Michael Carrick could hardly have asked for a better start to his second spell as Manchester United’s interim manager, but another huge test awaits away to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday. United were deserved 2–0 winners in last weekend’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford, repeatedly cutting Manchester City open on the counter.
Carrick’s side had just 31.8% possession yet attempted 11 shots, hitting the target seven times, compared to City’s seven efforts and 0.45 expected goals (xG). United’s chances were worth 2.27 xG, and they also had three goals disallowed and twice struck the woodwork before Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed a statement victory.
After hosting second‑placed City, United now head to the Emirates to face Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who sit 15 points clear of them at the top. Carrick remains unbeaten as United boss (P4 W3 D1) across his two caretaker spells, and the intensity of their performance against City will not have been lost on Arteta ahead of one of English football’s classic rivalries.
Carrick’s only Premier League win in his first caretaker stint also came against Arteta’s Arsenal, a 3–2 triumph at Old Trafford in December 2021. However, the 2026 Gunners are a different proposition: Arteta has won 67% of his 12 league games against United (W8 D2 L2), the highest win rate of any manager to face them at least five times.
Despite their problems, United have the tools to hurt top teams. They rank third in the league for goals scored (38), behind Arsenal (40) and Manchester City (45), sit second for xG (40.6), and lead the division for total shots (362) and shots on target (126). Since Ruben Amorim’s departure, and over the small sample of their last two games, United top the league for xG (4.81), shots (41), shots on target (17), xG differential (+4.12) and shot difference (+27).
But shutting teams out is what Arsenal do best. Arteta’s men have not faced a single shot on target in either of their last two league matches, the fifth time this season they have prevented opponents from testing their goalkeeper – the most in a single campaign since Chelsea managed five in 2020–21. Only Manchester City, with six such games in both 2017–18 and 2019–20, have done it more often in a Premier League season since at least 2003–04.
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