Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates a goal with Bruno Fernandes and teammates. — Reuters
Manchester United have remained undefeated in their first three matches under Ruben Amorim, propelling them into the top half of the Premier League table. However, the Portuguese manager faces his first significant challenge on Wednesday as his team takes on high-flying Arsenal. United, currently in ninth place and 15 points behind leaders Liverpool, have struggled to find the net this season, scoring only 13 goals in their first 12 league games. The tide seemed to turn on Sunday when they delivered a 4-0 thrashing of Everton at Old Trafford. Yet, as they prepare to travel to the Emirates, they are acutely aware of the formidable task ahead, having lost their last three encounters with Arsenal, who sit in second place, six points ahead of United.
"It's the strongest team we've faced so far. But every game is a test. If you saw our last game (against Everton), it was incredibly tough...," Amorim told reporters on Monday. "It's crucial to be brave on Wednesday. By brave, I don't mean constant high pressing. It's different. You need to understand the flow of the game, the critical moments. We must maintain possession, which is a key aspect. We aim to control the ball and dominate certain phases of the game, as you know, these matches are difficult to control entirely. We must be bold and play our game."
Amorim confirmed that captain Bruno Fernandes, who was substituted in the 66th minute on Sunday, has trained with the team and is fit to play. "I saw him this morning. He's ready and doesn't require much rest. He's prepared to play," Amorim added. The manager also commended 19-year-old defender Leny Yoro, who joined from Lille this year but is yet to make his competitive debut for United due to a preseason foot injury.
"His fitness is improving. I believe he'll be part of the squad. The rest, we'll have to evaluate as some players are fatigued. We'll assess them in tomorrow's training," Amorim said. "I think Yoro is a remarkable talent. We must be cautious in these initial stages because we haven't had many training sessions together. He's been training, not alone but with a small group of players. He's incredibly fast and a modern defender, which is advantageous when you want to press high and leave strikers – especially in this league – in one-on-one situations. I believe he can handle that. He's very skilled with the ball, and I'm genuinely excited about his potential."
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