The two historic rivals will clash for the second time in a month at the Emirates Stadium, with both sides needing a win to avoid a damaging defeat.
Arsenal are still recovering from a surprising 2-0 loss to Newcastle on Tuesday, leaving them with a tough challenge to reach the Carabao Cup final. ..Continue Reading
Meanwhile, United secured a morale-boosting draw at Anfield last week and delivered an improved performance. However, the reality is they have not won any of their last six matches in all competitions.
During their previous visit to the home of the 14-time FA Cup winners, United were soundly beaten by Arsenal, frustrated by the nature of the two goals they conceded from set pieces.
Arsenal’s reliance on corners and free-kicks has been well-documented this season. Despite a lack of goals and assists, Amorim believes the Gunners’ skipper remains one of the best playmakers in the game.
Speaking at Friday’s pre-match press conference, Amorim said: ‘I think he is really special because his influence on all the games of Arsenal is impressive.
‘I played against them with Sporting and he didn’t play both games and you feel it in the team. When he’s playing, Arsenal are a different team.’
Odegaard has struggled to rediscover his best form after he recovered from an ankle injury which kept him out of action for two months.
‘There are moments sometimes and probably sustaining [his form over the past couple of seasons], and that’s again when you go to probability and when you go samples,’ said Mikel Arteta, discussing Odegaard’s recent output.
‘Sustaining an attacking midfielder to score 15 goals maybe two years ago, it doesn’t happen. It hasn’t happened in 15 years, so we were very aware of that on the other side of the coin.
‘So, he’s trying very hard; he had some big chances, we missed some opportunities. Just help him and make sure that he’s confident to take the shots when he needs to because he’s so good at it.’
Odegaard’s relationship with Bukayo Saka has been a fruitful one in recent years for Arsenal, but the England winger’s absence appears to have affected his skipper.
‘It can be an element of that,’ Arteta addd when asked if his team had become too reliant on the relationship between his two star forwards.
‘[Martin] came back from an injury and in the first week or two, you have that extra energy and then you play every three days.
‘He was ill as well for over a week and then plays a part, so there’s a lot of circumstances.
‘Obviously, it’s inevitable to think when you have such a chemistry with a player and you’re not together next to each other, you’re going to notice that something is different.
‘Obviously, he’s come from an injury and first maybe week or two you have that extra energy and then you play every three days.
‘He was ill as well for over a week, so that plays a part. A lot of circumstances but obviously, it’s inevitable to think when you have such a chemistry with a player and you’re not together next to each other, then you will notice something that is different.’
