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A YOUNG, driven, and strategically astute manager takes the helm of a once-mighty English club, with aspirations to revive the illustrious past experienced under a renowned, longtime coach.
For Ruben Amorim, picture Mikel Arteta from five years ago.
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Credit: PA
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Credit: Getty
Amorim will encounter his first major test as Manchester United’s new manager at the Emirates on Wednesday – and the individual on the home team’s bench serves as an inspiring example for the Portuguese.
The rivalry between United and Arsenal reached its zenith during the Premier League era, defined by Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, featuring intense confrontations before matches, fierce contests on the field, and even a notorious pizza-throwing incident afterward.
From Wenger’s arrival in 1997 to the Invincibles season seven years later, their supremacy shaped the Premier League into a global phenomenon.
However, that was over two decades ago. Following a long decline during Wenger’s later years and Ferguson’s retirement, both clubs have faced significant challenges.
So, under Arteta and Amorim, can Arsenal and United reclaim their status as a premier rivalry?
Arteta showed boldness in his approach, effectively removing the lingering egos leftover from Wenger’s final years, including Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Spaniard faced substantial hurdles before reshaping Arsenal into a serious title contender two seasons ago.
Amorim, too, will need to navigate some challenging waters. At some point, he may require the same level of patience and trust from Sir Jim Ratcliffe & Co that ownership provided Arteta during his foundational years.
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Credit: Getty – Contributor
The journey to revamping United won’t occur within a day. Nonetheless, there are invaluable lessons to glean from Arteta’s rise at the Emirates — from making tough decisions regarding veteran players to having the bravery to build a youthful squad and nurture genuine camaraderie among the team.
United has existed as a cohesive unit in name only for too long.
Ruben Amorim reveals rarely-seen pre-match training tactic ahead of 4-0 victory over Everton
Amorim’s dedication to a 3-4-3 formation is a minor detail. The more important focus is instilling a winning mindset and fostering genuine chemistry within the squad, as highlighted by Arteta.
Essentially, Arteta started anew. Bukayo Saka is the only player remaining from his initial 18-man matchday squad still at the club.
Reiss Nelson, currently loaned to Fulham, is the only other player who participated in that 1-1 draw against Bournemouth back in December 2019 still part of Arsenal’s roster.
When reviewing United’s current squad — with its lack of specialized wing-backs, missing dynamic midfielders, and absence of an elite centre-forward — it’s easy to envision Amorim undertaking similarly extensive transformations.
Amad Diallo, a key player in Amorim’s first three matches, could emerge as his version of Saka.
Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and new signing Leny Yoro – who might debut for United on Wednesday – are all promising young prospects that can help sustain the journey ahead.
However, if five years from now Amorim is successfully steering United, it’s likely that Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and others may no longer be features of the squad.
Numerous similarities exist between the two managers, yet there are also significant differences.
Arteta vs Amorim
Mikel Arteta:
- Games managed – 251
- Wins – 152
- Draws – 39
- Losses – 60
Trophies:
- 1x FA Cup
- 2x Community Shield
Ruben Amorim:
- Games managed – 251
- Wins – 180
- Draws – 35
- Losses – 36
Trophies:
- 2x Liga Portugal
- 3x Portuguese League Cup
- 1x Portuguese Super Cup
While Arteta joined Arsenal at 37 with a deep understanding of the club from his captaincy and extensive experience in the Premier League, Amorim, at 39, has won five trophies in his five seasons managing in his native lands with Braga and Sporting, yet he lacks experience in the top leagues across Europe.
The common thread for both Arteta and Amorim is the strong character required to face such high-profile roles.
Following a gradual integration in his new position against Ipswich, Bodo-Glimt, and Everton, tomorrow’s match will be a genuine test of the underperforming squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag.
Sunday’s 4-0 victory against Everton marked his first truly encouraging result, although the score somewhat masked an otherwise lackluster performance.
In comparison, Arsenal, with Martin Odegaard returning to form, has scored 13 goals across three consecutive wins, featuring several five-goal victories on the road.
To an extent, Arteta’s Arsenal represents what Amorim’s United strives to achieve.
Nonetheless, the Gunners have not secured a major trophy in four years.
This further underlines the significant challenge ahead of Amorim.
