Rice is on the road to being the next Rodri
UNITED NEED TO PLAY THREE AT THE BACK
I KNOW it’s not in the usual Manchester United DNA but they have to give Arsenal respect by playing with a back five.
It would be pragmatic to shift Aaron Wan-Bissaka centrally alongside Jonny Evans and Casemiro, and use Diogo Dalot and one other as a wing-back. Sofyan Amrabat could do the job as a one-off — he was the only player who got a tackle in against Crystal Palace.
I was at Selhurst Park on Monday to see United torn apart 4-0 and a major issue was Kobbie Mainoo being isolated as a defensive protector.
If the fit-again Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes joined Mainoo and then the wing-backs stepped up, it would clog up midfield and keep United in the game.
The other advantage of 5-3-2 is that United would have two up top to disrupt Gabriel and William Saliba. Rasmus Hojlund won’t be able to do much on his own. Having Alejandro Garnacho or Marcus Rashford close by gives the Gunners something to think about. Having two holders also allows Fernandes to play with freedom. We saw at Palace that United offer virtually nothing in an attacking sense without him. You have to treat Arsenal as a different challenge. Arteta doesn’t have a dynamic left-back to call upon, so having Amrabat or even Garnacho as a right wing-back is not as big a risk as you’d think. United haven’t looked fit or strong enough all season. If
McTominay and Amrabat are ready, they have to start.
DECLAN A PERFECT FIT
THERE can be no higher compliment to pay Declan Rice than to say he’s en route to becoming another Rodri, the most important player at Manchester City.
Rice is one of the players of the season. You can’t believe it’s his first season at Arsenal. The transition after leaving West Ham has been seamless. He has embraced the pressure of having to win every week. United would have benefited hugely by signing Rice but I’m not sure they’d have ever got him. The fit with Arsenal looks perfect, from being in London to the connection with Arteta. As good as Rice is, he wouldn’t have been able to turn United’s fortunes around on his own. He’d be in a team struggling to get possession and dominate games. I don’t think Declan will be walking around Old Trafford today thinking: ‘Oh no, I wish I played for these.’