"Free role": Carrick talks up positional change for Man Utd star, he's poised to start vs Arsenal
Manchester United take on Arsenal on the road in Sunday’s much-awaited Premier League clash.
The Red Devils returned to winning ways last weekend with a sublime 2-0 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford.
The victory has brought them within one point of fourth-placed Liverpool, who shared the spoils against Burnley (1-1).
United will be eyeing back-to-back victories under interim manager Michael Carrick when they visit the Emirates Stadium.
Ahead of the game, Carrick said that Mbeumo was given a ‘free role’ alongside Bruno Fernandes in the Manchester derby.
He said: “It’s just variety, in terms of the strengths in some ways. I think, Bryan, I gave him a bit of a free role in many ways, in a partnership with Bruno [Fernandes] last week, to drift and to fill different spaces.”
Mbeumo made his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in fine fashion. He opened the scoring from a brilliant counter-attack last weekend.
The 26-year-old has been United’s leading goalscorer this campaign with eight goals in all competitions, which includes seven in the league.
The Cameroonian star is poised to start against Arsenal on Sunday, but Carrick did not confirm whether he will continue from a similar role.
In our view, the 44-year-old has no reason to change things, and he could stick with the same frontline that dominated Pep Guardiola’s side.
The only change we would like is for Noussair Mazraoui to replace Diogo Dalot at right-back, though that may not happen.
Carrick had some fond words to say about Dalot’s performance after his early yellow card against City, which suggests he could start once more.
United have not won a league game at the Emirates since December 2017. They have suffered six losses and picked up just one point in the last seven top-flight meetings at the stadium.
Sunday represents another big chance to end the wretched away league form against the Gunners.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
Article written by Sri Aswin .