Manchester United will be without Zlatan Ibrahimovich for the game against Arsenal on Saturday. Who should replace the striker in United starting XI?
Manchester United play one of the biggest games of their season on Saturday, when the Red Devils take on Arsenal at Old Trafford. But unfortunately for Jose Mourinho and United, Zlatan Ibrahimovich will be absent for the game.
Ibrahimovich picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in United’s last Premier League game against Swansea City. The booking means the Swedish striker now has a one-game ban to serve against the Gunners this weekend.
So who should Mourinho now bring in to replace Ibrahimovich? Arsenal have been in fantastic form lately with Arsene Wenger’s men remaining unbeaten since the opening day of the season. The last 10 games seeing Arsenal winning seven games and drawing three.
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For Manchester United, it’s been more of a mixed bag of results that sees United already trail the Gunners by six points. So Mourinho needs his team to be at their best and deciding who replaces Ibrahimovich is going to be a key decision ahead of the game.
The main options Mourinho has to choose from are Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. Rooney and Martial haven’t been in good form so far this season, however. So perhaps the favorite has to be Rashford. Or does it?
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Who’s to say that a switch from the left wing to being a central striker isn’t exactly what Martial needs? It could be the change that really kick-starts the Frenchman’s season. The same could apply to Rooney.
Rooney hasn’t looked anywhere near his best for much of this season, but a chance to play as the team’s main striker could be the change of scenery the veteran needs. Although, it is just one game we’re talking about here.
It’s not going to be a run of matches for whoever steps in. Rashford has been the most in-form player of the three this season. The striker forced his way into Mourinho’s plans early in the season but has since had to settle for a wide role.
In this particular game, Arsenal are likely to have the majority of possession with United left to play on the counter attack. So United will need some pace in the lineup. It may actually not be a bad thing that Ibrahimovich is suspended for just this one game.
When United played Manchester City earlier in the Premier League season, City had much of the possession at Old Trafford. The Citizens gave United the runaround for the first half as the home team lacked any real pace to breakout and counter attack.
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This could help Manchester United on Saturday. Rashford should probably get he nod at the striker position, as the more in-form front man. And if even more pace is put around the teenager, then United could cause the Gunners some problems on the counter attack.
Even without their main striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovich.