Alan Shearer has come out and warned Manchester United about a ‘really clever’ and in-form Arsenal star.
Michael Carrick’s reign as interim manager of Manchester United started with a bang, with his side dominating Manchester City to win 2-0 in the derby.
With optimism and positivity coursing through the squad and fanbase alike, United must ride the wave of momentum and build on the brilliant display against their cross-city rivals.
However, that challenge does not get any easier. United will be clashing with Arsenal, who are not only top of the Premier League but also the Champions League group stage table.
Nevertheless, a win is still critical for United as the Red Devils fight for a place in next year’s Champions League.
Shearer tips Jesus to make the difference.
Despite being top of the league, Arsenal have had faults of their own. The striker position has been a constant topic of controversy, with former Manchester United target Viktor Gyökeres failing to live up to his hype as of now.
After overcoming a period of injuries, Gabriel Jesus has emerged as an unlikely difference maker. The ex-Manchester City striker bagged a brace against Inter Milan in the Champions League, with Gyökeres also getting himself a goal.
It is a tricky position for Carrick’s side, with it unclear who will start up front for Arsenal, making it hard to prepare for both options, which are vastly different profiles.
Alan Shearer has weighed in on the debate about who will be the starting number nine.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, when asked if Jesus should start the pundit said: “Well, the simple answer is yes. When you score two goals and your club have desperately needed that in a tough environment.
“He’s come up with two really, really clever finishes, and the answer is absolutely yes (that Jesus should start over Gyokeres).
“It’s what you’re brought into do – to make a difference, to score goals, and he’s done that.”
United would prefer to face Gyökeres
While neither striker has had the most prolific season so far, United may prefer to face Gyökeres even though he has a far better career record than his Brazilian teammate.
However, there is one main reason for this, and it is the profile of the striker they are.
As shown in the first game of the season, Gyökeres’s effectiveness was diminished against United centre-backs. The Swede prefers physical battles with the opposition; instead of running at them with the ball, he would rather run in behind.
You should never discount a striker of that pedigree, however, as shown against Erling Haaland in the derby, the likes of Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez thrive off physical battles with strikers. If anything, it brings the best out of them both.
Gabriel Jesus, on the other hand, offers a different profile. Despite playing as a striker, he often drifts into wide areas and drops deep to combine with his teammates, playing almost like a false 9. Yet he still tends to slip past defenders and pop up where they least expect him.
With a player like that, the United defenders must be switched on the entire game.
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