Madueke on the right – Sun.
Mathew Masinge