Ruben Amorim is ticking all the right boxes.
But the new Manchester United manager will be put straight back in his, if things don’t go to plan in north London on Wednesday night. Because beating the likes of Arsenal is the reason Amorim has been appointed in the first place. Not trouncing hapless Everton, or European minnows Bodo/Glimt.
For the time being at least, Amorim’s leadership is showing signs of genuine improvement at United. He’s got his first wins in the Premier League and Europe within three games. He’s led United to the giddy heights of the top half of the table, remarkably just four points off the top four.
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He’s got Marcus Rashford scoring goals and smiling again. Rashford has scored as many goals in his last three games (3), as he did in his previous 12 under the hapless Erik ten Hag.
Heck, Amorim has even managed the unthinkable, by managing to get Joshua Zirkzee finding the back of the net as well. He deserves a medal for this alone. In fact, all eight of United’s goals scored under Amorim have come from their strikers.
While Amorim’s arrival has also coincided with a truly astonishing collapse from his neighbours Manchester City.
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As it stands, United are currently the best team in the city. And that’s a sentence people haven’t written or read in years. So things are looking up for a club which has been stuck in the doldrums for more than a decade.
And Amorim has taken these small steps with a smile on his face, suggesting he has something about him when it comes to personality and character.
But the fact remains the journey back to where United want – and need to be – still has a very long way to go. No-one should be getting carried away.
The demolition of the club by some ruinous people both past and still present, will take some rebuilding. And ultimately Amorim will be judged on how United get on against those teams above them instead of below.
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United’s rivalry with Arsenal is long and bitter. In the Noughties these two giants used to trade punches for fun. And what a chance this week now is for Amorim to land one on a team still harbouring hopes of beating Liverpool to the title this season.
United might appear to be heading in the right direction again. But they haven’t made a genuine statement yet. Taking points off Arsenal at the Emirates would be, though.
Only Brighton, Liverpool and Chelsea have managed this so far this season, while no-one has beaten Mikel Arteta’s side in their own backyard.
Amorim will be buckling up for a demanding festive period of fixtures. United face Wolves, Newcastle and league leaders Liverpool in the space of ten days post Christmas. And even before Christmas Day itself, United take on Nottingham Forest, Tottenham and City in a derby.
Starting with the Emirates, the chances for Amorim to put down a serious marker will come thick and fast. And the next few weeks will leave him looking like either a genius, or some sort of stuffed turkey.