Jermaine Jenas believes Arsenal could get ‘caught out’ by Manchester United in Sunday’s crunch Premier League encounter.
Mikel Arteta’s side are sitting comfortable at the highest of the table, despite missing out on the chance to go nine points clear of Manchester City after their goalless draw with Nottingham Forest last weekend.
The Gunners are unbeaten of their last 12 matches in all competitions, but face a possible banana skin on Sunday against United, who’ve made a vivid begin to life under latest interim head coach Michael Carrick.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu saw United coast to a 2-0 win over City last weekend in what was a hugely promising display in Carrick’s game in charge.
And former Tottenham midfielder Jenas believes United’s performance against City could provide them with a blueprint to go to the Emirates and get one other positive result on Sunday.
‘Watching that game against Man City, the very first thing I saw was well-drilled, organisation and partnerships were developing,’ he said on the Wilcards Podcast.
‘Up top with Mbeumo and Fernandes, they were linking up loads, obviously got that assist for Mbeumo for the primary goal of the sport.
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‘Defensively, the Martinez and Maguire situation looks solid as well. Casemiro within the midfield with Kobbie Mainoo – rapidly, there have been some partnerships that you simply checked out and said, ‘Oh, they could possibly be tough to play against’.’
Jenas continued: ‘And I feel against Arsenal, every time I watch Arsenal, I don’t feel like they break teams down easily.
‘Obviously, they’ve the set-pieces which helps and Gabriuel jesus might help that situation, but you possibly can’t help but take a look at it and see United playing counterattacking football.
‘And in the event that they do, Mbeumo and Fernandes are great options due to kind of play and the way in which this game goes to play out.
‘If Arsenal don’t sort out the counterattack situation thoroughly, they may get caught out. And I feel those players, whether it’s Amad Diallo, Fernandes or Mbeumo, I feel they’ll cause problems.’
Not everyone seems to be convinced by United’s possibilities, nonetheless, with Paul Merson suggesting the Red Devils have ‘no likelihood’ against an Arsenal side which can be yet to lose at home this season.
‘United have gotten to remain in the sport so long as they’ll,’ Merson said on Sky Sports.
‘I feel the longer it goes, it goes to twenty minutes, 30, 40, half-time and into the second half, you understand Arsenal will start panicking because they’re only going to be 4 points above Man City probably by the point that game kicks off.
‘We expect Man City to win [against Wolves on Saturday] so the pressure shall be on Arsenal.
‘In order that they just need to stay in the sport. I don’t think they wish to get into an end-to-end football match, but in the event that they do, I feel there is barely one winner and that shall be Arsenal.’
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