Seven wins out of seven games! Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has turned the tables of Premier League and fortune for Manchester United after replacing Jose Mourinho, who was sacked last month. The manager has brought in confidence, zeal and want to win in the team. When he came to United, the Red Devils has 22 points out of 16 games and were 12 behind Arsenal standing on 34, but now after 23 games, both Manchester United and Arsenal stand together with goal difference keeping Gunners ahead on 5th with 47 points.
The teams will come head to head in 4th round of FA Cup draw that is to be held on January 26. Arsenal will be hosting the game; where Emery would be looking to revitalise his form, Gunners would want to continue his. This would be the first meeting between the managers and it would be a treat to watch how the managers approach against each other.
Where Gunnar would lay main emphasis on his midfielder Pogba that has been a revolution after Ole stepped in, it would be interesting to see Emery’s midfield and whether or not he will start with Mesut Ozil?
The German was out for weeks sustaining knee injury but has not been called by Emery to play on the pitch after recovering. Ozil was judged well before the game against West Ham, but was not in 18-member squad and in the game against Chelsea was he an unused substitute.
The playmaker who holds great strength in lay-off and passing through balls will be beneficial for the Gunners against Manchester United’s fairly poor defence. However, it is highly uncertain that the German will start against Red Devils or not, considering he does not fit into the squad. Unai Emery had confirmed before the Chelsea game that Ozil would be playing but the truth turned out to be false.
Emery said after the game against Chelsea, “I spoke with him also and I want to him be ready for the match today, for the next matches like all the players in the team.
‘Against Chelsea, I have the confidence in him if he played, I think he could do like we want and the next matches we are going to need every player and also his quality.’
The manager surely understands the importance of big gun, but not to start him does remain a suspenseful tactic in many minds. The player of big games as said by many, Ozil was excluded from the starting XI in the big game against Chelsea, also did not feature in the whole game.
The game against Manchester United is an important one for Emery, a stepping stone towards FA Cup as well as his success with Arsenal. But it is still unclear whether or not Ozil will start against Manchester United keeping in mind his experience, ability and skills one would say, he needs to; but the past events hold it highly uncertain for Emery to replace the midfield position of Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey or even Xhaka.
MUST READ: Mesut Ozil Importance
