Both Rúben Amorim and Mikel Arteta were asked about their new strikers in the pre-match press conference, as the two managers prepare for Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford (16:30).
At the beginning of the transfer window, it was clear that both Manchester United and Arsenal needed a new striker before the beginning of the Premier League season, as this would massively boost both sides.
If Mikel Arteta’s side had a new centre forward, it could take them from second-place finishers to title winners, if the rest of the squad continues to perform. While a new striker could lift Rúben Amorim’s team from the bottom half of the table to the European spots.
However, many believed United would sign Viktor Gyökeres because he was Amorim’s star player at Sporting CP before he became United manager; Benjamin Šeško also looked destined for Arsenal at the beginning of the window.
As fate would play out, Gyökeres is now an Arsenal striker, and Šeško has just joined United before the beginning of the season. And as if the script wasn’t written already, the two will face each other on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford. You couldn’t write it.
Amorim and Arteta agree on Gyökeres ability
Speaking in their pre-match press conferences ahead of Sunday’s game, both managers were asked about the battle between the two new centre forwards.
When Arteta was asked about the striker battle, he said: “I can just talk about Viktor [Gyökeres], and how happy we are to have him. His adaptation in the team has been very, very good.” The Arsenal manager refused to speak about Šeško, despite showing interest in him earlier this summer.
On the other hand, when Amorim was asked about Gyökeres, he said: “That is a question for Mikel [Arteta]. Viktor is in a different league. Sporting have good scouting because they live from the players they can buy and sell to survive. I think he’s a very good player. It’s not a surprise to see him with a big club in England.”
Both managers have downplayed comparing the two strikers, potentially because of their difference in age.
Gyökeres has just turned 27 years old and is now entering the prime stages of his career, while competing for one of the best teams in world football. Whereas Šeško is just 22 years old and has only played two Bundesliga seasons, having moved to RB Leipzig from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2023.
A difficult game for the back three
While Gyökeres will be playing his first game in English football since leaving Coventry City on Sunday, it will still be a difficult game for Amorim’s back three – his team selection will be very interesting.
The Portuguese manager has shown a willingness to change his three-man central defence during his time at Old Trafford, and that trend has continued in pre-season. Lisandro Martínez and Noussair Mazraoui are unavailable for selection, but Amorim still has several centre-backs to choose from.
The central centre-back will likely be Matthijs de Ligt or Harry Maguire, but both have impressed during pre-season. Moving one to the right side is possible, but Leny Yoro will almost certainly start the game on the right of the back three.
Ayden Heaven and Luke Shaw will be competing for the spot on the left-hand side, and Amorim may favour the experienced Shaw, rather than Heaven’s youth against his former side.
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